QINGDAO | Projects & Construction [Archive]

hkskyline

June 24th, 2009, 05:59 PM

Shimao allots 1.8b yuan for Shandong project
21 May 2009
South China Morning Post

Shanghai Shimao Commercial Group plans to spend 1.8 billion yuan (HK$2.04 billion) co-developing a retail-office-hotel project on its newly acquired site in Qingdao, Shandong.

Earlier this month, Shanghai Shimao and Shiao Property Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qingdao Urban Development, jointly acquired the site for 920 million yuan.

Lawrence Hui, the chief financial officer of Shimao Property Holdings, which holds 64 per cent of the Shanghai-listed company, said construction costs would be twice the cost of the land, bringing the total investment to about 2.7 billion yuan.

The site will be developed into two towers - a 310-metre office building and a 280-metre hotel-and-retail block.

"The 310-metre tower will be the tallest building in Shandong," said Mr Hui.

The project will have a total gross floor area of 240,000 square metres.

Although details of the development have not yet been finalised, Mr Hui said the main office building would also include space for small businesses.

Shanghai Shimao has a 75 per cent stake in the development and state-owned Qingdao Urban Development 25 per cent.

Mr Hui said the Shanghai company would focus on expanding into commercial property development while its Hong Kong-listed vehicle, Shimao Property, would concentrate on residential projects.

The latest acquisition has boosted Shanghai Shimao's land bank to nearly 5.3 million sqmetres of gross floor area under construction on the mainland.

Meanwhile, Mr Hui said Shimao Property was still considering a proposal to spin off its mainland hotel properties. The firm deferred the flotation because of the dramatic change in the investment climate in the latter part of last year.

For the year to December, residential sales accounted for 93 per cent of Shimao Property's turnover, while 7 per cent came from rental income.

Mr Hui said Shimao Property aimed to increase its recurring income to between 15 and 20 per cent of total turnover, but he refused to give a timetable, as it would take time to build up its investment property portfolio. Shimao Property said its rental income rose 48 per cent last year to 951 million yuan, of which hotel revenue accounted for 771 million yuan, up 36.5 per cent from a year earlier.

Shares of Shimao Property dropped 3.35 per cent to close at HK$10.94 yesterday.

hkskyline

July 8th, 2009, 06:33 PM

Tesco to set up stores in Qingdao
22 June 2009
DTZ Asia Property Market Update

The British grocery and retail giant Tesco's plan to invest a total of USD153 million in two stores in Qingdao has been approved, according to the Qingdao Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation Bureau, as quoted in media reports in mid-May 2009. The two stores, known as ¡§Mingxia Tesco¡¨ and ¡§Renmin Tesco¡¨, are the biggest single foreign investment in the service sector in Qingdao this year so far, along with other major ventures by companies, such as Jusco, Carrefour, Metro and B&Q. 82 corporations on the Fortune 500 list have already established their presence in Qingdao, with 168 projects.

This report should not be relied upon as a basis for entering into transactions without seeking specific, qualified, professional advice. Whilst facts have been rigorously checked, DTZ can take no responsibility for any damage or loss suffered as a result of any inadvertent inaccuracy within this report. Information contained herein should not, in whole or part, be published, reproduced or referred to without prior approval. Any such reproduction should be credited.

hkskyline

July 9th, 2009, 05:55 PM

PetroChina's Tai'an-Qingdao-Weihai natural gas pipeline to be built this month

BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhua) - PetroChina (PTR.NYSE; 0857.HK; 601857.SH) plans to kick off the construction of its 1,024-km Tai'an-Qingdao-Weihai natural gas pipeline, the feeder line of its second West-to-East pipeline and spanning 11 cities in Shandong province.

The pipeline will feed either on the natural gas from the second Shaanxi-Tianjin pipeline or the second West-to-East pipeline, said officials from Shandong Provincial National Development and Reform Commission, without revealing its total transportation capacity or schedule for operations.

The Tai'an-Qingdao-Weihai pipeline is designed to have five feeder lines, which are expected to cover the gas supply to Shandong province, turf currently claimed by Sinopec, PetroChina's rival. Enditem

staff

July 17th, 2009, 06:24 AM

http://www.chinahospitalitynews.com/en/2009/07/17/12628-doubletree-in-qingdao-open-for-business/
Doubletree In Qingdao Open For Business

July 17, 2009 | Print | Email Email | Category: Industry News

The Doubletree by Hilton Qingdao/Chengyang in Shandong has been formally opened.

This opening brings the number of Doubletree by Hilton hotels in China to three, illustrating the growth strategy Hilton is targeting for the Doubletree brand across Asia Pacific.

This newly redeveloped 320-room hotel includes 24 suites and comes with extensive meetings and events facilities designed to cater for up to 750 people. It is owned by the Qingdao Sunkin Group.

For health and fitness there are the hotel's spa facilities, an indoor heated swimming pool, well-equipped gymnasium and squash court. Unique to Doubletree by Hilton Qingdao/Chengyang is a 260 by 110 meter golf driving range.

The hotel's meetings and events facilities can cater for groups from two to 750 people with a dedicated conference area situated on the second floor including a grand ballroom, a multi-function hall, and meeting rooms of various sizes. Guests can also make use of the private rooms adjacent to the hotel's Harbour Seafood Restaurant for more intimate meetings.

As with all Doubletree hotels, wireless Internet access and advanced audio and visual equipment are available in all public spaces.

hkskyline

July 17th, 2009, 04:29 PM

Tsingtao Beer's hometown in China starts work on first subway line

QINGDAO, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Construction started Friday on the first subway line in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, home of world-famous Tsingtao Beer.

A 25.1-kilometer line with 22 stops will be built in the seaside city, the venue of sailing events for last summer's Olympics, at a cost of 13 billion yuan (1.9 billion U.S. dollars), said Liu Jianjun, executive deputy head of the subway construction headquarters.

It would open in 2014 and be able to handle 235,000 passengers a day, Liu said.

The city would add another line by 2016, expanding the system to 54.7 km, he said.

The city plans to build eight lines by 2050 with a total length of 231.5 km, said Hu Shaojun, vice mayor of Qingdao.

Letniczka

July 18th, 2009, 10:21 AM

^^
http://www.qingdaonews.com/gb/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090718/001de001870d0bcbc14013.jpg

From http://www.qingdaonews.com/gb/content/2009-07/18/content_8094189.htm

hkskyline

September 15th, 2009, 08:16 PM

Qingdao Embraces Logistics Growth Through Chengyang District
31 August 2009
Wen Wei Po

Chengyang District in Qingdao is growing into the city's biggest ground logistics center. The district has recently started the construction of a logistics and distribution exchange center with planned investments of US$40 million. Besides distribution and handling transit of cargoes, the logistics centre will integrate other functions of information services, warehouse management, processing and packaging. The ground courier logistics centre is expected to generate revenue of RMB150 million and tax payment of RMB30 million upon commencement of operation. CommoditiesScienceO Logistics, one of China's biggest logistics company co-invested by CommoditiesScienceO Group and CommoditiesScienceO Pacific Co., Ltd, has already invested US$40 million in the construction of a warehousing center in Chengyang District. The warehousing center has started trial run and will become the biggest warehousing center in Shandong.

Qingdao International Airport which is located in Chengyang District has also expanded its cargo and mail transport capacity to 115,000 tons.

hkskyline

November 22nd, 2009, 06:06 PM

Upgraders fuel demand in Qingdao
Market growing as rising affluence leading residents to look for bigger flats
18 November 2009
South China Morning Post

Liu Zhigong, an electronics engineer in Qingdao in northeastern China, is searching for a bigger home almost double the size of his existing apartment.

In his case the search has not been prompted by a desire to beat any further clampdowns on credit, which the market expects from the central government, but by a pressing need for more space.

"I plan to live with my parents and therefore I need a bigger flat," said Liu, who lives with his wife and son in an 80 square metre unit in Shinan district, Qingdao's traditional city centre and one of the oldest residential areas in the province.

He is now looking for a 150 square metre unit and one of his choices is a flat at Silver Carse, a residential project in Shinan.

"When my child was young I decided to live in a place close to his school. That's why I picked a smaller unit in the city centre. Now he is a secondary school student so we can move to a bigger unit in the newly developed residential district," Liu said.

"Also, my parents are getting old and I want to stay with them."

Upgraders such as Liu are a key source of demand in the Qingdao market, where many of the older apartment blocks were built in the 1980s and have become obsolete.

In line with a surging economy and rising per capita incomes, the city's property market has been flourishing.

With the addition of new upmarket flats, prices have risen to a range of 6,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan per square metre at the top end of the market, from the cheapest units costing just 1,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan per square metre in 2002, according to Yuan Chun, a deputy general manager at China Overseas Land's Qingdao office.

The city's economy grew 16 per cent in 2007 and expanded by a further 13.2 per cent last year.

Sales of flats in the city in the first six months of this year totalled 1.38 million square metres - up nearly 100 per cent on the same period last year.

The development of the Qingdao market is similar to many other mainland cities.

Michael Wu, a director of Fitch Ratings' Asia-Pacific corporate team, said: "Real demand for homes in China remains on the rise and will continue to support the development of the industry in the long run."

That view is endorsed by developer China Overseas Land, which says the mainland housing market would not see a peak until 2035.

The conclusion was based on many variables, including a 1 per cent per month increase in the process of urbanisation, said an executive of the company. "We may see short-term fluctuations but the long-term outlook is good," he said.

Housing prices in the mainland's 70 biggest cities increased 3.9 per cent last month from October last year, the fastest rate of property inflation since September last year and confirming a solid rebound from a slump that began in the fourth quarter.

During January to September this year, gross residential floor area sold on the mainland totalled 537 million sq metres, a 46 per cent increase year on year and 24 per cent higher than the same period in 2007, according to investment bank UBS.

Prices in the four first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen have risen 20 per cent since the end of last year because of much stronger investment demand, and were up in the high teens in many second-tier cities, UBS said in a recent report.

