Qingdao (青岛)

1. Introduction

Qingdao, abbreviated as Qing, historically known as Jiao'ao, and also referred to as Jiao, Qindao, or Island City, is a sub-provincial city, a city specifically designated in the state plan, and a regional central city located in Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. It is the largest city in Shandong Province, a key coastal central city and seaside resort tourism city in China, an international port city, a national historical and cultural city, and the central city of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration and the Qingdao metropolitan area. Qingdao has a developed economy, ranking third in economic output among northern cities, following only the two municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin (2020 data). The municipal government is located at No. 11 Hong Kong Middle Road, Shinan District.

Qingdao is situated on the northern part of China's coastline, on the southern side of the Jiaodong Peninsula, with vast hinterlands to the west. Its advantageous geographical location gained attention in modern times. Subsequently, in 1891, the Qing government stationed troops and established the city. In 1897, Germany leased the area to construct ports and railways, leading Qingdao to prosper due to "one port and one railway" and become a hub for German and Japanese trade in China. In modern times, during the German lease period, Qingdao transformed from a remote fishing village into a commercial city. During the Japanese occupation, manufacturing industries, led by textiles, emerged, further transforming Qingdao into an industrial and commercial city with an increased level of urbanization. The development of transportation, architecture, communication, education, and scientific research accompanying the city's growth has played a significant role in China and even Asia [Ref. 9]. Qingdao's development model as a port city, along with half a century of Westernization since its establishment, led to the fusion of traditional Chinese culture with foreign influences in Qingdao. However, due to the outflow of talent from universities—cultural carriers—during policy adjustments in the early years of the People's Republic and other human factors, Qingdao once became a "cultural desert." Entering the 21st century, as a maritime city driven by shipping and the economy, Qingdao has become suitable for attracting university talent, focusing on developing cultural industries, and striving to create a "cultural oasis" environment. Conversely, its historical openness has resulted in a large influx of migrants and a high degree of openness in Qingdao's urban culture. Residents exhibit positive traits such as a high level of recognition of foreign ideas, social systems, and modernization.

Qingdao's importance continues to grow. It is now a central coastal city in China, an international resort tourism city, an external port city, a national garden city, an international shipping and logistics hub in Northeast Asia, a pilot zone for marine economic international cooperation, a seaside resort tourism destination, and one of China's most livable cities. It is also a national marine economy demonstration zone (a leading area for marine science and technology innovation, a demonstration zone for civil-military integration innovation, and a strategic support base for deep-sea development), a major maritime gateway for the Yellow River Basin, the eastern bridgehead of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the core city of the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone, and a central city for marine scientific research and industrial development in China, as well as an important base for modern manufacturing and high-tech industries. Qingdao boasts an international seaport and a regional hub airport, making it one of the 21 national logistics node cities and one of the 42 national comprehensive transportation hubs (node cities). It is also one of China's 14 coastal open cities and 8 international conference cities. On October 31, 2017, UNESCO announced Qingdao's inclusion in the "Creative Cities Network" as a "City of Film."

The headquarters of the People's Liberation Army Navy North Sea Fleet, the North Sea Bureau of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration are all located in Qingdao. Qingdao hosted events for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the 2009 National Games of the People's Republic of China, the 2014 World Horticultural Exposition, the 2015 World Leisure Games, and the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization annual summit in June.

2. City Name

Origin The proper name "Qingdao" of Qingdao City originally referred to a small island in the bay off the city's coast. It was named "Qingdao" (Green Island) because the island was shaded by lush green trees and remained verdant throughout the year. The name "Qingdao" initially referred to Sanping Island in the sea east of Jimo. The small island in the bay off the coast was called "Xiao Qingdao" (Little Green Island) in various local documents from the early Qing Dynasty. During the Qianlong era, this small island was renamed "Qingdao." The bay where Qingdao is located was named Qingdao Bay after the island, and a small river flowing into the sea there was also called the Qingdao River. A port was established at the estuary of the Qingdao River during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and was named Qingdao Kou (Qingdao Estuary). Two villages on either side of the river were named Upper Qingdao Village and Lower Qingdao Village. In 1923, a mountain at the source of the river was also officially named Qingdao Mountain.

Changes Before Germany leased the Jiaozhou Bay area in 1897 [Note 2], the administrative divisions within the current municipal area of Qingdao were the Renhua Township and Liren Township of Jimo County. After the signing of the Sino-German "Jiao'ao Lease Treaty" in 1898, the old name for Jiaozhou Bay, "Jiao'ao," became the term for this region. Germany named this first-level administrative leased territory "Kiautschou, Deutsches Pachtgebiet" (Jiaozhou Bay Leased Territory). Within the fortress defense line, four areas were planned and constructed: Tsingtau (Qingdao), Tapautau (Dabaodao), Taihsitschen (Taixizhen), and Taitungtschen (Taidongzhen). The official residence of the Gouvernements (translated as "Governor's Office" in modern times) was located in Tsingtau. After Japan replaced Germany and occupied the leased territory for the first time, it continued to use the previous names and constructed additional urban areas. In 1922, the Republic of China reclaimed the leased territory and established the centrally-administered Jiao'ao Commercial Port. In 1929, the Nationalist Government took over the Jiao'ao Commercial Port and established Qingdao Special City. From then on, the term "Qingdao" officially became the proper name of the city and has been used ever since.

