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青岛 · Travel Guide

Qingdao for foreigners

Tsingtao Beer, the German Old Town, and the beaches of Shandong.

Qingdao is a port city in Shandong province that was a German colony from 1898 to 1914. The Old Town (老城区) still has 300+ European-style buildings from that era — half-timbered, red-brick, with terracotta roofs — which makes the cityscape unlike anywhere else in China. Add Tsingtao Beer (founded by Germans in 1903, still China’s most-exported beer) and the August Beer Festival (Asia’s largest), and Qingdao is one of the most distinctive stops in northern China. The other draw is Laoshan Mountain (崂山), the highest coastal peak in China at 1,133 m, 40 minutes east of the city. The mountain has been a Taoist sacred site for 2,000 years.

Top things to do in Qingdao

The must-see places locals will tell you are unmissable, with photos and a direct link to the in-depth guide for each.

Where to stay in Qingdao

We only list hotels that accept foreign guests and accept international credit cards.

Trip.com

Hotels in Qingdao on Trip.com

From $25/night hostels near the Old Town to $260/night luxury at The Lalu Qingdao — plus Kaisa Hotel Old Town and 2,400+ more. Filter by tier on Trip.com.

$25 – $260+/night

Book your Qingdao trip

Plan your Qingdao trip on Trip.com — the only platform we've verified for mainland China. Prices update in real time; no hidden fees.

Trip.com — Recommended

Hotels, trains, flights & experiences

Qingdao on Trip.com — 1.4M mainland-China hotels (¥35/night and up), real-time English HSR booking, plus skip-the-line tickets and guided tours in one cart. Accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard. Filter by tier on Trip.com once you land.

Hotels from $35/night · HSR from $7 · Tours from $5

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When to visit Qingdao

June–September for the beach season. The Beer Festival runs the second half of August. Avoid the December–February cold (below 0°C).

FAQ

Get our Qingdao itinerary

A day-by-day plan, the metro lines you need, and the one restaurant locals love.