Prefecture-level city · Shandong

Qingdao 青岛市

Qingdao, previously transliterated as Tsingtao, is a prefecture-level city in China's Shandong province. Lying across the Shandong Peninsula and looking out to the Yellow Sea, it borders the prefecture-level cities of Yantai to the northeast, Weifang to the west, and Rizhao to the southwest. The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge links Qingdao's main urban area with Huangdao district, straddling Jiaozhou Bay.

Location of Shandong, the surrounding province-level areaView province guide

Get to know Qingdao

Qingdao's urban waterfront (青岛滨海城区), with its coastal promenade and high-rises; photographed in 2018.
Qingdao's urban waterfront (青岛滨海城区), with its coastal promenade and high-rises; photographed in 2018. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2018-11-04 14:55. · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
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Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Administrative area
Prefecture-level city · 地级市
Part of
Shandong
Chinese name
青岛市
Local areas
10 local areas

Area & population

Area in the source
11,293.00 km²
Population · 2020 census
10,071,722
Administrative seat
11, Xianggang Middle Rd, Shinan District

Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.

Qingdao was an important fortress, and is a major seaport and naval base, as well as a commercial and financial center. It is a major nodal city of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that connects Continental and East Asia with Europe.

Public transport

All of the buses and trolleybuses can be accessed using the Qingdao Public Traffic IC Card (青岛卡), which uses radio frequencies so the card does not have to physically touch the scanner. After that, all public transportation companies use Qingdaotong Card, the last company that started to use this card is the Zhenqing bus company located in The West Coast New Area of Qingdao (original Huangdao Distinct) in 2019.

Non air-conditioned buses cost 1 yuan (excluding the tunnel bus), The volume of road passenger transport approaches 737 million per year. The Public Transport Brand of 'Ri-Xin Bus (日新巴士)' is also known in China.

Tourism

Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and temperate weather. Parks, beaches, sculptures, and unique German and modern architecture line the shore. Its centrally located tourist information center, the "Qingdao Information Center for International Visitors for International Visitors," is located on Middle Hong Kong Road (香港中路).

Explore Qingdao

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Places to explore around Qingdao

Qingdao's urban waterfront (青岛滨海城区), with its coastal promenade and high-rises; photographed in 2018.Qingdao's urban waterfront (青岛滨海城区), with its coastal promenade and high-rises; photographed in 2018. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2018-11-04 14:55.

Qingdao青岛

Qingdao’s southern waterfront links several distinct cityscapes. The old centre rises behind Zhanqiao Pier toward churches and former commercial streets; farther east, Badaguan spreads out into tree-lined villa roads. Around…

Read the place guide →Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, photographed in May 2020 · 青岛胶东国际机场Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, photographed in May 2020 · 青岛胶东国际机场 Photograph date recorded by the source: 28 May 2020, 15:08:25.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport青岛胶东国际机场

Jiaodong Airport serves Qingdao from Jiaozhou, west of the main urban area. Its radiating terminal piers gather around a central processing hall, while the adjoining Ground Transportation Centre links air travel with metro…

Read the place guide →Laoshan Scenic Area · 崂山Laoshan Scenic Area · 崂山

Mount Lao崂山

Mount Lao combines granite peaks above the Yellow Sea with a long-established Taoist landscape. The Taiqing sector is a useful introduction: a coastal boardwalk leads toward Taiqing Palace, whose courtyards contain halls…

Read the place guide →Qingdao Beer Museum · 青岛啤酒博物馆Qingdao Beer Museum · 青岛啤酒博物馆

Qingdao Beer Museum青岛啤酒博物馆

Qingdao Beer Museum stands on Dengzhou Road in Shibei district. It reuses early buildings of the Tsingtao brewery.

Read the place guide →Badaguan Scenic Resort · 八大关Badaguan Scenic Resort · 八大关

Badaguan八大关

Badaguan is a seaside district of villas set among gardens and tree-lined roads, much of it developed in the 1930s. Different street trees and varied architectural styles make the small-scale details part of the visit. Huashilou…

Read the place guide →May Fourth Square · 五四广场May Fourth Square · 五四广场

May Fourth Square五四广场

May Fourth Square opens the modern city onto Fushan Bay. Its red May Wind sculpture forms a large spiral near the water, while lawns and paved spaces connect the shoreline with the civic district inland. The name recalls the May…

Read the place guide →Zhanqiao Pier and Huilan Pavilion across the water in Qingdao; 4 May 2009.Zhanqiao Pier and Huilan Pavilion across the water in Qingdao; 4 May 2009.