Western Name From the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China period, the Western names for Qingdao included the German "Tsingtau," the Postal Romanization "Tsingtao," and the Wade-Giles "Chingtao," among others. "Tsingtao" was the most commonly used general Western name for Qingdao, witnessing the historical changes of modern Qingdao. In 1977, the United Nations officially switched to using Hanyu Pinyin to spell place names in mainland China. In 1987, three Chinese national ministries and commissions jointly issued a notice requiring that place name signs must not use old spelling systems like "Wade-Giles" or foreign languages, making the Hanyu Pinyin "Qingdao" (or with tone marks) the only legal spelling for the city name "Qingdao." "Tsingtao" is now used only as the brand name for Tsingtao Beer or in historical, artistic contexts and informal occasions.

3. History

Ancient Era
The area now known as Qingdao was a temperate forest during the Paleolithic Age, teeming with abundant wildlife, as evidenced by numerous unearthed fossils. In the Neolithic Age, the patrilineal clan ancestors of the Dongyi people engaged in agricultural activities here, later developing hunting, animal husbandry, and marine fishing, creating the diverse and rich Dawenkou, Longshan, and Yueshi cultures. During the Xia Dynasty, the inhabitants were primarily the Laiyi people; in the Shang Dynasty, it was part of the territory of the Lai State; and during the Western Zhou Dynasty, it was divided among the feudal states of Lai, Yi, Ju, and Jie. In the early Spring and Autumn period, it belonged to the territories of Jie, Yi, Lai, and other states. In 567 BCE, the State of Qi conquered the Lai State, and most of present-day Qingdao came under Qi's control. To defend against foreign invasions, Qi constructed the Thousand-Mile Great Wall along its southern border, the ruins of which still exist today. During the Warring States period, Jimo became one of the five capitals of Qi; Langya was an important seaport city, renowned for its pottery; and in 476 BCE, the first recorded naval battle in Chinese history took place in the waters off Langya between Qi and Wu. Qin Shi Huang visited Langya Commandery three times, built the Langya Terrace, and sent Xu Fu eastward to the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Liu Che, who was once the Prince of Jiaodong, visited Langya and Buqi (present-day Chengyang District) multiple times after ascending the throne as emperor, and also dispatched people to seek immortals across the sea. In 70 BCE, a massive earthquake struck 49 commanderies and states east of Henan Commandery, killing over 6,000 people and completely destroying the city walls of Langya, the Langya Terrace, Qin and Han imperial palaces, ancestral temples, and the port. From then on, Langya declined, and the commandery seat was relocated.

In 623 CE, Jiaoxi County was merged into Gaomi County, and Banqiao Town was established. The town saw frequent merchant ship traffic, engaging in extensive trade with East Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and other regions, becoming a major northern port and a military supply transfer station for the imperial court's campaigns against Goryeo. Its economic and military significance was paramount. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, due to frequent wars and regime changes, Banqiao Town and its surrounding areas fell into decline. In the Song Dynasty, the economy flourished once again, and foreign trade developed rapidly. Later, due to the Song-Liao confrontation, the ports of Dengzhou and Laizhou were closed, making Banqiao Town the only maritime gateway in the north and one of the five major ports of the Song Dynasty. The Mizhou Maritime Trade Office and Linhai Army were established here. Banqiao Town played a significant role in trade and cultural exchanges with Goryeo and Japan. Subsequently, due to the Song-Jin conflict, Banqiao Town's trade was threatened, and its economy weakened. In 1142, the Song and Jin agreed to establish the Jiaoxi Monopoly Market as the sole maritime trade market for mutual exchange, with sub-markets such as Banqiao Town and Zhangcang Town set up under it.

In 1280, Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty founder, ordered the excavation of the Jiaolai Canal, which took two years to complete, making it the world's earliest isthmus canal. In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, established Jiaozhou and Pingdu Zhou. In 1372, to defend against Japanese pirates, Lingshan Guard was established on the shores of present-day Lingshan Bay, overseeing Jiaozhou Station, Xiahezhai Station, and Lingshan Guard Station. In 1374, the guard troops repelled Japanese pirates and pursued them as far as Ryukyu, effectively countering foreign invasions. In 1402, the fourth year of the Jianwen era of the Ming Dynasty, Aoshan Guard was established along the eastern coast of present-day Jimo, overseeing Fushan Station and Xiongya Station. In 1537, the imperial court dredged the Jiaolai Canal and excavated the Mahao Canal, shortening the shipping route by over 700 li and promoting the development of shipping and commerce. From 1734 to 1735, Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard were disbanded, but many ports remained stationed by Qing troops for coastal defense needs.

Modern Era
In 1859, tax bureaus were established at Tabutou and Jinjiakou, with branches at Qingdaokou and Nügukou, overseeing port trade and taxation affairs in the Jiaozhou Bay area. In 1865, the Qing government set up nine branches, substations, or agencies of the Eastern Customs in the present-day Qingdao area to supervise incoming and outgoing ships, trade taxes, and other matters. The market streets of Qingdaokou gradually prospered.