On Monday the central government's top think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, predicted that housing prices would keep rising next year.

"Our view is that property prices will keep rising in 2010, but that there will be some volatility," researcher Ni Pengfei said.

The traditional rush by banks to lend at the start of the year would be seen early next year. Monetary policy was still relatively loose, providing ample cash for property acquisitions, Ni said.

Rising inflationary expectations would also prompt investors to put more cash into real estate assets that benefit from rising price levels. The mainland's long-term urbanisation trend has underpinned the property market but some analysts are concerned over housing affordability for many ordinary people. Other concerns include the potential tightening of housing policy.

However, analysts said these concerns should not be overstated as housing demand would be largely a function of affordability, liquidity and policy in the near term, and demand would remain strong in the long term.

"Because prices in many cities have gone up [so fast] in such a short time, affordability is worsening and end-user demand will inevitably be affected," the UBS report said.

As a result, while policy changes might cause some near-term pain to both physical and capital market sentiment, this would be necessary for ensuring healthier and more sustainable growth in the economy as a whole, it added.

Scion

January 2nd, 2010, 05:23 AM

Hongshulin Hotel Complex
Main 5 star hotel tower 100m+ and 4000+ rooms
Accompanied but a mega complex of conference centers, shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, museums, etc

http://www.mymhotel.com/hotels/qingdao/img/0_03.jpg

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http://www.mymhotel.com/hotels/qingdao/img/001.jpg

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http://www.mymhotel.com/hotels/qingdao/img/010.jpg

青岛红树林度假酒店，中国北方最大的度假会展酒店，是今典集团继三亚湾红树林度假酒店之后，推出的又一座巨型五星级酒店。
　　青岛红树林度假酒店位于青岛胶南灵山湾，占地40万平方米。酒店融滨海度假、超级会展、豪华温泉、精品购物、电影颁奖、生态餐厅、儿童体验城等丰盛内容于一体，是中国北方第一家真正意义的“目的地度假酒店”。
　　超百米高的地标酒店，如一只巨型彩贝伫立于海边，构成青岛又一华美地标，其客房总量4000余间，规模与澳门威尼斯人酒店相当。海螺状的大型温泉馆、1100长的室内运河商街、室内水上乐园，使之成为中国北方冬夏皆宜的休闲度假目的地。而首次在中国北方出现的儿童体验城、生态餐厅、3D海底餐厅等，将为度假生活注入前所未有的新鲜元素。
　　与三亚湾红树林度假酒店遥相呼应，青岛红树林度假酒店还配建５万平米电影节主题会展中心，电影院、电影节标准颁奖影厅、美术馆、红地毯广场、时尚文化艺术广场等设施，以及容纳4000-6000人同时会议、用餐的综合宴会厅，将共同成就中国北方唯一的文化艺术产业交流基地。

hkskyline

January 4th, 2010, 04:12 PM

TESCO to Open Lifespace Shopping Mall in Qingdao

QINGDAO, December 29, SinoCast -- British retailer Tesco is seeking to open Lifespace Mall in the city of Qingdao, China's eastern coastal Shandong Province, in a move to play catch-up with retailing giants such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour.

Located at the intersection of Renmin road and Chongqing South road, the new Lifespace Mall is a comprehensive shopping center which is made up of seven floors, including two underground and five above ground, and 600 parking spaces.

With a total construction area of 74,000 square meters, it will encompass a long list of Chinese and international brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Holiland, Daphne, Etam, and Mickey.

Tesco cut into the Chinese market in 2004 and it now has set up 65 supermarkets and six trial convenience stores in 29 Chinese cities.

TESCO's upcoming presence in Qingdao is the latest example of how Qingdao is successfully attracting national and international investment; so far, 82 out of the top 500 enterprises worldwide have built up their presence in the city, with 168 individual projects.

z0rg

January 14th, 2010, 11:48 AM

Monster project coming right next to ITC towers? 5x45-60 floors according to the website.
Zhongrun Office Project.

http://www.jy-design.com.cn/manage/manage/upload/upfiles/2008624132517.jpg

http://www.jy-design.com.cn/manage/manage/upload/upfiles/2008624132722.jpg

http://www.jy-design.com.cn/manage/manage/upload/upfiles/2008624132741.jpg

http://www.jy-design.com.cn/manage/manage/upload/upfiles/2008624132756.jpg

http://www.jy-design.com.cn/manage/manage/upload/upfiles/2008624132814.jpg

From http://www.jy-design.com.cn/

In the last render you can see the ITC project on the left. Notice that the tallest ITC towers are well above 200m, so all the 5 towers of the Zhongrun project are very likely to be above 200m too.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64/z0rgggg/others/20080502_194022754f89c4387a7eJ7Rboi.jpg

Scion

March 30th, 2010, 05:54 AM

Qingdao future skyline effect

http://pic.qnpic.com:83/r.jsp?fn=//fanjoin/share/2010/3/30/e830948cafa200a7682a40d4400b05c5.jpg

http://pic.qnpic.com:83/r.jsp?fn=//fanjoin/share/2010/3/30/4c78a42973efc687a5bdbb04b606b580.jpg

http://pic.qnpic.com:83/r.jsp?fn=//fanjoin/share/2010/3/30/98501fa448f719a63a85d7af1c90755e.jpg

staff

March 30th, 2010, 11:56 PM

World class!

Atmosphere

March 31st, 2010, 12:07 AM

When is that future skyline supposed to be a reality? In 5 years or more?

hkskyline

May 29th, 2010, 05:14 PM

New zone attracts high-tech and innovative companies
28 May 2010
Shanghai Daily

TRIPS to stars, moon visits, aliens and 3-D are often winning elements in movies, as "Avatar" has demonstrated.

Now a Chinese start-up firm in Qingdao has produced 3-D titles, such as "Alien Zoo" and "Back to the Moon."

The company, Animell Digital International Co, has produced several 3-D cartoon titles and distributed them in the West and domestic markets.

"Our latest expansion plans call for new organizations to train our own animation professionals and voice actors," says Zhou Yuan, deputy manager of the company in the east coastal city.

"That will help improve product quality, save costs and also be in line with international business models."

Animell's development is just the latest example in Qingdao's ambition to build itself into an innovation city.

Besides traditional home appliance giants Haier Group and Hisense Corp, many young firms, with various innovative ideas, have chosen Qingdao to develop business and seek opportunities.

The city has instituted policy incentives to encourage high-tech, low-polluting and low energy-consuming enterprises to move to Qingdao.

The city offers a projected 63-square-kilometer area to accommodate innovative development, pioneering technology, energy-efficient infrastructure and investment-friendly policies, according to Zhao Shiyu, deputy director-general of the Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone Administrative Committee.

Other projects include a LED chipset manufacturing facility and a telecommunications antenna factory.

The LED (light emitting diode) project, which cost 400 million yuan (US$58.8 million), may upgrade production line technology this year. It makes sapphire chipsets, a key component used in energy-efficient solid lighting, according to Istarwafer Technology Co Ltd.

Fang Yongqiang, general manager of the Qingdao Utone Communication Equipment Co, says the antenna manufacturing company will start production by the end of this month, with an initial investment of 300 million yuan.

"There is still space in the market if products are innovative," says Fang. Utone Communication's products feature a wider angle for receiving signals compared with rivals, Fang adds.

Haier and Hisense, with a long history in Qingdao, have also invested heavily to develop innovative products.

The firms have both launched Internet TVs, which feature more interactive functions.

Meanwhile, they plan to launch TVs that support 3-D display in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, overseas players like Sony and Samsung have kicked off 3-D TV in the overseas markets.

"Though it's a new concept product in China, it will become popular one day," says a Hisense official during a recent display show in Shanghai. "That was what happened with LCD TV."

Concerning the animation firm Animell, it has formed an integrative animation industry structure, including creative design, cartoon image authorization, media integration, derivatives development, service outsourcing, marketing operations and animation education.

"We started business through outsourcing orders," says Zhou. "Now we aim to export self-innovation products and Chinese culture to the global market."

Q & A on policies and incentives

An interview with Zhao Shiyu, deputy director-general of the Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone Administrative Committee.

Q: What are Qingdao's core development industries?

A: Seven core industries are expected to develop in the zone, including electronic information, marine science and technology, medicine and biotechnology, advanced equipment manufacturing, modern services, new materials and new energy, and energy efficiency.

Q: What's the zone's target?

A: By the end of March, it attracted 7.3 billion yuan contracted investment. By 2012, it's expected to attract 50 high-tech projects with employee levels of 20,000 to 30,000. The high-tech output will reach 220 billion yuan, which will account for 20 percent of the city's GDP.

At the same time, the zone will be designed in an environmentally friendly and modern style. All utilities will be underground. No sewer covers can be seen on the roads and no electricity wires can be seen in the sky.

Q: What are the special policies?

A: Preferential policies include tax incentives, subsidy support and finance support. For example, certificated high-tech enterprises in the zone can benefit from an income tax rate of 15 percent. Integrated circuit manufacturing enterprises with investment of more than 8 billion yuan or manufacturing integrated circuit lines less than 0.25 microns wide can be taxed at a rate of 15 percent.

The zone administration will cooperate with banks to issue combined bonds for small- and median sized enterprises, which will help ease the financial burden.

Q: What are the zone requirements?

A: We have a "three-nos" policy. We will reject firms that are not high-tech, that consume huge amounts of electricity, or that pollute.

CarlosBlueDragon

May 29th, 2010, 07:34 PM

hkskyline

June 7th, 2010, 05:10 PM

Intoxicating museum of world wines
3 June 2010
Shanghai Daily

ONE of Qingdao's new and intoxicating ventures is Red Wine Street featuring China's biggest wine museum in a vast air-raid shelter, wine bars, wine stores, cafes and restaurants. Chen Ye takes a sip.

In China's biggest wine museum, visitors stroll down Wine Chateau Boulevard, learn the history and technology of wine making, glimpse vineyards around the world and, of course, drink wine.