Zhanqiao栈桥

Zhanqiao projects from Qingdao’s old waterfront into the bay, turning a former landing pier into one of the city’s most recognisable public spaces. At the seaward end, Huilan Pavilion rises above a semicircular breakwater with…

Read the place guide →Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence · 青岛德国总督楼旧址博物馆Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence · 青岛德国总督楼旧址博物馆

Qingdao Guest House青岛德国总督楼旧址博物馆

The Qingdao Guest House was built as the German governor’s residence during the leasehold period. It occupies a hillside site below Signal Hill at 26 Longshan Road.

Read the place guide →AI watercolor illustration inspired by Golden Beach's sandy coastline in Huangdao, Qingdao; not a photograph.AI illustration; an interpretive view, not a photograph. AI 示意图，非景点实拍。

Golden Beach (Qingdao)黄岛金沙滩

Golden Beach stretches in a broad crescent along the southern side of Huangdao’s Xuejiadao peninsula. Its fine yellow sand and open Yellow Sea setting give it a different character from the compact bathing beaches below…

Read the place guide →The promenade at Qingdao International Sailing Centre · 青岛奥帆中心The promenade at Qingdao International Sailing Centre · 青岛奥帆中心 Photograph date recorded by the source: 15 May 2018, 10:12:59.

Qingdao International Sailing Centre青岛奥林匹克帆船中心

Qingdao’s Olympic Sailing Centre occupies a former shipyard site on Fushan Bay. Built for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events, it combines sheltered marina water, quays and long breakwaters. Lovers Dam extends toward…

Read the place guide →The twin-towered west front of St. Michael's Cathedral in Qingdao, June 2025.The twin-towered west front of St. Michael's Cathedral in Qingdao, June 2025.

St. Michael's Cathedral, Qingdao圣弥厄尔大教堂

St Michael’s Cathedral rises above Qingdao’s old commercial streets with paired bell towers and a large circular window between them. Completed in 1934, it combines Romanesque Revival massing with Gothic details and forms a…

Read the place guide →Main facade and forecourt of the PLA Navy Museum, Qingdao · 青岛海军博物馆Main facade and forecourt of the PLA Navy Museum, Qingdao · 青岛海军博物馆 Photograph date recorded by the source: 21 September 2024, 09:36:24.

Museum of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy中国人民解放军海军博物馆

Qingdao’s Naval Museum combines indoor history displays with real vessels moored beside the city’s old waterfront. The collection includes the destroyer Anshan and the submarine Changzheng 1, giving a sense of scale that models…

Read the place guide →Qin-period building remains at Langyatai, Qingdao · 青岛琅琊台秦代建筑遗址Qin-period building remains at Langyatai, Qingdao · 青岛琅琊台秦代建筑遗址 Photograph date recorded by the source: 9 February 2025, 13:17:24.

Langyatai Platform琅琊台

Langyatai is a coastal hill associated with Qin imperial journeys, above the shore of Huangdao. Archaeology has revealed a substantial Qin building complex subsequently repaired in the Han period, including terraces and an…

Read the place guide →Carved stone gate archway at the Confucian Temple in Jimo Ancient CityThe stone gate archway of the Confucian Temple within Jimo Ancient City, Jimo District, Qingdao · 青岛市即墨区即墨古城文庙棂星门 Source-recorded photograph date: 2 October 2018 (according to Exif data).

Jimo Ancient City即墨古城

Jimo Ancient City (即墨古城) is a walled quarter in Jimo District, Qingdao, rebuilt from 2013 on the site of the old county town. Inside its walls stand reconstructed civic and religious buildings of the former county seat, together with shops, restaurants and museums.

Read the place guide →Tianheng Island (田横岛)Tianheng Island · 田横岛

Tianheng Island田横岛

Yellow Sea island in Qingdao's Jimo District, named for Qi king Tian Heng, whose five hundred followers are remembered by a provincially listed tomb.

Read the place guide →Sandy beach with visitors at Shi Lao Ren bathing beach, QingdaoShi Lao Ren bathing beach in Laoshan District, Qingdao, with the coastal hills behind · 青岛崂山区石老人海水浴场，背景为沿海山丘 Source-recorded photograph date: 2026-05-26 12:16:30.

Shilaoren Beach石老人海水浴场

Shilaoren Beach (石老人海水浴场) is a sandy bathing beach on the southern coast of Laoshan District, Qingdao. It sits inside the Shilaoren scenic area, one of the four component areas of the Qingdao Laoshan national scenic and historic area.

Read the place guide →Dabaodao Cultural and Leisure District (大鲍岛文化休闲街区)Dabaodao Cultural and Leisure District · 大鲍岛文化休闲街区

Dabaodao Cultural and Leisure District大鲍岛文化休闲街区

The Dabaodao cultural and leisure quarter (大鲍岛文化休闲街区) is a block of old commercial streets in Shibei District, Qingdao. It was the city's earliest trading centre and is being reopened as part of a municipal and district urban-renewal programme.