In 1884, the Sino-French War broke out, and France sought to occupy Jiaozhou Bay. The Qing government urgently ordered the port to be placed under martial law, deploying 200 troops to garrison Qingdaokou, who were withdrawn shortly after. In 1891, the Qing government decided to fortify Jiaozhou, constructing a wooden bridge for naval use, the predecessor of today's Qianhai Zhanqiao. On June 14 of that year, the Qing government cabinet issued an edict approving the fortification of Jiaozhou, later recognized as the beginning of Qingdao's urban establishment. The following year, Zhang Gaoyuan, the Regional Commander of Dengzhou, led his troops to relocate to Jiaozhou Bay, establishing the Regional Commander's Office in Qingdao Village. In July 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War broke out, and the Regional Commander led his troops to Liaodong to participate in the war, halting the defense projects in Jiaozhou Bay. By the end of the following year, the Regional Commander returned to Jiaozhou Bay, resumed the defense projects, and built a road to Jiaozhou. Qingdaokou developed into a major port town and a key coastal defense location.

In 1896, the Russian Pacific Fleet used wintering as an excuse to station in Jiaozhou Bay, attempting to establish a naval base but ultimately failing. In December of the same year, Germany formally demanded the lease of Jiaozhou Bay from the Qing government but was refused. On November 14, 1897, Germany used the Juye Incident as a pretext to land and occupy Qingdao Bay. On March 6, 1898, China and Germany signed the Jiaozhou Bay Concession Treaty, leasing Jiaozhou Bay and its surrounding areas for 99 years, establishing a free port, and constructing the Shandong Railway. This set a precedent for Western powers to carve out spheres of influence in China. On October 12, 1899, Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered the newly built urban area within the leased territory to be designated as the capital of the concession and named "Qingdao." That month, Chinese boundary commissioners Yu Xijie and Peng Yusun signed the Tide Level Agreement and Boundary Agreement with the German boundary commissioner Rosenda, marking the official birth of Qingdao as a city. The government purchased and demolished the original Chinese villages at high prices, investing heavily to build a completely German-style modern port city according to its urban planning, laying the foundation for Qingdao's current urban layout and architectural style.

After the Xinhai Revolution, former Qing nobility and high-ranking officials relocated to Qingdao, where they planned and carried out the Guichou Restoration and Dingsi Restoration, both of which failed. In the summer of 1914, the Japanese-British alliance declared war on Germany. Germany, preoccupied with the European theater of World War I, was unable to focus on the East. The allied forces took advantage of the situation to launch the Battle of Qingdao, capturing the Jiaozhou Bay leased territory on November 7. Subsequently, Japan imposed military rule through the Twenty-One Demands, inheriting the sphere of influence originally defined by the German lease treaty. On November 26, a garrison command directly under the Japanese Emperor was established. Tens of thousands of Japanese immigrants moved to Qingdao, investing in industries including nine major textile mills, making Qingdao an important light industrial and textile base in China. In January 1919, the Paris Peace Conference recognized Japan's interests in the Jiaozhou Bay area, sparking the May Fourth Movement, with students demanding "Return Qingdao to us."

Overview Map of Qingdao Scenery During the Japanese Occupation Period
On February 4, 1922, China and Japan signed the Treaty for the Settlement of Outstanding Questions Relative to Shandong at the Washington Conference. On December 10 of the same year, China formally regained the Jiaozhou Bay leased territory, establishing the Jiaozhou Bay Commercial Port Superintendent Office directly under the central government (overseeing the Jiaozhou Bay Commercial Port Bureau). Subsequently, the Qingdao Municipal Autonomy Implementation Decree was promulgated, planning to establish Qingdao as a Special City, making it the first city in China to be declared a municipality by national decree. However, due to warlord conflicts and disagreements among high-ranking officials, the autonomy decree was delayed. In July 1925, Shandong warlord Zhang Zongchang arbitrarily abolished the Jiaozhou Bay Commercial Port Superintendent Office, placing the Jiaozhou Bay Commercial Port Bureau under the jurisdiction of the Shandong Provincial Government.

On April 20, 1929, the Nanjing National Government established the Qingdao Reception Commissioner's Office to take over the Jiaozhou Bay Commercial Port. On July 2, the Qingdao Special City Government was officially established, directly under the Executive Yuan of the central government, becoming one of the five Yuan-administered cities of the Republic of China before the War of Resistance. In 1930, Qingdao Special City was renamed Qingdao City in accordance with the newly revised and promulgated City Organization Law by the National Government in May, with its administrative status unchanged.

Qingdao City During the Republic of China Era

Animated Map Showing the Territorial Changes of Qingdao City (1898–2012)
On January 10, 1938, Japan occupied Qingdao for the second time, using the 1937 Dexian Road Incident as a pretext, establishing the Qingdao Public Security Maintenance Committee under the Provisional Government of the Republic of China supported by the Japanese military government. Subsequently, in January 1939, the Qingdao Special City Public Office was established. In June 1939, to implement the "Greater Qingdao Urban Plan," Jimo County and Jiaoxian County of Shandong Province were reorganized into Jimo District and Jiaozhou District of Qingdao City. By 1940, the land area of Qingdao City reached 6,052.39 square kilometers.