The more Chinese know about wine, the more they are likely to drink, and China has a long way to go. Average annual per capita consumption is only 0.33 liters, compared with world champion Luxembourg at 70.36 liters, the museum says.

The 8,800-square-meter Qingdao Wine Museum is built in an underground air-raid shelter, making it perfectly cool for a wine cellar as well as a wine bank. There connoisseurs can store their vintages and get advice on investments.

It has 19 wine bars featuring wines from more than 20 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and the United States.

The museum is located on Qingdao Red Wine Street, a major economic development, that opened last September and features numerous wine stores selling wines (red, white, sparkling) from around the world. The developing commercial street also features cafes and restaurants. The street is near Qingdao's famous Beer Street.

"The museum focuses on the origins and history of wine, displays wine culture and promotes the wine technology and knowledge," says museum Director Wang Qifan.

Visitors walk down a 192-meter-long corridor, the Wine Chateau Boulevard, featuring interactive displays, LED screens and numerous exhibitions covering every aspect of wine and wine making through the ages around the world, including wine rituals.

It also features Chinese wines, legendary yellow rice wines and newer vintages of reds and covers the notable wines of Shandong Province and other wine-growing regions.

At the entrance is a large statue of the Greek god of wine, Dionysus (Bacchus) near a grape vine.

"Dionysus not only has the power to intoxicate people but also to maintain peace and love in the world," says Wang.

Displays include wine containers through the ages, including ancient Chinese pots, Greek amphorae, barrels of all kinds, glasses, cups, decanters and accessories.

The UK government donated a 400-year-old set of crystal glasses once owned by an aristocrat.

The museum displays oil paintings and sculptures from around the world that feature wine and wine drinking.

Wang says the museum houses China's first wine bank, perfectly temperature controlled.

"Our professional staff provides wine selection service, storage service, advice on vintages, wine investments and other issues," Wang says.

The museum contains an exhibit by Huadong cellar, one of China's most famous brands.

"The Qingdao government aims to create a brand-new Lan Kwai Fong (a famous bar street in Hong Kong)," says Lin Hong, director of Information Office of Qingdao.

"It is rebuilding Yan'an No.1 Road, Huangshan Road and Guangrao Road for the purpose to establishing an awesome wine street for Qingdao," he says.

"People who understand wine can enjoy it better," says Xin Ye, the museum designer.

"Compared with the rest of the world, our wine consumption is very low and we have a huge distance to cover, lots of room to improve."

The museum will help people learn wine history and culture and this will encourage them to drink wine, Xin says.

"Wine in moderation is healthy."

hkskyline

August 19th, 2010, 04:03 PM

Qingdao leading new wave of development
29 July 2010
China Daily - Hong Kong Edition

With the rapid development of advanced equipment manufacturing, high-tech industries and modern services, Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong, is becoming an industrial leader.

"Qingdao will take advantage of its high technologies, talent pool and innovative strength to pilot Shandong's plan to foster high-end industry clusters in the Jiaodong Peninsula," Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao, told China Daily.

At present, Qingdao's equipment manufacturing industry accounts for 31.3 percent of the city's industrial sales revenues. High-tech industries account for 46.5 percent of Qingdao's total industrial output value.

In 2009, the output value of high-tech industries in the city was more than 445 billion yuan, up 15.7 percent from the year before.

According to a plan unveiled last December, Qingdao will accelerate development of high-end industries. Among the key industries listed in the plan are marine research and development, biological engineering and new materials; and advanced equipment manufacturing.

Planners estimate the output value of the city's advanced equipment manufacturing industry will reach 540 billion yuan by 2012.

Other predictions place future high-tech industrial output value at an excess of 650 billion yuan.

Finance, logistics and similar high value-added services are also expected to grow, with output value hitting 190 billion yuan.

Attracting investors

Qingdao has already attracted many domestic and foreign investments.

According to the Qingdao Bureau of Commerce, 42 well-known domestic companies - including Datang Power, China Railway Logistics, China Resources, Poly, and Shenzhen Huaqiang - invested in 65 projects in the city last year, contributing a total of 106.8 billion yuan.

In addition, 83 of the world's top 500 enterprises have invested in 175 projects within Qingdao. The projects involve high-end industries such as new energy, new materials, bio-medicine, shipbuilding, marine science and technology, and modern services.

As a result, a number of cutting-edge products have been produced. For example, CSR Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock Co Ltd has developed trains that reach speeds up to 350 km/h.

Qingdao is also an important manufacturing base for ships, household electrical appliances and light helicopters.

And a number of high-end industrial parks have developed rapidly in Qingdao. Its high-tech industrial zone saw the establishment of 21 large projects last year with a total investment of 6.3 billion yuan.

Large projects

Qingdao North Ship Heavy Industry Group invested 7.4 billion yuan in a huge shipbuilding and repair facility last year in Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone. The facility was immediately followed by several large part manufacturing projects, each with an investment of more than 2 billion yuan.

The zone is now the largest shipbuilding and repair base in China, with an annual shipbuilding capacity of 2 million dead weight tons.

In March, construction began on a new semiconductor lighting and display production base in Jiaozhou Bay New Area, with a total investment of 18 billion yuan. It is expected to lead to the formation of an industrial chain with an annual output value of more than 80 billion yuan in five to eight years.

Just a month later, China's first large-scale sapphire LED chip production project became operational in Qingdao high-tech zone, helping efforts to minimize reliance on imported products.

Now, construction of Eastern Everbright Co's communication plastic optical fiber project is underway. It is expected to occupy 40 percent of the global plastic optical fiber market share.

Admiral Oversea Corporation, a global display manufacturing giant, will build its 10th largest global production base in Qingdao. The project will be completed in 2011 and have an annual production capacity of 2 million units.

Qingdao is home to 27 well-known Chinese trademarks and 68 famous Chinese brands.

z0rg

August 22nd, 2010, 05:27 PM

CADREG's proposal for Qingdao Ocean Center (seven star hotel). The project was added to the website in July 2009. 298m, 78 floors. This project has been on the boards for many years, but it used to be just a 215m proposal.
http://www.cadreg.cn/works/content.asp?workclass=0&worksubject=0&id=464
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64/z0rgggg/others2/others3/x.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64/z0rgggg/others2/others3/2x.jpg

hkskyline

August 23rd, 2010, 05:16 PM

Wow ... did they get the inspiration from Dubai?

hkskyline

November 23rd, 2010, 03:24 AM

CALM WATERS AHEAD FOR QINGDAO PORT EXPANSION
11 November 2010
China Daily

GUANGZHOU - The Port of Qingdao, the world's ninth-largest, will triple its annual investment from more than 3 billion yuan ($452.17 million) to 10 billion yuan in 2011, said Chang Dechuan, president of Qingdao Port (Group) Co Ltd, on Tuesday.

He added that Qingdao will also construct a 300,000 ton oil dock and a 250,000 ton coal dock.

"Next year will be crucial for the port's extension," he told reporters during the World Shipping (China) Summit.

The port will realize a container throughput of more than 12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and total throughput of more than 350 million tons in 2010, Chang said.

He expected a year-on-year increase of 8 percent for total throughput and 10 percent for container throughput in 2011.

"The port capacity is less than the actual throughput, that's why we are accelerating investment to expand the docks to accommodate larger ships," he said.

It is also considering preparing further dock construction for Chinamax, a domestically manufactured ship of 400,000 tons, which will be delivered in the first quarter of next year.

In 2010, the port invested more than 3 billion yuan to construct an iron ore dock of 300,000 tons.

Chang said the increased investment will be raised by the port itself. Apart from dock construction, the money will also be used to introduce new technologies and restructure work processes.

Annually, Qingdao Port will spend about 30 million yuan on clean and green operations to reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution.

Since 2009, the port has been tweaking its business strategy to focus more on the import side by reducing the momentum on its more export-oriented container business and focusing on more profitable iron ore and oil imports.

As the nation's largest iron ore and crude oil port, it has focused on the container sector in recent years, and is expected to surpass South Korea's Busan Port to become Northeast Asia's market leader in one or two years.

In 2009, the port finalized a total throughput of 315 million tons. The revenue was more than 12 billion yuan, and profit rose 6 percent year-on-year to 2.8 billion yuan.

Chang said revenue will further increase this year, and profits will rise by more than 10 percent year-on-year to more than 3 billion yuan.

He added that he is confident that profit growth for 2011 will maintain a strong momentum by exceeding 10 percent.

The port now has gross capital of more than 37 billion yuan, and has already cleared all debts this year.

It is gearing up to become the international freight center of Northeast Asia, constructing a series of new docks and developing a newly approved bonded area.

"Actually, we are building another Qingdao Port," said Tian Guangwen, vice-president of the group, in an earlier interview, referring to the new construction project in Dongjiakou, south of the port's 117-year-old base in Jiaozhou Bay.

"How huge a ship can be depends on how huge a dock we have," said Wang Baosheng, vice-chairman of the group's business department.

Wang said the new dock at Dongjiakou will be the first in China to accommodate ships big enough to carry 400,000 tons.

The port will build four docks for ships with a 400,000 ton capacity, two for ships with a 200,000 ton capacity and five docks for ships with a 100,000 ton capacity.

According to the construction plan, 112 berths will be constructed at Dongjiakou, 21 more than at the existing port.

Tian said the capacity of the new docks will be about 40 million tons in three to five years, exceeding the traffic of the existing Qingdao Port.

As part of its expansion project, Qingdao is also developing a bonded port area to attract more domestic and international resources.

Approved on Sept 1, 2009, the first phase of a 9.7-square-kilometer bonded area in Qianwan consists of eight container berths, two multifunctional berths, and dock operations for comprehensive logistics, international logistics and export machinery.

The port expects to take advantage of the convenient customs procedures and favorable tax policies within the area, and to increase container quantity first, then attract cargo from Busan Port with better service.

hkskyline

December 3rd, 2010, 09:30 AM

Qingdao: One of China's top 10 most competitive cities
08:18, November 29, 2010

The East coast city of Qingdao, in Shandong province, has seen a period of "extraordinary growth" and "unprecedented challenges and opportunities" over the past five years, according to its mayor.