Read the place guide →The former German Governor’s Residence, now the site museum in Qingdao · 青岛德国总督楼旧址博物馆The former German Governor’s Residence, now the site museum in Qingdao · 青岛德国总督楼旧址博物馆. Source-recorded photograph date: 2009-02-15.

Former German Governor's Residence Museum德国总督楼旧址博物馆

The Former German Governor's Residence Museum (德国总督楼旧址博物馆) occupies the house built between 1903 and 1907 for the German governor of Jiao'ao, at 26 Longshan Road on the southern foot of Signal Hill in Shinan District, Qingdao. The building is a national key cultural heritage protection unit and has been open to visitors since 1999.

Read the place guide →White sail-shaped cable-stayed bridge over water under a clear blue sky.The cable-stayed 'Music Sail' pedestrian bridge at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, Shinan District, Qingdao. · 青岛市市南区奥帆中心音乐之帆步行桥。 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 22 April 2015.

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre奥帆中心

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre (奥帆中心), also known as the Qingdao International Sailing Centre, stands at 121 Aomen Road in Shinan District, on the shore of Fushan Bay. It was built on the site of the former Beihai shipyard to host the sailing events of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Read the place guide →Small island with a white lighthouse in Qingdao Bay, Shinan District, ShandongXiao Qingdao island and its lighthouse, viewed across Qingdao Bay, Shinan District · 小青岛及灯塔远眺，市南区 Source-recorded photograph date: 2023-03-10 14:32:43.

Little Qingdao Island小青岛

Xiao Qingdao (小青岛) is a small island of about 0.024 square kilometres at 26 Qinyu Road in Shinan District, lying just south-east of the Zhanqiao pier in Qingdao Bay. It rises 17.2 metres above the sea and carries a white octagonal lighthouse built by the Germans in 1900.

Read the place guide →Xiaoyushan Park (小鱼山)Xiaoyushan Park · 小鱼山

Xiaoyushan Park小鱼山

Xiaoyushan (小鱼山) is a 61-metre hill at the eastern end of Laiyang Road in Shinan District, Qingdao, on the north side of Huiquan Bay. A hilltop park was laid out over it in 1985 around a three-storey lookout tower, the Lanchao Pavilion.

Read the place guide →St. Michael's Cathedral (浙江路天主教堂)St. Michael's Cathedral (浙江路天主教堂), Shinan District. Photograph: "St Michaels Cathedral West Front".

St. Michael's Cathedral浙江路天主教堂

The Zhejiang Road Catholic Church (浙江路天主教堂), also called St Michael's Cathedral, stands at 15 Zhejiang Road in Shinan District, Qingdao. Built between 1932 and 1934, it is the largest Catholic church and the largest Gothic building in the Qingdao area.

Read the place guide →AI illustration of a general forested mountain valley scene; not a photograph or an exact view of this place.AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）

Daze Mountain大泽山

Pingdu mountain range with the ruins of Zhizang Temple, Northern Wei cliff inscriptions, a stone-mine militia history and long-grown grapes.

Read the place guide →Chinese-style stone gate at the entrance to Dazhu Mountain Scenic Area, with mountain peaks visible behindThe north gate of Dazhu Mountain Scenic Area in Huangdao District, Qingdao, with the mountain behind · 青岛黄岛区大珠山风景区北门，背景为大珠山 Source-recorded photograph date: 9 November 2018 (according to Exif data).

Dazhu Mountain大珠山

Coastal mountain in Qingdao's Huangdao District with Shimen Temple, Sui–Tang grottoes and three valleys of wild azaleas that bloom from April.

Read the place guide →AI illustration of a general coastal shore scene; not a photograph or an exact view of this place.AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）

Golden Beach金沙滩

Jinshatan (金沙滩), the Golden Sand Beach, is a crescent of fine golden sand in Huangdao District, Qingdao, on the south-eastern edge of the city's economic and technological development zone. It runs east to west for more than 3,500 metres and is about 300 metres wide.

Read the place guide →

Local life & food

Qingdao local specialties

青岛市特色美食 · 14 specialties to discover

Qingdao beer · 青岛啤酒 · AI dish illustrationQingdao beer 青岛啤酒AI illustration · AI 示意图

A pale lager is typically crisp and lightly bitter, with carbonation and a grain-sweet finish. Other styles can be darker or more aromatic.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Qingdao large steamed buns · 青岛大包 · AI dish illustrationQingdao large steamed buns 青岛大包AI illustration · AI 示意图

The thick, soft bread soaks up juices from the center, making the bun substantial enough for a meal. The filling can remain very hot after serving.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photograph of Mackerel dumplings (鲅鱼水饺).Mackerel dumplings 鲅鱼水饺

The filling is soft and savory with a clean fish flavor, enclosed in a resilient wrapper. Chives may add a strong green aroma.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Jason M. C., Han · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Spicy Stir-Fried Clams (辣炒蛤蜊) — dish photographSpicy Stir-Fried Clams 辣炒蛤蜊

Spicy Stir-Fried Clams (辣炒蛤蜊) are closely associated with eating clams and drinking beer in Qingdao (青岛).