In September 1945, the National Government took over Qingdao, which remained a Special City, restoring its previous territory. In 1946, the city was divided into four districts—Taidong, Taixi, Shinan, and Shibei—and eight rural districts—Sicang, Licun, Laodong, Laoxi, Xiazhuang, Fushan, Yindao, and Xuejiadao. In April 1947, the Central Naval Training Corps was reorganized into the Qingdao Naval Officer School, making Qingdao an important base for the Republic of China Navy. By the end of the year, the city's land and sea area totaled 1,377 square kilometers. As Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, was occupied by the People's Liberation Army in September 1948, the Shandong Provincial Government relocated to Qingdao via Shanghai in March 1949. In June, influenced by the situation in the Chinese Civil War, the troops of the 11th Pacification Zone of the Republic of China government were ordered to evacuate Qingdao.

Contemporary Era
On June 2, 1949, the People's Liberation Army occupied Qingdao's urban area. Qingdao became a provincial-administered city of Shandong Province, with its suburbs and subordinate counties being carved out, significantly reducing its territory to just over 200 square kilometers. In 1950, after the outbreak of the Korean War, Qingdao launched patriotic education campaigns to support the war effort, sending volunteer medical teams and condolence delegations to the front lines. Citizens raised funds to donate aircraft and artillery, with contributions ranking among the highest nationwide. In the mid-to-late 1950s, the central government decided to rebuild the education system. During this period, no new universities were established in Qingdao; instead, some existing universities were placed under Shandong Province's management and subsequently merged or relocated, adversely affecting Qingdao's education and social development. During the Cultural Revolution, a large number of educated youth from Qingdao were sent to rural areas or border regions. By 1981, the number reached approximately 120,000.On December 23, 1978, Jimo County, Jiaoxian County, and Jiaonan County were returned to the jurisdiction of Qingdao City.

On August 30, 1983, Pingdu County and Laixi County were placed under the administration of Qingdao City.

At the beginning of the reform and opening-up in 1984, Qingdao became one of the 14 coastal open cities in China, and its economy began to recover and develop.

In 1985, to address the severe water supply crisis that had plagued Qingdao since the 1970s, the Yellow River Diversion to Qingdao Project was approved by the State Council. Construction began the following year, and by 1989, the project's completion ended the era of time-limited and rationed water supply for residents, as well as the shutdown or partial shutdown of industrial and agricultural production in Qingdao.

On October 15, 1986, the State Council approved Qingdao as a city specifically designated in the state plan.

In December 1990, all six suburban counties were upgraded to cities or districts, making Qingdao the first two-tier urban agglomeration in China.

In 1992, the municipal government decided to develop and construct the eastern part of the city, and the municipal administrative center was relocated eastward in 1994.

In February 1994, Qingdao was designated as a sub-provincial city.

In March 2001, the Qingdao municipal government decided to shift its economic focus to the western coast (Huangdao District).

In November 2007, Qingdao officially proposed the urban development strategy of "Protecting the Bay, Embracing the Bay," aiming to build Qingdao and Jiaozhou Bay into a "Bay-Area Metropolis" to further upgrade the industrial structure.

In August and September 2008, as a partner city of Beijing, Qingdao hosted the sailing competitions of the 29th Summer Olympic Games and the 13th Summer Paralympic Games.

On April 23, 2009, a naval parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army Navy was held in the waters of Fushan Bay, Qingdao, in the Yellow Sea. In September of the same year, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) decided in principle that Qingdao would host the 2014 World Horticultural Exposition. In November, Qingdao signed the "Confirmation Letter for Hosting the 2014 World Horticultural Exposition," officially launching the preparations for the event. On November 30, the Qingdao Metro was inaugurated, marking the official start of the city's 22-year-planned metro project.

On July 16, 2010, during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to China, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Support for the Establishment of the Sino-German Eco-Park," agreeing to support the establishment of the Sino-German Eco-Park within the Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone.

On June 30, 2011, the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge and Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel were completed and opened to traffic, ending the historical separation between the two sides of Jiaozhou Bay.

On March 17, 2012, the construction of the Qingdao campus of Shandong University was inaugurated in Qingdao, marking its return to the city after a 54-year absence, with operations set to resume in 2016.

On December 1, 2012, Qingdao underwent a major administrative division adjustment: Shibei District and Sifang District were abolished and merged to form the new Shibei District, with the administrative areas of the original districts combined. Similarly, Huangdao District and Jiaonan City were abolished and merged to form the new Huangdao District, with the administrative areas of the original district and city combined.

On June 3, 2014, the State Council officially approved the establishment of the Qingdao West Coast New Area, a national-level new area, in Huangdao District. By the end of October of the same year, 408 projects, including the Lingshan Bay Film and Television Cultural Industry Base and the HP Big Data Center, with a total investment of 390.83 billion yuan, had settled in the West Coast New Area.

On June 9-10, 2018, the 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held at the International Convention Center of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. The meeting was attended by eight member states, four observer states, and six dialogue partner states. This was the first SCO summit after its expansion and the first time the SCO held a summit in Qingdao.

On April 23, 2019, a naval parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Navy was held in Qingdao.