The city's GDP was more than 398.19 billion yuan in the first three quarters of this year, Mayor Xia Geng told China Daily. Per capita GDP is close to $ 10,000.

That was an increase of 13.3 percent over the same period of last year. And it is expected to exceed 500 billion yuan by year's end, or double the 2005 figure.

Revenues are expected to rise by an average annual growth of 20 percent, to 450 billion yuan, by the end of this year.

The city has ranked among China's top 10 most competitive, for the past two years, according to a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences report.

Great changes have taken place in the past five years in the urban profile, with more than 1 trillion yuan spent on fixed assets.

There are a number of far-reaching construction projects, such as the tunnel across Kiaochow Bay. And the high-tech industrial zone and near port areas have seen robust development.

"The local authorities are people-oriented and try solving problems that both the urbanites and rural people care most about. There are employment, social security, medical, education, and housing systems," Xia said.

In the past five years, the city has spent 37 billion yuan on welfare, he explained. That accounted for 60 percent of the local government budget. In 2010, it is expected to exceed 11 billion yuan, or 3.7 times the 2005 amount.

The "Civilized Qingdao" project has added some new landmarks, with the Qingdao Grand Theater, Qingdao Sports Center, and Olympic Sailing Museum.

The Beijing Olympics of 2008 held the sailing competition in Qingdao, and the city is now a stopover on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and Volvo Ocean Race, making it the sailing capital in China.

Source : China Daily

hkskyline

March 25th, 2011, 04:25 AM

Qingdao ambitious to be exemplary city
14 March 2011
China Daily - Hong Kong Edition

BEIJING - Shandong province plans to invest 30 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) in Qingdao Port to double its throughput capacity to 600 million tons by 2015, according to Chang Dechuan, president of Qingdao Port (Group) Co Ltd.

The port, currently the world's seventh largest, will play a leading role in the development of the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone, one of three regional ocean economic zones approved by the central government in January as pilot zones for the development of the country's marine economy, Chang, an NPC deputy, said during the two sessions.

"Qingdao Port is currently not big enough to support regional economic development, the transport capacities for mineral, coal and oil especially are not strong," he said.

As the nation's largest iron ore and crude oil port, Qingdao Port has focused on the container sector in recent years, and it is expected to surpass South Korea's Busan Port to become the leading container port in Northeast Asia in one or two years.

Exports from the marine economic zone contributed 78 percent of the total volume of exports in Shandong last year, and attracted 63.5 percent of foreign direct investment in the area.

By constructing a series of new docks and developing a newly approved bonded area, the port is expected to play a more important role in boosting the marine economy in the region.

"Our national economic plan used to focus on the development of land resources," said Fei Yunliang, head of the construction office for the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone.

"We are the first national marine strategy, which shows the new trend for China's economic development."

According to Fei, Shandong is aiming to build up its primary marine industries such as ocean farming, secondary industries such as marine equipment manufacturing and new energy, and tertiary industries such as tourism.

A package of deals valued at 255 billion yuan, including new energy, international logistics, tourism and culture, was signed as part of the new marine economic development strategy in the coastal province last month.

"All development programs are set out according to their local situation and handling capacity," Fei said.

"We will never sacrifice nature for temporary development," he added.

More than half of the national oceanic scientific research programs and many ocean research institutions are located in Qingdao.

"We will bring our scientific research advantages into full play," said Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao.

In 2011, a national program for studying deep-sea science will be set up in Qingdao, which aims to enhance research capability in developing ocean resources and protecting marine environments.

National marine conservation areas, wetland nature reserves and protected islands will be marked out. Qingdao will also hold the Blue Economic International Forum this year.

"Qingdao will be the model city for a harmonious society between people and the ocean," said Xia.

hkskyline

April 14th, 2011, 03:03 PM

Plan to boost city's vitality
5 April 2011
Shanghai Daily

PROPOSALS made in the 12th Five-Year Plan look set to transform Qingdao into a thriving business and tourist destination, while taking measures to protect the environment. Fei Lai looks at the scheme.

In the next five years, Qingdao will shift its orientation from manufacturing to the service industry. By 2015, more than 70 percent of the city's new jobs will be created within the service industry, whose added value will account for 57 percent of the city's total output value.

The 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) of Qingdao will bring the city new vitality both to business and to city life.

Wang Haodong, chief of the development and planning department of Qingdao Development and Reform Commission, interpreted the plan to Shanghai Daily by first showcasing the key characteristics.

The plan puts an emphasis on livelihood issues. More goals and measures concern employment, income, housing, education, medical services and social security.

"With less pursuit of GDP goals, the city government is now focusing more on economic growth and puts public welfare at a new height," Wang said.

"Qingdao people will share the fruit of development. The government will raise the income of farmers and reform the huji (residence permit system) policy to encourage the farmers to move to the city."

The plan puts an emphasis on industries which can boost the market. Taking opportunity of the national strategy, the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone in Qingdao will accelerate the development of its ocean industry and service industry.

The proposal attaches similar importance to ecology and environmental protection. It will build Qingdao as an inhabitable city with a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, with measures on protecting the ocean and ecology.

To ensure the formation of a culture-oriented Qingdao, efforts will be made to raise the city people's living quality.

To ensure rural and urban residents live a better life, with dignity and happiness, an effective mechanism will be developed to deal with disputes and protect people's rights.

Fourteen key construction projects concerning modern agriculture, service industry, strategic emerging industries and social security will be developed. Among them, the construction of a new airport is under consideration. The airport is planned to become a gateway to Qingdao and a regional transport hub. The site of the new airport is not decided yet.

"New airport planning is important to a coastal city like Qingdao. It's good for introducing enterprises and foreign trade to do business here," Wang said.

"Few investors would prefer a place without sound transport and logistic facilities."

Wang said Qingdao would become a hub well-connected to airports in Japan and South Korea. Meanwhile, "more international routes will be launched."

While the city government continues to keep an eye on developing Qingdao into an inhabitable city by environmental protection, major efforts will be made to develop industries including finance, logistics, science and technology, information and intermediary services.

It aims to improve the interaction between the service industry and the manufacturing industry.

To improve people's living quality and promote consumption, the city government will also spare no effort to develop tourism, trade, real estate and housekeeping services.

The same emphasis will be put on emerging services including the headquarters economy, outsourcing, the creative industry and the exhibition economy.

In the next five years, 500 city-level key projects within the service industry, which reaches a total investment of 600 billion yuan (US$91.63 billion), will be promoted by the local government. Great support will be given to leading enterprises within the service industry.

Adjustments on taxation and prices for land, water and natural gas will be made to create a better business environment for the industry.

Similar measures will be implemented to support small and medium-sized companies. It is a way to support urban and rural residents to start businesses, in order to expand the scale of private-owned economy.

Financial Industry

By the end of 2010, the city's total deposits in RMB and foreign currency reached 789.55 billion yuan (US$119.63 billion), and the loan balances reached 636.52 billion yuan. During the last five years, they achieved an average annual growth of 22.7 percent and 23.8 percent respectively.

Qingdao was home to 143 financial institutes by the end of last year, among which 44 are banks, 54 securities and futures institutions, and 45 insurances institutions.

The industry has created more than 60,000 jobs and made great contributions to the local taxation - reaching 4.22 billion yuan.

Tourism Industry

The number of foreign visitors to Qingdao hit 1.08 million last year. The number for domestic visitors reached 43.3 million. Both have increased by 61 percent and 77 percent respectively from the 2005 figures. The total tourism revenue last year reached 58 billion yuan, up 126 percent from 2005.

Tourism has become a major pillar industry for the city. It was listed as one of the World's Most Beautiful Bays by the World Tourism Organization. It has also won titles such as "the best recreational city in China" and "the most energetic tourism city." Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center has become the only demonstration national seaside scenic spot.

By the end of 2010, the city boasted 160 hotels, among which six are five-star and 30 four-star. It also features 344 travel agents and more than 10,000 guides. Scenic spots in Qingdao total 188.

People visiting Qingdao nowadays are doing so for a variety of experiences - holiday, sightseeing, meeting and sports. The time a visitor now spends in Qingdao for each visit has reached 3.6 days, 40 percent longer than a visit in 2005.

hkskyline

July 28th, 2011, 08:08 PM

7 July 2011
China's record-breaking Jiaozhou bridge 'is safe'
BBC

The chief engineer of the world's longest sea-bridge, in China, has denied claims that its construction was rushed to allow it to open on schedule.

Shao Xinpeng told state media that the Jiaozhou bridge, opened last Thursday, was safe and ready for traffic.

Chinese media reported finding incomplete crash-barriers, missing lighting and loose nuts on guard-rails.

Reports blamed workers' haste to finish the bridge in time for the Communist Party's 90th anniversary.

In a report earlier this week, a journalist from the state-run CCTV news channel unscrewed pieces of the guard-rails and showed that the lighting system was not working properly.

Construction workers told CCTV that it would take two months before finishing all of the projects related to the bridge.

But Mr Shao said the problems highlighted in the reports were not major.

"The status of secondary features does not affect the main project or the opening of the bridge," he told the state-run Xinhua news agency.

He added that the lighting system was only aesthetic.

The structure spans 42.4km (26.3 miles), connecting the eastern coastal city of Qingdao to the suburb of Huangdao, in Jiaozhou Bay.

State media say the bridge passed construction tests last Monday and it opened to traffic on Thursday.

It is 4km longer than the previous world record-holder, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the US state of Louisiana.

hkskyline

August 17th, 2011, 05:27 PM

China sets up base to speed up study of deep-sea energy resources
Xinhua
2010-08-26 23:54:02

China will build a multi-million dollar research base on its east coast to accelerate the study and exploration of deep-sea energy resources, officials said Thursday.

The base covers 26 hectars of the ground and 62.72 hectares of the sea in the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, and will serve as a ground support station for China's manned submersible vehicle "Jiaolong".

