Qingdao is a beautiful city with red-brick roofs and green trees, blue sea and sky, as well as the holy Taoist area of Laoshan. Qingdao is one of the few coastal resorts in northern China and also a city of art and romance. Qingdao's seafood, beer, and old European buildings attract visitors from near and far. The city is home to many beaches with fine sand as well as scenic spots along the seashore. Qingdao is a great place for family fun, and many families like to stay in upscale hotels on the seaside. Visitors with children can take them to the beach and see animals at Ocean Park. The old villas of Badaguan, the Chinese parasol trees, the former residences of celebrities next to Ocean University, the romantic old churches, and various museums and harbors full of sailing boats all are simply waiting to be explored.
Qingdao is a city that is suitable for exploring on foot because the streets and old lanes of the old city still retain the old flavor of the city. Old European buildings are hidden behind the trees. There are various churches such as the Catholic Church on Zhejiang Road and the Qingdao Christian Church on Jiangsu Road, historical attractions such as the Zhanqiao and Huashi Villa, as well as amusement parks such as Haichang Polar Ocean Park and Underwater World. The biggest attractions on the western coast of the city are beautiful coastlines and beaches. The gorgeous beaches here include Golden Beach, Silver Beach and Shique Beach. Visitors can bring a tent with them and watch the sunset, collect shells, and relax by the sea. The famous scenic areas of Langyatai and Dazhushan are also located along the west coast. Laoshan is the only famous mountain in the country located by the seaside. There are eight scenic spots in Laoshan: Jufeng Tourist Area, Taiqing Tourist Area, Shangqing Tourist Area, North Jiushui Tourist Area, Hualou Tourist Area, Dengying Tourist Area, Qipan Stone Tourist Area, and Yangkou Tourist Area.
Summer is the best tourist season in Qingdao when the temperature isn’t too hot and the sea water is warm. In addition, festivals such as the Tsingtao Beer Festival and the Costume Festival are also held in the summer. This makes it a good time to try the seafood and other delicious food. From mid-April to mid-May, ten thousand mu of wild rhododendrons on Dazhu Mountain of Huangdao are in full bloom. At the beginning of May, the cherry blossoms in Zhongshan Park also bloom. From the end of October to mid-November, the red and yellow leaves in Badaguan make the area seem like it came straight out of a fairytale. This period is also the best season to view the red leaves on Laoshan.
The old downtown area is usually the first choice when booking hotels in Qingdao because interesting places in the city are mainly concentrated in this area. Hotels in Qingdao’s old town are relatively cheap, but their facilities aren’t the best. If you are looking for a better hotel in Qingdao, it’s a good idea to check out the ones in the eastern part of the city. The amount of travelers double during the May Day Holiday and National Week, as well as during the months of July and August. During the Beer Festival in August, hotel prices are higher and rooms are in high demand. For this reason, it’s recommended to book rooms one month in advance. During other times of the year, the prices of hotels in Qingdao are quite affordable.