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Photo: Source photographer · License not provided
Photo adjustments

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AI illustration: A shallow white bowl of pale translucent jelly or starch strips.Cold Seaweed Jelly 海菜凉粉AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）

Cold Seaweed Jelly (海菜凉粉), also called Qingdao jelly (青岛凉粉), is a clear, glassy jelly that Qingdao (青岛) makes from seaweed rather than from bean or pea starch.

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Qingdao Pan-Fried Dumplings (青岛锅贴) — dish photographQingdao Pan-Fried Dumplings 青岛锅贴

Qingdao Pan-Fried Dumplings (青岛锅贴) are crescent-shaped dumplings fried in a flat pan until their bases turn golden, a dish Qingdao (青岛) people eat at breakfast, lunch or dinner.

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Photo: Ahayat SAHZaha · CC BY-SA 4.0
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EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Pork Ribs with Rice (排骨米饭) — dish photographPork Ribs with Rice 排骨米饭

Pork Ribs with Rice (排骨米饭) is a bowl of stewed pork ribs in their broth served with plain rice, and Qingdao News calls Qingdao (青岛) its birthplace.

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Photo: Source photographer · License not provided
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EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Noodles with Thick Seafood Gravy (海鲜卤面) — dish photographNoodles with Thick Seafood Gravy 海鲜卤面

Noodles with Thick Seafood Gravy (海鲜卤面) are noodles served under a lu (卤), a topping of seafood cooked down with vegetables and egg, and they are one of the everyday noodle dishes of Qingdao (青岛) and the wider Jiaodong (胶东) coast.

Read the dish guide →
Photo: Source photographer · License not provided
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EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

All dish names · 全部菜名 (14)

More dishes from across Shandong are in the Shandong food guide.

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Counties & districts in Qingdao

10 areas belong directly to Qingdao.

10 areas

District

Shinan District 市南区

Shinan District is an urban district of Qingdao, Shandong. It has an area of 30.01 square kilometres (7,420 acres; 11.59 sq mi), and had approximately 588,800 inhabitants as of 2019.

Explore the area →District

Shibei District 市北区

Shibei District is an urban district of Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. As of 2010, it has an area of 63.18 square kilometres (24.39 sq mi) and around 1,027,000 inhabitants.

Explore the area →District

Huangdao District 黄岛区

Huangdao District and West Coast New Area, is a district and a state-level new area of Qingdao, Shandong, China, located south-west and west of the main urban area of the city on the western shore of Jiaozhou…

Explore the area →District

Laoshan 崂山区

Laoshan District (simplified Chinese: 崂山区; traditional Chinese: 嶗山區; pinyin: Láoshān Qū) is an urban district (区) of Qingdao, Shandong.

Explore the area →
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Plan your visit

Build your route

Qingdao and Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport are about 40 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.

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More in Shandong

Jinan济南市 →Zibo淄博市 →Zaozhuang枣庄市 →Dongying东营市 →Yantai烟台市 →Weifang潍坊市 →Jining济宁市 →Tai'an泰安市 →
Sources & geographic information

Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.

Background text adapted from Qingdao — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1372273923.

Photo: Qingdao · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport · 又黑蜗壳 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Mount Lao · Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Qingdao Beer Museum · M. Weitzel · CC BY-SA 2.5. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Badaguan · Gisling · CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: May Fourth Square · xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Zhanqiao · Bridget Coila · CC BY-SA 2.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.

Photo: Qingdao Guest House · Brücke-Osteuropa · Public domain. Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Photo: Qingdao International Sailing Centre · Gmbsfd · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: St. Michael's Cathedral, Qingdao · Air7538 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.

Photo: Museum of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy · K.Y.K.Z.K. · K.Y.K.Z.K. — Naval_Museum_of_China.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Langyatai Platform · Sprt98 · Sprt98 — 琅琊台景区——秦代建筑遗址.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Jimo Ancient City · Sprt98 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Tianheng Island · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Shilaoren Beach · Sprt98 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Dabaodao Cultural and Leisure District · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: Former German Governor's Residence Museum · Brücke-Osteuropa · Public domain. Full source framing retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or subject alteration. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre · Nyx Ning · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Little Qingdao Island · Sprt98 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Photo: Xiaoyushan Park · Sprt98 · CC BY-SA 4.0. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.

Photo: St. Michael's Cathedral · Noraft · Public domain. Full frame retained; EXIF orientation normalized, proportionally resized to at most 800 pixels and converted to WebP. No generated pixels or subject changes. Cards may crop the display.

Photo: Dazhu Mountain · Sprt98 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.