Engineers have started to design the research base whose initial construction cost is estimated to reach 495 million yuan (around 72.8 million U.S. dollars), said officials from Ministry of Science and Technology and State Oceanic Administration.

Scientists believe sea beds at a depth of 4,000 to 6,000 meters hold abundant deposits of rare metals and methane hydrate, a solidified form of natural gas bound into ice that can serve as a new energy source.

The submersible, designed to dive to a depth of 7,000 meters, managed to reach 3,759 meters beneath the sea level at test runs conducted in this May and June. Its name "Jiaolong" is a mythical sea dragon in Chinese.

China is the fifth country in the world to have conducted a manned dive to more than 3,500 meters below the sea level, after the United States, France, Russia and Japan.

China's ambitious ocean exploration program began in 2002 and has involved more than 100 research institutes and companies, officials said.

The development of the submersible and its support vessel, as well as the selection and training of the crew took six years, oceanic administration officials previously said.

The submersible "Jiaolong" would be used for deep-sea natural resources inspections, as well as research and tests of equipment designed for deep-sea use.

hkskyline

September 3rd, 2011, 07:41 PM

Zones to enhance oceanic economy
2011-09-02
China Daily

Ren Zhengang, director of the construction office at the Qingdao Blue Economic Zone, said a number of zones will be developed to expedite the city's marine economy.

Ren told China Daily the areas will focus on port logistics, modern fisheries, coastal industries, seashore tourism, marine biology and seawater utilization.

The zones are located at Dongjiakou Port, Jiaozhou Bay and Aoshan, Ren said.

"We will also focus on constructing four bases for emerging marine industries, modern fisheries, marine manufacturing and marine services," he said.

"We will mainly develop modern services including port logistics, coastal tourism, sports and cultural creativity," said Ren.

A world-class marine research and development center, a comprehensive equipment manufacturing base and national new material industry base are also expected to begin work, according to Ren.

The city will also speed up introduction and cultivation of high-end talent and improve the vocational education to establish a center of international marine science and technology education.

The city also plans to promote construction of parks and projects to improve the influence of blue economic zone. A regional pilot zone between China, Japan and South Korea is under discussion. A Qingdao Sino-German ecological park will also be developed.

"We will put more effort in marine environmental protection to further promote sustainable and healthy development of the economic zone," Ren said.

Local authorities plan to further enhance protection in Jiaozhou Bay, expand protected areas and integrate coastal regulations.

The government of Qingdao is also highlighting cooperation with neighboring coastal cities in industrial planning, introduction and arrangements for new projects, communication with institutes and marine environmental protection.

hkskyline

September 12th, 2011, 05:29 PM

Chinese city, German accent
2011-09-04
China Daily

http://www.globalphotos.org/shandong/20070331/IMG_8009.jpg

There is more than just that famous malty brew in Qingdao, in fact the former German concession has a charm that is very much all its own, as Li Yao discovers.

A German friend once stepped into a university cafe in Shanghai and confidently ordered a beer. "Tsing-tau, please," he said. The waitress courteously took the order and brought back, well, something he least expected - a pair of scissors. (In Chinese, the words for scissors and Tsingtao sound similar, especially for foreigners who have difficulty articulating the tones.)

Seeing his baffled face, I laughed out loud while correcting his order, but told him I appreciated his polite interest in speaking Mandarin and in tasting a popular Chinese brand. Perhaps there is more than just that. Many German visitors have a soft spot and a remote connection to Qingdao, where the Tsingtao Brewery created by German expatriates in 1903 continues to produce the world-renowned beer.

There is certainly truth in saying that Qingdao is a Chinese city with a German accent. The port city in the eastern part of Shandong province owes much of its charm and quaintness to its German texture, cobblestoned streets, red-tiled roofs, tree-lined avenues, and an out-of-place Bavarian appearance adorned by century-old European architecture.

From 1897 to 1914, Germany administered Qingdao as a concession and expanded its infrastructure and harbor. The occupiers built the railway station and a sewage system, piped in spring water from Laoshan Mountain and set up a brewery to quench the thirst of homesick German soldiers.

Much of the town's original planning has been kept intact, and the architectural heritage eventually evolved into the backbone of Qingdao's booming tourism, and a source of metropolitan pride.

Strolling at leisure is the best way to explore the town, watch the oceanfront sunrise, enjoy the languid beach promenades, and visit the old mansions in the German quarter.

Badaguan, meaning The Eight Great Passes, is the former German residential area. Now filled with cafs and boutiques, the spacious streets each lined with a particular type of tree, offer visitors a lush walk within sight of many European villas built during the German occupation.

Starting from the beautiful train station, people can visit many landmarks on foot, including a commanding catholic cathedral with twin spirals, St. Michael's Church. It remains an active place of worship and holds regular masses. The quiet and sunlit church is a popular site for people taking photographs for their wedding albums.

A few minutes southeast is the protestant church built in 1910 in German art-nouveau style. This elegant structure features a distinctive 39-meter clock tower, sandy yellow walls and red-tiled roof on the exterior.

To the east is Signal Hill, where flags were once raised to direct ships in the harbor. Climbers are rewarded with an idyllic view of the sparkling sea and the two churches nestled in the picturesque German quarter.

The most spectacular of German buildings is the former governor's residence, situated on the edge of the Signal Hill Park. The opulent mansion, built in 1903, uses colors, stones and bricks typical of an ancient Bavarian castle. It once housed the German commander, but is now the Qingdao Guest House.

No extravagance was spared in its majestic layout. It still houses a grand German piano made in 1876. The then German governor had felt he deserved the utmost in luxury, but when Kaiser Wilhelm II saw the excessive bill, the governor was immediately sacked. It is now a museum open to visitors.

The premier shopping street in the old town is Zhongshan Road with many time-honored shops. Since the 1990s, the area has been overshadowed by the emergence of other booming commercial districts, a fate shared by many liyuan, which feature square-shaped homes surrounding a courtyard.

In 2008, the local government re-opened Pichaiyuan, a li-yuan famous for its food and snacks, folk art and entertainment such as opera and cross-talk, as a tourist attraction.

Yet the jewel that crowns Qingdao's integration of Chinese wisdom and German influence is Tsingtao beer, China's proud export to more than 60 countries. With its magic ingredient of mineral water from Laoshan Mountain, it is famed for its delicate foam, crisp clarity and palatable flavor.

Following the tradition of Oktoberfest in Munich, a beer festival has been held in Qingdao every year in late August since 1991. Live performances, parades and seaside firework shows add to the excitement.

The locals seem to share their love for beer wherever they go. They have a famous habit of using plastic bags to take home their beer.

Maybe that is the beauty of this modern metropolis, a charming mix of East and West for those looking for relaxation, exotic diversions, atmospheric walks, sandy beaches, tasty seafood, binge drinking.

hkskyline

November 4th, 2011, 02:44 PM

China's largest deepwater harbor to build vessel traffic service

QINGDAO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's largest deepwater harbor Dongjiakou Harbor, which is under construction in the east coastal city of Qingdao, will cooperate with Shandong Provincial Maritime Affairs Bureau to establish a vessel traffic service (VTS), local authorities said Wednesday.

VTS is a marine traffic monitoring system using advanced sensors such as radar, closed-circuit television, and radiotelephony to keep track of vessel movement in a limited geographical area to improve the safety and efficiency of navigation.

Despite three radar stations and a VTS center that have operated in Qingdao Port since 2006, the current service has failed to cover some water areas in and around Dongjiakou Harbor, according to the authorities.

Qingdao Port consists of four areas: Qingdao old port area, Huangdao oil port, Qianwan new port area and the Dongjiakou harbor area. Dongjiakou Harbor covers an area of about 70 square km and is designed for 112 berths with a frontage of 35.7 km.

The construction work of the Dongjiakou harbor area started in May 2009. The annual capacity of the harbor is expected to reach more than 310 million tonnes by 2020.

hkskyline

November 16th, 2011, 07:39 AM

Qingdao sees its future of "blue Silicon Valley"
2011-11-15
China Daily

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Overall plan of the Qingdao "blue Silicon Valley", an engine behind the city's marine-related industrial development.

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Artist's rendering of the National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technologies in Qingdao, which covers 20 hectares of land and is to be completed next month. This will be China's unique marine science and research laboratory and is expected to rank seventh among all the world's marine research institutes.

Qingdao has its sights on being China's "blue Silicon Valley" - an international center for marine science and technology, a national area for marine scientific and technological innovative development, and a power behind the growth of Shandong Peninsula's "Blue Economic Zone".

This is obviously an ambitious goal, so the city needs to be innovative in some key sectors, with greater creativity in marine science and technology, attracting talented people, and improving its industries and institutions.

It wants to make the blue Silicon Valley a cluster of research institutes, technological incubation centers, and offices that promote research findings.

The local government plans to speed up work on building a marine technological innovation area and is throwing its support behind national marine science and technology laboratory and national deep-sea base. It also wants a national biological research and industrial center and national new marine materials base.

It has made an effort to develop a strategic alliance in industrial innovations, with emphasis on marine breeding and instruments and equipment. It hopes to forge them into its national pilot program, so support will be given to technological research and development in emerging marine industries, to increase Qingdao's competitiveness.

It is also planning a service center for trade in marine technologies to help translate theoretical developments into economic profits. It will have favorable policies for risk investment and marketing, to ensure the transition from technological advances to industrial ones.

Building a new zone

The purpose of the New Economic Zone on West Jiaozhou Bay is to build an economic zone at the national level that is a door that opens to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and is a national shipping and aviation hub, a cluster of international, marine-related industries, and a modern, international city.

It wants to be a new pole of the economy that extends to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei to the north, the Yangtzi River delta to the south, and the Yellow River delta to the west. This will make Qingdao a capital of the ocean, and more open and livable. The new economic zone's GDP is expected to reach 500 billion yuan ($78.7 billion), by 2015, and more than 1 trillion yuan, by 2020.

