Qingdao Ocean Hotel

This is a taoist temple right...

by bokononist

This is a taoist temple right on the ocean about an hour away from the city. It was included as part of the Laoshan tour and it's really beautiful and peaceful. It's similar to many of the Buddhist temples I went to but still very unique. It's a very important temple and definitely worth making a trip to. It's nice in the fall with all the leaves changing.

Qingdao

by xiquinho

Situated in Shandong province (the birthplace of Confucius), Qingdao seems surprisingly European. As a picturesque city surrounded on three sides by the Yellow Sea, it features startling Bavarian-style architecture left by the Germans who occupied the city for 16 years after 1898. Qingdao's major tourist attractions include six sandy beaches and several excellent museums. Founded early last century, Qingdao Brewery offers regular tours, while the Qingdao Art Museum, originally built by a merchant as a shelter for the poor, contains a superb collection of paintings and archaeological exhibits illustrating Shandong's rich history. The main landmark on the city's harbourfront, Huilan Pavilion, comprises two floors of exhibition space displaying Shandong arts and crafts. Lu Xun Park, Huadong Winery and Xiao Qingdao are also popular tourist spots.

Elegant presentation is an essential part of Qingdao cuisine, and seafood dishes are the best-known Qingdao fare.

Unique but inexpensive arts and crafts are widely available, such as the six-sided hats of Shandong and ornate handcrafted shell ware. Since 1945, Qingdao has become a major industrial centre, concentrating on railway locomotive construction, but has recently diversified into light industries, including cameras and electronics.