4. Geography

Location and Scope Qingdao is located on the western coast of the Yellow Sea of the Pacific Ocean, facing North Korea, South Korea, and Japan across the sea. Its geographical coordinates lie between 119°30′–121°00′ east longitude and 35°35′–37°09′ north latitude. The 120° east longitude line passes through the jurisdictional area on the western shore of Jiaozhou Bay, placing the entire city within the UTC+8 time zone. The city's total land area is approximately 11,282 km², and its sea area is about 12,240 km². The cities bordering Qingdao by land are all within Shandong Province: Yantai City to the northeast, Weifang City to the west, and Rizhao City to the southwest. To the south across the Haizhou Bay, it faces Lianyungang City of Jiangsu Province.

Geological Structure Qingdao is situated at the junction of the "Sino-Korean Paraplatform (North China Platform)" – "Jiaoliao Uplift Zone (Eastern Shandong Shield)" – "Jiaobei Platform Arch, Jiaolai Depression, and Jiaonan Uplift," located between the Yishu and Xiangshuikou–Qianliyan deep fault zones. This unit lacks the entire Paleozoic strata and part of the Mesozoic strata. However, the Cretaceous Qingshan Formation volcanic rocks are well-developed and widely exposed. The period of most intense geological evolution was the late Yanshanian period of the Mesozoic era, characterized by intense faulting and magmatic activity. The tectonic activity during the Cenozoic era was similar to that of the late Mesozoic but relatively weaker in intensity. The igneous rocks are mainly Proterozoic Jiaonan-period Yuejishan-type gneissic granite and Mesozoic Yanshanian-period Aishan-type granodiorite and Laoshan-type granite. The entire downtown area is built upon this type of granite, providing excellent building foundation conditions. This unit is dominated by fault structures, with relatively stable block uplifts being the main feature since the Paleogene, generally with modest uplift magnitudes.

Topography and Landforms Qingdao's terrain is high in the east and low in the west, with elevations in the north and south and a low-lying central area, forming a concave shape. Mountains account for about 15.5% of the total area (the main urban area has 37 natural mountains, covering about 39 km²), hills for 25.1%, plains for 37.7%, and depressions for 21.7%. Three distinct topographic regions can be identified: the southern denudational mid-low mountain and hill region, the northern denudational low mountain and hill region, and the central Jiaolai Plain region. These three topographic regions basically correspond to three tertiary geological structural units.

Climate Qingdao has a mild climate with four distinct seasons, influenced by monsoons. It is in a transitional state from a subtropical humid climate to a temperate continental humid climate, with the former being more pronounced. Winters are dry, cold, and windy, while summers are hot and humid but rarely extremely hot. Being a coastal peninsula, spring arrives about a month later than in inland areas at the same latitude in China. The annual daily temperature range is only 6.3 °C, and autumn is milder than in inland areas at the same latitude.

Located in the East Asian monsoon region of the north temperate zone, Qingdao has a warm temperate monsoon climate. The basic characteristics of the urban climate are "humid air, abundant rainfall, moderate temperature, and four distinct seasons," with the seasonal features being "late spring, cool summer, pleasant autumn, and long winter." The annual temperature range is small, with moderate extremes. During the summer half-year, the southeast monsoon from the Pacific brings abundant warm, moist air, resulting in simultaneous heat and rain, creating a hot, humid, and rainy climate with maritime characteristics. During the winter half-year, monsoons blow from the Eurasian continent, and Qingdao is under the control of cold high-pressure air masses, resulting in a dry and relatively cold climate with continental characteristics. The ocean's regulation of Qingdao's climate mainly stems from the city's proximity to the sea and the coastal mountains' orientation being perpendicular to the monsoon direction. In terms of climatic characteristics, Qingdao has a well-coordinated and simultaneous distribution of light, heat, and water, with high effectiveness and utilization. The average annual frost-free period is 203 days. Macroclimatic differences within the territory are small, while microclimatic differences are significant (depending on proximity to the sea and topography). Drought (primarily spring drought) is the most severe natural disaster in Qingdao, with others being occasional hail, strong winds, heavy rain, and thunderstorms.

According to meteorological records since 1898, the average annual temperature in the urban area is 12.7 °C. The city's extreme maximum temperature was 41.0 °C (July 15, 2002, Jiaonan), and the extreme minimum temperature was -21.1 °C (January 27, 1981, Laixi). The urban area's extreme maximum temperature was 38.9 °C (July 15, 2002), and the extreme minimum was -16.9 °C (January 10, 1931). August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 25.3 °C; January is the coldest, with an average of -0.5 °C. The average annual number of days with a maximum temperature above 30 °C is 11.4 days, and the average annual number of days with a minimum temperature below -5 °C is 22 days. The average annual precipitation is 662.1 mm, with spring, summer, autumn, and winter rainfall accounting for 17%, 57%, 21%, and 5% of the annual total, respectively. The highest annual precipitation was 1,272.7 mm (1911), and the lowest was only 308.2 mm (1981), with an annual precipitation variability of 62%. The average annual number of snowfall days is only 10. The average annual wind speed is 5.2 m/s, with southeast winds being the dominant direction. The average annual atmospheric pressure is 100.86 kPa. The average annual relative humidity is 73%, highest in July at 89% and lowest in December at 68%. Due to the influence of the Yellow Sea water mass and wind direction, Qingdao experiences frequent advection fog, with an average of over 50 foggy days per year, a minimum of over 30 days, and a maximum of over 90 days; the monthly average humidity is 72%.