There will also be plans to support the Jiaozhou Bay industrial equipment zone, Dongjiakou heavy industrial and chemical zone, the Qianwan seaside economic zone, and an ecologically smart city.

An additional effort will be made to develop marine engineering equipment, petrochemicals, marine biomedicine, and modern services. All the above efforts will help make the west coast of Jiaozhou Bay the most vibrant part of Qingdao and an international navigation hub and trade center for the Northeast.

This particular economic zone was first delineated in the Development Plan for the Blue Economic Zone of Shandong Peninsular, which was approved by the State Council in January 2011.

It has a planned area of 2,096 square kilometers.

The developers want to introduce newer global industries and technologies and upgrade the industrial chain. A key marine base will be built for biomedicine, marine energy, and deep-sea equipment.

Minsk

December 5th, 2011, 05:51 PM

New meets old in vision for future campus

Perkins Eastman, in collaboration with Shandong Design Institute, has designed a constructible master plan for the new Qingdao branch of Shandong University (SDU). 1.2 million sq m of buildings will be constructed in a single phase on the 202-hectare campus, breaking ground in late 2011 with estimated completion in 2016.

Situated on the Yellow Sea overlooking Aoshan Bay near Qingdao, the campus will expand Shandong University's international presence by providing world-class teaching, living, and research and development facilities. Cultural facilities on the campus also will serve the local Qingdao community.

In tribute to the original master plan for Shandong University Medical School at Qilu, China, this master plan combines traditional and modern campus planning and architectural and landscape principles to create a campus environment that advances the university's international reputation.

Taking inspiration from Western models of planning for higher education campuses, the campus will foster non-traditional learning through the integration of student centres and dining facilities within the residential buildings. The campus is also defined by its pedestrian-friendly environment with a walkable scale.

The overall master plan is informed by a comprehensive sustainability plan that heralds SDU's status as a distinguished institution for higher learning, most notably including the use of ground source heat pumps; supplementary tidal energy generation; grey water treatment for site irrigation and toilet flushing; and a green roof covering below-grade parking for 1,500 vehicles.

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Minsk

December 7th, 2011, 07:20 PM

Foundation stone ceremony held for Chinese/German Eco-Park in Qingdao

An ecologically designed city quarter for living and working is currently being developed in China’s Qingdao, on the coast of the Yellow Sea, to plans by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp). The foundation stone will be laid on 6th December by Ernst Burgbacher, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Wang Chao, the Chinese Vice-Minister of Economics.

The construction of the Chinese/German Eco-Park in Qingdao goes back to an agreement between the two countries, which was signed by the Federal Ministry for Economics and the Federal Ministry for the Environment during Angela Merkel’s state visit in July 2010; it is scheduled for completion in 2015.

With support from the German Society for Sustainable Building (DGNB) and Transsolar Consultants, gmp developed a list of criteria and measures integrating the highest possible proportion of regenerative energy sources into the master plan: in addition to wind and water power, as well as geothermal energy, the Eco-Park focuses particularly on solar energy. The conditions for this are very good in Qingdao as it has an above-average number of days of sunshine.

With around 10 sq km, the size of the new urban quarter is almost that of the Berlin Mitte district. The site extends from a mountain ridge in the south to the bay in the northeast. In their design, the architects mirror the landscape features of Qingdao – its rock formations and green plains.

The new development features eight quarters which resemble individual rock formations and, with their soft contours, form flowing nature corridors. The short distances between the quarters, the mixed uses and the density and type of buildings, which are up to eight storeys high, support energy conservation in this urban development.

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CoCoMilk

December 8th, 2011, 06:21 AM

way to save ....space ^^

ganghui

December 8th, 2011, 09:23 AM

Tha'ts so very un-Chinese, looks like something they would build in Europe instead. I dont like it. It's good that they are trying to incorporate more eco-friendly projects here in China, but please come on.... Look at the height and style of it.

z0rg

December 8th, 2011, 10:16 AM

Looks like an antigreen project to me.

hkskyline

December 11th, 2011, 06:54 PM

WTO membership has given Qingdao some new growth power
Updated: 2011-12-09 08:40
China Daily

The city of Qingdao, Shandong province has made a historical leap in output and opening-up and has become an important regional center, 10 years after China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), a city official told China Daily recently.

Most important, it is a manufacturing base and marine science and technology research center, as well as an Olympic city.

The city's gross domestic product (GDP) went from $20.7 billion in 2001, to $88.96 billion last year, and per capita GDP is expected to surpass $10,000 this year.

Liu Mingjun, director general of the municipal development and reform commission, has been a witness to the decade of changes, and explained to China Daily that, "The WTO entry injected new growth power into the city, bringing steady development. It also pushed our industrial adjustment and increased our competitiveness."

Foreign trade has been another beneficiary, with imports and exports worth $56.15 billion in 2010, compared with 2001's $12.36 billion, for an average annual growth rate of 18.3 percent.

The amount of utilized foreign funds reached $2.84 billion in 2010, almost twice the 2001 figure, and Qingdao is now working on projects with 80 global Fortune 500 companies.

Liu said that, despite the challenges China faced with WTO membership, it has faced some serious tests that in fact greatly improved its competitiveness with some international experience and more active involvement in global labor issues.

In the area of structural adjustment of its industries, the city has gradually shifted its focus from its labor-intensive textile and food processing to capital- and technology-intensive areas.

These include ship-building, automobiles, and trains as well as financial and science and technology information services.

To grow in the financial sector, it has worked more closely with other countries and brought in some foreign financial institutions.

By now, it has 24 foreign financial institutions, compared with only eight, 10 years ago. And, seven of its own enterprises have been listed overseas.

"We've closely followed global industrial trends in areas such as information software and service outsourcing," Liu added.

The city now has some major enterprises with great influence not only in China but abroad as well and is cooperating more with international companies. This has further improved the competitiveness of local companies in international markets.

Some of the cooperative relationships involve Haier and Sanyo; Tsingtao, Budweiser and Asahi beer; Hisense and Sumitomo; and the port of Qingdao and Maersk.

Tsingtao is now one of the top 10 brewers in the world, while Haier is China's leading manufacturer of white electrical appliances. At the same time, Hisense is the only Chinese company that holds three prominent trademarks.

"As we implemented a globalization strategy, we made full use of both Chinese and overseas markets and resources, and took innovation very seriously, building brands and developing a number of large transnational companies," Liu went on to explain.

One example of these results is the Haier-Luba economic cooperation zone, the first zone of its kind with a presence abroad. Then there is the Qingdao Construction Group, which ranks among the top 225 companies of its kind in the world.

And, MESNAC has built a rubber and tire research center in Europe, the first such effort for China, while the Double-star Group has 10 overseas branches.

hakz2007

February 11th, 2012, 02:32 AM

Qingdao builds itself as an international trade center
Qingdao, a leading economic city of East China's Shandong province, aims to become an international trade center in the near future. This will take advantage of its booming trade industry and favorable geographical position, according to sources with the municipal commerce department.

The city's imports and exports continued to grow in 2011 with a total value amounting to $71.26 billion. This is an increase of 27.2 percent year-on-year, according to a government work conference held on Feb 6. Read more (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/qingdao/2012-02/10/content_14575323.htm)

hakz2007

February 11th, 2012, 02:35 AM

Waterfront complex springs up in Qingdao
Construction begins on Atkins’ mixed-use Pacific Dream Plaza in Qingdao, China
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Construction of the Atkins-designed Pacific Dream Plaza in Qingdao in northern China has begun. The riverside 300,000 sq m mixed use development is centred around a series of landscaped squares and paths and includes a 30-storey five star hotel tower, 1,500 residential units and office and retail space.

Peter Ridley, Atkins’ senior design director, said: “This project presented a fascinating challenge because the area was partially enclosed by a river but it also gave us a great opportunity to create a remarkable quarter in a new urban location. Through rigorous testing of the client’s needs we have created a development that is distinctive, functional and one with value as a new outdoor space amenity to the wider community.”Read more (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18903)

little universe

February 12th, 2012, 12:59 PM

From www.archdaily.com (http://www.archdaily.com/206131/horticulture-expo-in-qingdao-hks/)

2014 Qingdao World Horticultural Expo Conservatory Building

For More Information, click the Archdaily link below:

http://www.archdaily.com/206131/horticulture-expo-in-qingdao-hks/

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hkskyline

February 12th, 2012, 01:39 PM

What is the planned use after the exhibition?

hkskyline

February 23rd, 2012, 05:17 PM

Qingdao's marine projects win national awards
2012-02-22
China Daily

Qingdao was involved in 14 science and technology awards at a high-profile annual ceremony held in Beijing, to honor excellent scientists and research achievements on Feb 14. Qingdao brought home more awards than any other city in Shandong province.

Qingdao's marine projects stood out in all 14 awards. The project for key technologies and applications for the testing of oceanographic instruments and working foundation platforms was awarded the second-grade National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology. The project was led by Dr. Wu Dexing, president of the Ocean University of China (OUC).

The Qingdao-based OUC has won national science and technology awards for six consecutive years.

The world's longest cross-sea bridge, Jiaozhou Bay Bridge that opened last July, was on the list of the second-grade "National Technological Invention Award". This award is related to the technology of underwater concrete boxed cofferdam without bottoms. These not only saved 160 million yuan ($25.44 million) for the project, but also shortened the construction period.

Furthermore, the core part of this advanced technology has been applied in the world's largest "Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge" project, according to a local report.

Haier Group won the first prize for "Enterprise Technological Innovation Project", showing that enterprises in Qingdao have made great breakthroughs in research.

The team led by academician Xie Lixin, who created a new theory and technical application for the deadly infectious keratitis, was honored as another second-grade "National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology" for Qingdao city.

hkskyline

April 11th, 2012, 04:01 AM

Construction for 2014 Qingdao Horticultural Expo in full-swing
2012-04-09
China Daily

A mobilization ceremony was held last week to kick off the 300-day construction of the exhibition and park area of the 2014 Qingdao International Horticultural Expo (QIHE).

