Qingdao walking tour & city guide

The old town and the seafront

The old town rises from the bay around Zhanqiao Pier, a long jetty ending in a pavilion that is a symbol of the city. Uphill, the twin spires of St. Michael's Cathedral stand above streets of German-era buildings, and small hilltop parks such as Xinhaoshan and Xiaoyushan look out over a sea of red roofs. The Tsingtao Brewery, founded in 1903, has a museum in its original buildings.

East along the coast, Badaguan is a quiet district of villas in many European styles, set on tree-lined streets each planted with a different kind of tree, with beaches below. Further on, May Fourth Square and the Olympic Sailing Center, which hosted the 2008 Olympic sailing events, mark the centre of the modern city, whose towers light up the bay at night.

A classic walk: Zhanqiao Pier to Badaguan

Start at Zhanqiao Pier and walk inland to St. Michael's Cathedral, then wander the old streets around it before climbing Xinhaoshan or Xiaoyushan for the view. Come back down to the shore and follow the seafront path east past Lu Xun Park and the bathing beaches to the villas and gardens of Badaguan.

In the evening, take a taxi or the metro to the Olympic Sailing Center for the skyline lights, or head to the Taidong pedestrian street and its busy night market.

Good to know

May to October is the best time to visit; summer is the beach season and the Qingdao International Beer Festival takes place in August, while winters are cold and windy. The metro reaches the old town, the modern centre and the train stations. Laoshan, a coastal mountain of Taoist temples, is an easy trip from the city.