Hydrology Surface water in Qingdao is entirely controlled by atmospheric precipitation, with a small portion infiltrating underground and most converging into rivers appearing on the surface. Due to topographic constraints, most rivers are small mountain streams that flow independently into the sea. There are 224 rivers in the city, all of the monsoon region rain-fed type. Thirty-three larger rivers have drainage areas exceeding 100 km² and are divided into three major water systems: the Dagu River, the Beijiaolai River, and the coastal rivers. The total drainage area in the urban area is about 194 km², divided into five major basins: Tuandao, Maidao, Haipo River, Licun River, and Loushan River, consisting of 24 main channels with a total length of about 100 km (83 km in the main urban area). The Chanzhi Reservoir (Laixi Lake) in Laixi is Qingdao's largest reservoir, with a capacity of about 400 million m³. The most important water source for the urban area is the Jihongtan Reservoir (capacity about 150 million m³), which receives water from the Yellow River Diversion to Qingdao Project. The Laoshan Reservoir (Yuezikou Reservoir, capacity about 56 million m³) is also an important freshwater source for Qingdao.

Soil and Vegetation Qingdao has a total soil area of 8,255 km², accounting for 74.35% of the total land area. This includes 4,988 km² of cultivated land, 1,353 km² of forest land, and 722 km² of barren mountains and wasteland. The dominant soil-forming direction is the leaching-type brown earth zone. There are eight main soil types, with the five most important being brown earth (59.8%), lime concretion black soil (21.42%), fluvo-aquic soil (17.55%), cinnamon soil (0.77%), and saline soil (0.44%) [Note 17]. There are 16 subclasses, 29 soil families, and 51 soil series.

Qingdao belongs to the North China region of the Sino-Japanese Forest Plant Subregion within the Holarctic Kingdom. It lies within the warm temperate humid deciduous broad-leaved forest bioclimatic region, the warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest zone, the southern warm temperate deciduous oak forest subzone, and the Jiaodong Hills cultivated vegetation, red pine, and oak forest area. Vegetation can be classified into 11 types, 33 formation groups, and 75 formations, including deciduous broad-leaved forests, coniferous forests, bamboo forests, shrublands, shrub-grasslands, meadows, swamps, psammophytic vegetation, halophytic vegetation, and aquatic vegetation. The original vegetation of Qingdao no longer exists; all observed natural vegetation is secondary. Forest resources include natural and artificial secondary forests, with a predominance of young and middle-aged forests. The city's total forest stock volume is about 4.2 million m³, with a forest coverage rate of about 27%. The vegetation area is about 7,846 km², with a total vegetation coverage rate of about 73.6%. Plant species resources reach 152 families, 654 genera, and 1,237 species (including varieties). Five rare endemic plants named after Qingdao have been discovered: Qingdao Lily (Lilium tsingtauense), Qingdao Geranium (Geranium tsingtauense), Qingdao Euonymus (Euonymus tsingtauensis), Qingdao Sedge (Carex tsingtauensis), and Qingdao Winter Camellia (Camellia japonica var. tsingtauensis).

Wildlife In terms of vertebrate animal geographical distribution, Qingdao belongs to the Huanghuai Plain Subregion of the North China Region within the Palearctic Realm. Due to the suitable climate and good vegetation growth, it is suitable for animal habitation and reproduction, but it is dominated by small animals, with few large mammals, mainly consisting of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. There are 52 species of national first-class key protected wild animals, along with other endemic rare animals such as the Xiantai fish in the Baisha River. Bird resources are particularly rich. As of April 2016, recorded birds in the territory mainly include six categories: waterfowl, waders, landfowl, birds of prey, climbing birds, and songbirds, belonging to 19 orders, 58 families, 114 genera, and 391 species, accounting for 26.8% of China's 1,458 bird species. Among them, there are 160 bird species in the Jiaozhou Bay wetlands, including 11 species of national first-class protected rare birds.

Abiotic Resources To date, 66 types of mineral resources have been discovered in Qingdao, mostly non-metallic minerals, widely distributed along the coast. Over 30 types of advantageous mineral resources have been developed and utilized, including graphite, fluorite, zeolite, talc, diopside, perlite, decorative granite, decorative marble, barite, and serpentine. Graphite mining is significant, mainly distributed in Pingdu, Laixi, and Huangdao. Granite is of excellent quality, mainly found in Laoshan, Pingdu, Jimo, and Huangdao. Among metallic minerals, gold is the primary one, with more distribution in Pingdu, followed by iron.Qingdao City is rich in thermal energy resources. The multi-year average accumulated temperature greater than or equal to 0°C is 4,539.1°C, with an average duration of 206.4 days, meeting the growth requirements of most crops. Some areas (such as Laoshan) are suitable for cultivating subtropical plants like tea and bamboo. Solar and wind energy resources are relatively abundant, with significant utilization potential: the total annual solar radiation exceeds 500 kJ/cm², the average annual sunshine duration is 2,550.7 hours, and the sunshine percentage is 58%. The average annual effective wind energy duration is 6,485 hours, with an effective wind energy density of 240.3 W/m².