"The preparatory work of the expo was given social support and we intend to host a world-class horticultural event featuring Chinese fashion, Shandong elements and Qingdao brands," said Wang Jianxiang, Qingdao vice-mayor and the executive director general of the QIHE Executive Committee. He called on all participants to "race against time, take part in every duty and strive for excellence" to ensure the site construction runs smoothly.

Major infrastructure work is expected to be finished by the end of the year, including the roadbed construction, pipeline installment, dam, gully and other water system management projects, and the planting of decorative woody plants. The preparatory team is required to make significant progress in constructing the themed pavilions and other structures, accomplishing their goal for the exhibitor marketing.

Located at the Baiguo Mountain Forest Park of Qingdao, the 2014 World Horticultural Expo will be held from April to October 2014, attracting an estimated 1.2 million visitors.

Li Fengli, secretary-general of the QIHE Execution Committee, said that the event will be another significant result after the city successfully held the Sailing Regatta of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"Qingdao will present the world with its ocean elements and international event organization standards as an Olympic city," Li told China Daily.

More than 40 foreign exhibitors are expected to participate. Last week the organizing committee signed a contract with Pattaya, Thailand. The contract made Pattaya the first overseas exhibitor. Brest, Qingdao's sister city in France confirmed its participation in an official letter released on March 21.

"We will execute the construction plan on a 24-7 schedule with several shifts in the next 300 days," Li said.

The major part of the park is built on a hill, which brings greater challenges to the construction team. "But the final effect of the park will surprise visitors with a splendid undulating landscape and varieties," Li added.

Minsk

June 22nd, 2012, 12:47 AM

World Horticultural Expo Pavilion / UNStudio + !Melk

Architect: UNStudio
Landscape Architect: !Melk Landscape Architecture
Location: Qingdao, China
Client: Office of 2014 Qingdao World Horticultural Expo Executive Committee
Building site: 35.000m2
Program: Main Expo Pavilion with integrated Landscape Design
Status: Awarded Competition

For the International Horticultural Expo 2011 in Xi’an, we followed the design, construction and completion of Plasma Studio’s geometric design that extended from the grounds into the water. Currently, Qingdao, a major city in the Shandong province of Eastern China, is preparing for the 2014 Expo under the thematic notion “Let life walk into nature.” The event, which will be held from April through October, will feature three different pavilions (a theme pavilion, plant pavilion and garden culture center) and seven different themed areas that will display local horticulture and allow visitors to experience international gardens, such as displays from Europe, America and Oceania. The focal point of the Expo will be marked by a 28,000 m2 thematic pavilion designed by UNStudio and !Melk Landscape Architecture. The design focuses on the relationship between Science and Nature, using scientific achievement as a source of inspiration to “communicate the essential generative and structural principles of nature through architectural gesture,” explained the firm.

The Theme Pavilion will include a Main Expo Hall, a Performance Hall, Conference Center, and a Media Center. As the focal point of the masterplan, the pavilion must fuse the different elements of the exhibition into a cohesive whole. To do so, local vegetation will create different experiences to reference the seven themed areas of the larger exposition. In order to provide framework to the open spaces between the buildings, !Melk designed seven landscape-”patterns” inspired by microscopic or molecular geometries which represent the core essence of the seven themes. Such patterns are fully composed integrated landscapes that merge the varying themes together in a functional and educational manner.

The pavilion also acknowledges the two bodies of water extending North and South of the pavilion site, and the ‘Rainbow Ribbons’, which permeate the entire surrounding landscape as pedestrian bridges and meet at the Celebration Square.

Most importantly, the design seeks to balance the notion of building and landscape as the landscape will form a continuous entity, softly enveloping the buildings and dissolving their connection to the ground. The roofscape, articulated to respond to the dominant skyline of the mountains, are envisioned as elevated landscaped plateaus, each addressing a different portion of the masterplan with its inclination and terracing, providing panoramic views which extend far into the surrounding landscape.

http://www.archdaily.com/245609/world-horticultural-expo-pavilion-unstudio-melk/

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everywhere

June 22nd, 2012, 10:34 AM

^^ Such a cool design for the upcoming Horticultural Expo... :cheers:

little universe

July 6th, 2012, 10:33 AM

Qingdao Grand Theatre

From Archdaily.com (http://www.archdaily.com/251673/grand-theater-qingdao-gmp-architekten/)

Architects: gmp architekten
Location: Qingdao, Shandong, China
Design Team: Meinhard von Gerkan, Stephan Schütz, Nicolas Pomränke
Project Year: 2010
Project Area: 60,000 sqm
Photographs: Christian Gahl

he Grand Theater is situated on the eastern side of the city of Qingdao between a bay in the Yellow Sea and Mount Laoshan (1,130m above sea level). Because of the unique situation of the massif directly by the sea, the Laoshan ridge is often wreathed in clouds, which gives the landscape a unique, often mystical, setting.

The style of the building relates to the mentioned natural spectacle, with the massif and the lightness of the clouds reflected in the appearance of the Grand Theater. It rises from the landscape like a mountain — a cloud-like roof seems to wreathe the four buildings. The raised terraces in the surrounding park are reminiscent of a mountain plateau, and take their bearings both from the sea and the mountains.

In addition to the opera house a concert and a multifunction hall as well as a media center and a hotel are integrated into the complex.

The foyer of the opera house offers direct views of the sea. Audiences can enter the auditorium on two levels, either via the lower level, giving access to the large cloakrooms and the lower circle, or via the main foyer.

The walls and floor of the foyer are clad with local stone, which emphasizes the affinity of the building with the mountain.

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Minsk

July 6th, 2012, 04:58 PM

^^
Beautiful building! I really like those smooth lines in the interior and exterior of the building.

hkskyline

November 13th, 2012, 11:29 PM

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Tourists visit the Zhanqiao Pier in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 8, 2012. The Zhanqiao Pier at the southern shore of Qingdao was built in 1892. It will receive an overhaul next spring. The 440-meter-long strip pier stretches into the sea and was the first wharf of Qingdao. (Xinhua/Huang Jiexian)

Minsk

November 20th, 2012, 10:20 PM

Aedas design new facility for cultural arts and sports in Qingdao

Qingdao Chengyang Cultural Arts & Sports Center is located on the eastern portion of the district’s existing cultural plaza. The crystal-like building massing creates a multidimensional interaction with the surrounding street façades and helps to shape the public activity on the plaza. At the same time, the massing and landscape concept serves to extend the central axis from the existing cultural plaza in order to produce a seamless spatial connection and unified civic space.

The dynamic geometry of the theater and stadium seek to establish an entirely new city image with unique public spaces that reflect the variety and dynamism of local urban life. Local stones have been utilised to create a layered façade concept that adds a sense of depth and place to the project.

The concept for the museum and archive is inspired by Qingdao’s unique history that blends traditional Chinese values with the influence of Western ideals brought to China over the past few centuries. The building form and spatial quality draws on Qingdao’s distinctive vernacular architecture which represents this blend of East and West.

Source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=21138)

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el palmesano

November 22nd, 2012, 09:02 PM

great projects

hkskyline

January 23rd, 2013, 06:19 PM

Chinese deep-sea base to start operation in 2014

QINGDAO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Construction on a national deep-sea base will begin in May 2013 in east China's Shandong province and will be completed by the end of 2014, local authorities said Tuesday.

The deep-sea base is expected to go into operation by the end of 2014, said Liu Feng, director of the National Deep Sea Center based in the coastal city of Qingdao.

"A series of facilities, including wharfs, a deep-sea equipment maintenance workshop and large-scale experimental pools, as well as oceanaut training facilities, will be put into use by then," Liu said.

Located in Aoshanwei township in the city of Jimo under the jurisdiction of Qingdao, the deep-sea base's poor accessibility and living conditions will make it difficult to attract talent, Liu said.

The base will not only be a ground support station for the Jiaolong manned submersible, but will also act as an operations platform for large-scale deep-sea equipment, according to Liu.

The base will also serve as a multi-functional institution that will aid China in its study and exploration of the ocean, Liu added.

The construction of the base was approved by the State Council, or China's cabinet, in January 2007.

Minsk

February 21st, 2013, 07:47 PM

Spanish architects RTA-Office reveals mixed-use scheme with references to local beer

A mixed-use complex which references a famous Chinese beer is to be constructed in the city of Qingdao, China. The project, entitled the Nanjing Road Mixed-Use Area, has been designed by Spanish architectural firm RTA-Office in collaboration with Tengyuan Design Institute Company and features a 128m-high boutique hotel, as well as residential, commercial and office space.

Covering an area of 200,000 sq m, the complex will occupy an entire block of Qingdao and will be completed in five years. Talking about the choice to reference Tsingtao beer, the most famous beer brand in China, the firm commented: “The beer is a very popular element, something that is part of the identity of the city, that the local user can easily remember and that has enough power to attract the people’s attention.

“We wanted to take advantage of the popularity of the beer in order to create a project that becomes a landmark in the city, something that everybody will know as the ‘project of the beers’. Although the concept is very iconic, the truth is that the project does not pretend to reproduce pints of beer, it uses the volumetry and the colours of the beer as a reference.”

The design also encompasses a series of walkways between the various buildings, and features a four-storey high ‘podium’ which connects some of the buildings and contains commercial spaces.

Attention has also been paid to the colour scheme, with the towers in various shades of orange and yellow, and the differing angular shapes of the towers to give 'a touch of elegance and warmth to the complex', according to RTA-Office. Founded by Santiago Parramón, the firm has been expanding its presence in China, having also recently designed the Qingdao Innovation Park in China.

worldarchitecturenews (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=21878)

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el palmesano

February 21st, 2013, 07:54 PM

^^ great project!!!

little universe

March 15th, 2013, 11:44 PM

From archdaily.com (http://www.archdaily.com/342257/qingdao-harborfront-redevelopment-proposal-eek-a-perkins-eastman-company/)

Qingdao Harborfront Redevelopment Proposal

Designed by EE&K a Perkins Eastman Company, their proposal for the Qingdao Harborfront Redevelopment project was recently awarded a 2013 Urban Design Honor Award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter. The Harborfront occupies 26 hectares of former maritime/industrial uses in Downtown Qingdao, facing Jiaozhou Bay, and represents the anchor redevelopment for the city’s waterfront revitalization initiative. With the relocation of commercial port activities across the bay, antiquated docklands and shipyards throughout Downtown are now poised to become new mixed-use communities that will re-unite residents with their waterfront. More images and architects’ description after the break.

