http://bbs.sjtu.edu.cn:8000/PIC/1113073773148490.jpg http://bbs.sjtu.edu.cn:8000/PIC/1113073794145390.jpg :)

Qingdao definitely is beautiful

Many large Chinese cities have a European influence.

Harbin - Russian
Qingdao - German
Shanghai - mix of European (the Bund)
Guangzhou - mix of European (Shamian district)
Macau - Portuguese

Even Beijing had a Western-style palace, but it was ransacked and burned to the ground by invading European forces over a hundred years ago.

you forget several others.

Wuhan (Hankou)
Tianjin

Beautiful city...very european indeed!

wow, whata a nice city !!!! i never expected such a mixture !!!

Very beautiful. :) So, lots lots of german descendents there, or just the architecture??

Qingdao does not have a large population of Germans. It is almost entirely Chinese. The reason it appears German is because the city was invaded by the Germans, who forced the Qing to allow them an area of influence in Shandong province, centered on Qingdao. An interesting fact about Qingdao is that it was taken by Japan during WWI, after Japan declared war on Germany.

Qingdao is not an old city; It was built around 1891. The Qing designated the area as a primary defense against naval attacks. After WWII, the Kuomintang allowed the Americans to use the city as it's Western Pacific Fleet headquarters. The Communists took the city in 1949. Because Qingdao was Western-controlled throughout almost it's entire history, it already had sufficient infrastructure and lacked the decaying Hutong of older cities. Thus, the Communists left it pretty much alone, which is why Qingdao is free of the so-called "Commieblocks" that are seen in most Chinese cities.

Today, the city is known for the famous "Tsingtao Beer," probably the most famous Chinese beer. The city is also, of course, known for it's tree-lined streets, European architecture, and beautiful (and crowded) beaches.

Fushan Bay, which is near the CBD of Qingdao, will host sailing events during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

very beautiful, it reminds me more of Istanbul thou

Qingdao does not have a large population of Germans. It is almost entirely Chinese. The reason it appears German is because the city was invaded by the Germans, who forced the Qing to allow them an area of influence in Shandong province, centered on Qingdao. An interesting fact about Qingdao is that it was taken by Japan during WWI, after Japan declared war on Germany.

Qingdao is not an old city; It was built around 1891. The Qing designated the area as a primary defense against naval attacks. After WWII, the Kuomintang allowed the Americans to use the city as it's Western Pacific Fleet headquarters. The Communists took the city in 1949. Because Qingdao was Western-controlled throughout almost it's entire history, it already had sufficient infrastructure and lacked the decaying Hutong of older cities. Thus, the Communists left it pretty much alone, which is why Qingdao is free of the so-called "Commieblocks" that are seen in most Chinese cities.

Today, the city is known for the famous "Tsingtao Beer," probably the most famous Chinese beer. The city is also, of course, known for it's tree-lined streets, European architecture, and beautiful (and crowded) beaches.

Fushan Bay, which is near the CBD of Qingdao, will host sailing events during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Very interesting! Thank you.
Just one thing: are you sure Japan declared war on Germany?

More Qingdao photos

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd5.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd6.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd7.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd8.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd10.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd12.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd13.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd14.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd15.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd16.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd17.jpg

Very beautiful indeed! With that snow even, it's just like europe. Did the germans build ALL that, or the chinese continued the architecture?

Yes, Japan declared war on Germany on August 23rd, 1914. By comparision, the United Kingdom declared war against Germany on August 4th.

It wasn't until 1917 that the US declared war on the Central Powers. That same year, the Republic of China declared war on Germany. The Asian casualties of WWI were fairly low, especially compared with the massive loss of Asian lives during WWII. The only reason there were casualties at all is because the Germany had some territory in East Asia, such as Qingdao.

Of course, it's pretty clear that Japan's involvement was related to her own expansionism. Japan already controlled Korea and Taiwan, and pretty much had de facto control of Manchuria as well. The Japanese invasion of the German-controlled city of Qingdao must be seen in that context.

Hmm.. thanks for the info man!

Modern Qingdao

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd21.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd22.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd23.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd24.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd25.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd26.jpg

Very nice!
Are the old buildings protected by law?

Very beautiful city. :)

Very beautiful indeed! With that snow even, it's just like europe. Did the germans build ALL that, or the chinese continued the architecture?
the Qingdao Chinese continue building those "german" architecture after the handover.

More Qingdao pics

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd29.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd30.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd32.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd34.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd35.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd31.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd33.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd27.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd28.jpg

Coooooooooool!

superb pics! Qingdao is beautiful!!! :eek2:

Indeed, very different for a Chinese city.

are there catholic or christian peoples there???

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd34.jpg

Pictures like that make me proud that they chose Qingdao for the site for the sailing events of the 2008 Olympics!!!

Qingdao is such an amazing coastal city/ resort. Its a shame that it is not internationally know (well besides for its beer). I guess all this will change when most of the world tunes in to watch the Olympics.

青岛,烟台,威海,更漂亮更像是韩国欧洲的城市 much better than most shanty houses in Shanghai!!!!

青岛,烟台,威海,更漂亮更像是韩国欧洲的城市 much better than most shanty houses in Shanghai!!!!

Why are you so anti-Shanghai? Took the wrong medicine?

Qingdao the Green Island!!! very nice

青岛,烟台,威海,更漂亮更像是韩国欧洲的城市 much better than most shanty houses in Shanghai!!!!

Like there aren't any in Qingdao!!!?!?! I must say Qingdao looks beautiful, but comparing the two is like comparing New York to some conservation area. In terms of nature, obviously its gonna be the place that's more green!

Great pictures!!
If you post them in "Guess the city" section, people would immediately think that it's somewhere in Germany.

Great pictures!!
If you post them in "Guess the city" section, people would immediately think that it's somewhere in Germany.
that's a interesting idea

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd33.jpg
This is nice!

Qingdao seems like a Chinese version of the Epcot Center, except that Qingdao is a real city. This place should become a major tourist hotspot in the coming decades.

Strangely, Qingdao almost has no bicycles in the streets, not like other Chinese cities.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/Qingdao1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/Qingdao2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/Qingdao3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/Qingdao4.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/Qingdao5.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/Qingdao6.jpg

Why are you so anti-Shanghai? Took the wrong medicine? Very Likely, he probably got dumped by some Shanghai girl.

This is nice!

Qingdao seems like a Chinese version of the Epcot Center, except that Qingdao is a real city. This place should become a major tourist hotspot in the coming decades.

Qingdao is quite hilly.

Qingdao is quite hilly.

That just adds to the natural beauty though... similarly to Hong Kong.

it's shame shanghai has no hills at all.

Qingdao looks beautiful. I want to go there.

Natural beauties of Qingdao

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd36.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd37.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd38.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd39.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd40.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd41.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd42.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd43.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd44.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd45.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd46.jpg

actually Not show "Wusi" square :eek:

Why is Qingdao the "green island"? Qingdao's not an island or anything. I'm just wondering.

nice town, and great skyscraper!!! :)

nice town, and great skyscraper!!! :)

Isn't this "green island"? :jk:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd41.jpg

More Qingdao pics

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd47.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd48.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd49.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd50.jpg

More Qingdao pics

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd51.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd52.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd53.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd54.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd55.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd56.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd57.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd58.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd59.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd60.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd61.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd62.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/hiddendragon99/Qingdao/qd63.jpg

i love QingDao! so beautiful! i am stunning!

Cool!