Within the municipal control boundaries designated by the state, the total land area of Qingdao is 11,281.9963 km². This includes: cultivated land 5,350.3158 km², basic farmland 4,804.0422 km², reserve cultivated land resources 81.2933 km², garden land 395.8169 km², forest land 1,245.0974 km², grassland (uncultivated wasteland) 233.7488 km², urban, village, industrial, and mining land 1,835.8925 km², transportation land 537.8095 km², water areas and water conservancy facilities land 1,179.5561 km², and other land 503.7593 km². The per capita cultivated land in the city is approximately 700 m², which is lower than the national average of about 1,010 m² per capita, indicating relatively scarce land resources.

Qingdao City is deficient in freshwater resources and is one of the severely water-scarce cities in northern China. The annual average groundwater extraction exceeds 650 million m³, half of which is used for agricultural irrigation, indicating over-extraction. The multi-year average surface water resources amount to approximately 2.15 billion m³, groundwater resources to about 1 billion m³, and after deducting overlapping amounts, the total water resources amount to approximately 2.2 billion m³ (of which the utilizable amount is about 1.369 billion m³). The per capita water resource availability is 247 m³, which is 11% of the national average and below the internationally recognized absolute water scarcity standard of 500 m³ per capita.

5. Administrative Divisions

Qingdao currently administers 7 municipal districts and 3 county-level cities, which are further divided into 108 subdistricts (including those with joint offices) and 36 towns. These are subdivided into 1,175 neighborhood committees (communities) and 896 village committees. According to the "Qingdao City Master Plan (2011-2020)," the central urban area of Qingdao covers 1,408 square kilometers, including all municipal districts on the eastern and northern shores of Jiaozhou Bay, as well as the Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone on the western shore of Jiaozhou Bay.

• Municipal Districts: Eastern Shore of Jiaozhou Bay: Shinan District, Shibei District, Licang District
  Western Shore of Laoshan-Aoshan Bay: Laoshan District, Jimo District
  Western Shore of Jiaozhou Bay-Lingshan Bay: Huangdao District (Qingdao West Coast New Area) (including Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Qingdao Dongjiakou Economic Zone)
  Northern Shore of Jiaozhou Bay: Chengyang District (including Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone)

6. Economy

In ancient times, Qingdao's economy was primarily based on agriculture, especially fishing. Due to the early influx of foreign capital in the late Qing Dynasty, it had become one of China's most economically developed cities by the early Republican period. Its modern and contemporary industrial, commercial, and financial sectors flourished, making it China's fifth-largest economy before the founding of the People's Republic. In the 1980s, Qingdao was successively designated as a National Economic Center City, a Coastal Open City, and a City Specifically Designated in the State Plan. The establishment of a national-level economic and technological development zone facilitated economic recovery and development.

In the 1990s, Qingdao's political center shifted eastward with the construction of a National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. The city sought greater fiscal retention to expand its economic scale. Entering the 21st century, the economic center shifted westward, and a development strategy was established to build Qingdao into a bay-encircling modern international city. In January 2011, the "Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone Development Plan" was issued, prompting Qingdao to vigorously develop marine high-tech industries and modern service industries. In 2012, construction began on the West Coast Economic New Area, followed by plans for the Hongdao Economic Zone and the Blue Silicon Valley Core Area. Today, Qingdao has become a regional financial and trade center in China, a national high-tech industrial base, and a hub for four major industrial sectors: home appliances & electronics, automobile & shipbuilding, petrochemicals, and new materials. It has formed six major industrial clusters (home appliances & electronics, petrochemicals, automobiles, shipbuilding, ports, and steel) and built an economic system centered on three characteristic economies: port, tourism, and marine.

Public Finance In its early establishment, Qingdao's fiscal management system was centralized, with the Qing government implementing unified revenue and expenditure, leaving local authorities no spending management power. During the German lease period, the Jiaozhou Governor's Office established a Finance Department to manage finances for administrative, military organs, and state-owned enterprises/institutions. It subsequently compiled Qingdao's first-ever fiscal budget and final accounts, making it a first-level local fiscal budget unit under Germany. From 1897 to 1914, imperial fiscal subsidies invested to support local construction in Qingdao amounted to 174 million Goldmarks. During the first Japanese occupation period, local finances were initially combined with military income but were later separated.

After Qingdao's return in 1922, the Jiaozhou Commercial Port Supervision Office was directly subordinate to the central government, remaining a first-level local fiscal unit. During the second Japanese occupation, finances were managed by the Japanese military government. After the War of Resistance, a two-level budget system (central and Qingdao) was implemented, changing to a central differential subsidy system from 1948. After the founding of the People's Republic, Qingdao was placed under Shandong Province, and its finances reverted to the centralized unified revenue and expenditure model. In 1978, the state began fiscal system reforms, gradually breaking the unified revenue and expenditure pattern. In 1992, a tax-sharing system was implemented, expanding the scope of municipal fiscal revenue. In 2002, utilizing the state's proactive fiscal policy, Qingdao secured central government treasury bond discount interest funds for the first time to support key enterprise development. By 2011, the annual total fiscal revenue reached 240.776 billion RMB, with local general budget revenue at 56.600 billion RMB and local general budget expenditure at 65.868 billion RMB.