In addition to new commercial and residential development as well as new infrastructure, the project will include a multi-modal transit hub – a substantial contribution to the city-wide transportation network – that will be situated beneath a new public park overlooking the water. Selected structures and conditions at the existing site will be transformed from “liabilities” to public assets.

Examples include the former Dry Dock, to be preserved in its original location and converted into a water inlet and marina within one of several public plazas; a number of ship building cranes will be decommissioned and preserved as historical artifacts; and several warehouses and similarly large facilities will be renewed as waterside retail, restaurant, and nightlife destinations. These important preservation and adaptive reuse efforts are a remembrance and celebration of the city’s maritime/industrial past, and bring a measure of historical continuity to the new neighborhoods of Qingdao Harborfront.

This plan unites three disparate sites into one cohesive and sustainable waterfront community, while establishing a distinctive character for each. Zhongdao and Nandao will comprise multiple mixed-use neighborhoods, while Tuandao will serve as a recreational marine park facing the East China Sea. All three are linked by a continuous waterfront edge, a 30-meter setback zone that forms a generous pedestrian esplanade.

This winning project, alongside other winners, will be recognized at the annual Design Awards Luncheon on April 17. The Design Awards Exhibition, presenting all winning work, will open at the Center for Architecture, at 536 LaGuardia Place in New York, on April 18, 2013.

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el palmesano

March 16th, 2013, 01:39 AM

^^ seems amazing!!

little universe

April 7th, 2013, 03:30 PM

Amsterdam Block (Apartments)

Architects: CONTEXTURE ARCHITECTS
Location: Qingdao, China
Architect In Charge: Mr. Wouter Bolsius
Area: 5000.0 sqm
Year: 2010
Photographs: Courtesy of CONTEXTURE ARCHITECTS

ere on plot A6 there has been created the perfect combination of the liveliness of the city with its nice small boutiques and terraces on the one hand, and the relaxation of the national park with its beautiful trees and immense green area for strolling, on the other hand. Therefore two urban blocks have been formed around green courtyards which are attached to the mountain park.

Instead of making apartment towers as solitary objects we try to make enjoyable urban spaces: streets, squares and courtyards. On two sides of the green central axis square which leads to the mountain park, low apartment blocks have been situated which form an intimate square with terraces belonging to the coffee shops and small restaurants which are located on the ground floor. Near the Hefei road the block has been set back and thus also creates a large square which ascends slowly and has various levels.

The mountain park, the city natural oxygen bar, which is the greatest quality of this location “rolls” down to the Hefei road; the green courtyards with wild grasses are the extension of the park while even on roadside above the commercial spaces, trees are planted. the greenery extends to every corner of the site. Of course the apartments all have good sight on the green park and the mountain but some special ones, have the perfect orientation on this side. These larger apartments are facing the park with complete living and dining room and terraces so they can experience and enjoy optimal sun and view.

Everywhere in China in new housing development projects one can see the repetition of identical units both vertically as horizontally. There is much uniformity. Here, in plot A6, a new strategy has been followed: the blocks have been brought back into hierarchy and the houses have been individualized. This has been done in order to bring back human scale in the living environment of the big city life and to make a agreeable and understandable place to live. By distinguishing three levels of perception, the large buildings become of a acceptable and even tactile scale.

The first, largest scale level is that of the city, here we can experience individual towers, as identities, from large distance. So, from a distance a range of dissimilar towers can be seen on the highest level of the plot. These “identities” protrude from the building ensemble and are materialized in 3 different kinds of grey plasterwork, from light to dark.

Then , secondly, there is the scale level which still has contact with people on the ground floor, the stories up to the eight, nine floors. This in fact the height where one becomes detached from earth activities. This middle level is also made visible in the design by materialization which reminds us of the natural stone in the historical German architecture in Qingdao. A kind of “city wall” which reminds of the natural stone base of the historical architecture and colors a bit yellow, the most well known color in Qingdao.

The last scale level is the one on the ground and first floor, which consists of the commercial spaces. This is the place where one can actually touch the building and has the closest perception of things. Therefore materials here are fine and small and there is much detail in the facade.

A separate and guarded community road which is only strictly accessible for residents, gives access to the apartment buildings. A safe and quiet living environment can thus be created. In order to have the most comfortable situation it has been made possible to park under the green courtyard from where one can directly enter the apartment building.

All apartments have been designed in order to have the optimal effective use of the space. And at the same time all effort has been made to have a spatial relation between the different rooms which enlarges the apartment.

In block 7, 10 and 11 on each of the sixteen floor we find four apartments of around 90 m2 area being accessed from the elevator hall. They all have a comfortable living room which is in open connection with the dining area. The closed kitchen is situated right next to this. The apartments consist of two bedrooms and one/two terraces, while the kitchen and bathroom of course can open to outside for fresh ventilation. There are two bathrooms for the end units. There is much variation in the higher floors and in the facades. The loose location and the specific orientation secure nice views of both park, courtyard as well as city.

Block 8 and 9 are the two relative low building blocks flanking the green axis square leading to the entrance of Shuangshan park. Here we find larger apartments, 120 m2 each and only two apartments per floor are being accessed from the escalator hall. The extra space gives them three bedrooms and two terraces. Here also the living room is connected with dining area which is in close relation to the closed kitchen. The kitchen and two bathroom also here can open to the outside. Although all apartments have good orientation and sunlight access, the gables looking at the Hefei road are particularized, they also have a interesting view at the square and the Hefei road.

On the west-south edge of the plot large apartments of 160 m2 have been created. These special ones have complete focus on the mountain park and are in fact the most luxurious available units. Their living area and dining room make one big space which is completely related with the park, on the long side of the space they have glass walls which gives fantastic vies on the greenery. Next to this they consist of three sleeping rooms, one study room, two bathrooms and two terraces.

City feeling is about vitality and dynamics while country side best can be associated with calmness and unity. In the A6 project we have expressed both and made different forms by using only few materials and colors and by making the details as abstract as possible. Plasterwork, tiles, aluminum and glass are the main materials we chose to achieve this. As noted before we find it important that the resident can simply distinguish his or her house and can easily point out where one settles. Creating one’s own place to live instead of being part of an anonymous mega structure is the message. Still it remains to be our task to create order and context in the built environment, therefore we have sought a delicate balance between richness of expression and clearness of simple forms and volumes.

The landscape design for the inner courtyards is based upon the contrast with the street and the urban space. Our idea is to make an organic landscape in the courtyard where one does not experience the high buildings but presumes to be in the mountain park . Therefore high hedges have been planned together with covering trees and wild grasses. As green and informal as can be in contrast with the straight forms of the stone buildings.

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Atmosphere

April 7th, 2013, 03:51 PM

Awesome to see the IAMSTERDAM letters in China. :D

hkskyline

April 27th, 2013, 07:30 PM

Coastal city greens up its act for horticulture event
China Daily

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhuanet) -- As host, it is striving to be symbol of smart ecology

The ideals of ecology will be seen in every single tree, road and building, said Li Qun, Party chief of Qingdao, the host city of the 2014 International Horticultural Expo.

Six years after hosting the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events, the city will once again be the focus of the world's attention as the first Chinese coastal city to host an international horticultural expo.

The event will be a people-oriented gala integrating ecological concepts and world-class standards, said Li.

"The expo will be a presentation of harmony between human and nature," he said. "Gardening technologies and approaches will be showcased as much as possible to allow the visitors to interact with nature and get inspiration from it."

Under the theme "From the earth, for the Earth", the expo will be held in a venue covering an area of more than 240 hectares, beside which is a 55-hectare business and service district known as the Expo Village.

The venues are projected to be complete by October, and trial operations will begin at that time.

Expo planners are taking special care to preserve the city's natural beauty, cultural heritage and biodiversity, according to the local government.

The organizers said that they have paid attention to preserving natural resources and landscapes in the process of construction and used modern technologies to restore environments that had been previously damaged.

The restoration includes the famous tourism resort of the Laoshan Mountains.

Known for its high-quality granite, the place used to be home to many quarries, and the economy of many local villages was highly dependent on the stone business. But years of over-exploitation has resulted in heavy damage to the environment.

So, the government has taken measures to "repair the mountains in a natural way".

"We have taken too much from nature, and now it is time to pay back," said Li Fengli, secretary-general of the expo's executive committee.

A special concrete mixed with seeds is paved on the slopes to guarantee the strength of the surface of the mountains while the grass and bushes grow.

"We are repairing the environment in a natural way," said Li. "We have actually done much to make it look like we have done nothing at all."

There are also green technologies inside the venues.

With the help of mirrors, sunlight is introduced to places that it could not reach directly. Rainwater will be collected and reused. A unique power generation system is employed, using natural gas to generate electricity and simultaneously produce heating and cooling.

Many devices using solar power or recycled energy can also be seen in the venues.

Special bricks are used to pave the roads, which look solid but allow water to filter down very fast when it rains.

The architecture at the venues is "grown, rather than built", because most of it has been covered with vegetation, said the secretary-general.

"It doesn't look like just steel plus concrete," he said.

He also said that the eco-friendly concept that the expo represents can help accelerate the economic development of the region, especially in terms of infrastructure improvement.

Where the main venues stand today used to be backward villages without running water or sewage treatment systems, nor did they have gas and heat. But the expo has changed the situation rapidly, allowing the local people to transit from being villagers to urban residents and enjoy improvements to their quality of life.