Santiago Hotel Qingdao

Korean farmer's meal

by hooiluangoh about The Korean restaurant near Maidao

The building that houses the restaurant looks like it is going to collapse any minute, but it gives that Korean country-side feeling.

The veg meal is delicious. It's pork prepared in Korean style. It comes with a basket of raw veg and other korean salads. The koreans eat the veg by dipping them in a soy paste. Delicious if you love inexpensive Korean food.

Qingdao China, my home away from home

by ElsieL

"Life in Qingdao"

Qingdao is a beautiful ocean city, often passed up by tourists. It has a european feel to many parts of the city (since Qingdao was leased to Germany for 99 years), but it is becoming more more modern everyday. It is full of great local people who will often bring you into their houses and treat you as part of their own family. I have spent some time there the last two years, and it has become my home away from home. Its is getting a larger western influence, in the food, dress, and even cars. Subway, KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, are just some of the western food you will find there. There are many nice hotels to choose from, and since it isnt a large tourist city, the cost is still rather reasonable. Qingdao has about 8,000 taxis, and riding a taxi there is cheaper then any other city I have been to so far (start at about 7 RMB) and the busses range from 1-2 rmb so travel is quite easy.

"What to do????"

There are many things you can do in Qingdao, it just depends on what you like. If you like to go shopping then head down to Zhong Shan Lu and take advantage of all the shops selling everything you can imagine. Qingdao has many beaches, go to bathing beach no. 1, rent a boat, and paddle your way into the ocean, or just lay on the beach. You can also go to the Dynasty hotel which is right near the beach, they have a bar with great music. I worked in the bar for a bit so perhaps I am partial, but its a nice place to go to hear some good English music (and popular chinese music as well) . You can also go to the Naval museum and go into a real submarine, or just check out the weapons from all over the world. You can go to May 4th square and fly kites, ot just walk along the sea side and look at all the shops.

"Foreigner Favorites:"

Qingdao is home of many foreigners, since there is a large University there. The University has a German business program, but because of the location there are also many Koreans. I attended Ocean University's Mandarin Courses and was lucky enough to mean people from all different countries.
If you like to eat there is lots of places to go, my favorite is Luigi's Pizzeria, it might be hard to find, but ask a foriegner and they will be able to tell you where its at. Luigi, as we affectionaltely call him, was taught how to make pizza by a german student. He does it proper in a brick oven. The food is amazing, and its about 30 kuai (little less then 4 dollars) for a pizza and a coke, the beer is really cheap here too, plus the ambiance is AMAZING.

The Jazz Bar is also a local favorite near Jusco. It has fooseball tables so you can play that (or dice) as you listen to the live music.
Steven Gao's Restaurant (right down restarant street) has lots of rock n' roll memoribilia, the menus are are English and Chinese and if you have ever wanted sweet and sour prawns and french fries this is the place for you. Steven is hip to western culture (he even knew Sacramento is the capital of California) and the food is great. The food is alot like the Chinese food we have come to known and love, so its especially great for foreigners.
Another Bar which attracts locals and foreigners a like is the French Bar. Here you can get some spaghetti or many other meals and good drinks. There is often dancing, its a small place, but they know how to fill it up.