Finance Before the city's establishment in the late 19th century, financial activities involving interest-bearing capital like usury and pawnbroking already existed in areas now part of Qingdao, such as Jiaozhou and Jimo. During the German lease period, Western financial institutions set up branches in Qingdao, alongside foreign firms handling insurance and money shops specializing in currency exchange. During the first Japanese occupation, many Japanese banks were established. In 1920, Qingdao's first stock exchange, the Qingdao Exchange, was founded. In 1929, the Bank of China Qingdao Branch, jointly with the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce, abolished the Jiaoping Silver standard, marking the beginning of national financial development. Subsequently, the Central Bank established a presence in Qingdao to control the financial market, gradually making Qingdao an important financial center in northern China. After the founding of the People's Republic, the Beihai Bank Jiaodong Branch took over the original "Four Banks, Two Bureaus, and One Treasury," forming the People's Bank of China Qingdao Branch; concurrently, the People's Insurance Company of China Qingdao Branch was established. By the 1990s, Qingdao became a city permitted by the state to establish foreign financial institutions and one of the largest short-term fund financing centers in northern China; several domestic insurance companies set up branches in Qingdao; the securities and futures markets implemented unified supervision and vertical management. In 2003, Qingdao filled the trust investment gap by introducing trust investment companies.

Agriculture Qingdao is located in the north temperate zone with ample heat and superior climatic conditions, suitable for the propagation of various organisms. It features mountains, hills, oceans, plains, and depressions, with good geographical and soil conditions. Mid-low mountainous areas receive orographic rain, plains have irrigation conditions, and agricultural resources are abundant, providing favorable production conditions for industries like grain & oil, forestry & fruit, animal husbandry, and aquaculture. Simultaneously, Qingdao has a long history of introducing biological species resources, providing a solid foundation for comprehensive and in-depth agricultural development and possessing advantages for developing a large-scale warm-temperate agriculture. The city has nearly 400 species of animal resources and over a thousand plant species. Major farmland is distributed in the four surrounding county-level cities.

Agricultural production in Qingdao has a long history. As early as the late Neolithic Age, Qingdao's ancestors engaged in agriculture with relatively advanced tools. Carbonized grains, fish slices, and fish bones discovered at the Sanlihe site in Jiaozhou indicate their agricultural activities extended from land to sea. Modern agricultural institutions in Qingdao were established during the German lease period in the late Qing Dynasty. The Jiaozhou Governor's Office set up a Land Affairs Office to survey official land and purchase private land; in 1909, a German-Chinese University agricultural practice field was established in Licun. Subsequent governments established agricultural and forestry institutions engaged in testing, demonstrating, and guiding agricultural production techniques, and introduced improved seeds from other regions and abroad for propagation and promotion. However, during this stage, the vast suburban counties and cities now under Qingdao's jurisdiction were still administered by Shandong Province. This resulted in a lack of development, construction, and effective management despite superior natural conditions and agricultural resources. Apart from primitive cultivation, livestock rearing, and marine fishing, there were few other forms of economic activity, leading to a weak agricultural economic base, low rural economic levels, and impoverished farmers. Agriculture finally recovered and developed after the reform and opening-up.

Industry Qingdao has a long industrial history. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a mint workshop at Loushanhou. In the 7th century BC, yellow rice wine brewing began in the present-day Jimo area, later known nationwide as Jimo Laojiu. During the Han Dynasty, an Iron Official was appointed in the Jiaodong Kingdom to oversee smelting. Gold mining began in the Ming Dynasty. By the Qing Dynasty, numerous shops and workshops for pastry food, sewing and embroidery, and tool manufacturing existed, forming an initial scale of handicraft industry. Shortly after its establishment, being designated a German concession led to immediate construction of urgently needed municipal infrastructure like electricity and water supply, and industrial projects like food, textiles, military industry, and rolling stock. During the Japanese occupation, cotton mills, cigarette factories, and food factories were built. Due to vigorous development of the textile industry, Qingdao's light and textile industries held an important national position; the total capital of its nine major cotton mills once accounted for about a quarter of the national textile industry.

Since the reform and opening-up, vigorous development of an export-oriented economy has further enhanced traditional industrial advantages. Qingdao has thus developed into one of the largest industrial cities in northern China and an important industrial base in East China. It has formed a comprehensive processing industrial system supported by traditional sectors like textiles & apparel, light industry & food, chemicals & rubber, and emerging sectors like electronics & instrumentation and household appliances, holding an important national position. By promoting technological progress, expanding technological transformation, and introducing advanced technology, it has achieved a transition from traditional to modern industry, with industrial production technology levels ranking among the top domestic industrial cities. Through upgrades, traditional light and textile industrial products have created numerous famous brands, such as Laoshan Cola (pioneering China's carbonated beverages), world-renowned Tsingtao Beer, high-quality Double Star sports shoes, elegant Red Collar suits, and innovative Jifa apparel.

The machinery industry system is well-developed, with rolling stock, textile machinery, steam turbines, trucks & parts, casting machinery, forging machinery, seals, etc., holding important positions in their respective domestic industries. Qingte vehicles are sold at home and abroad. Qingdao is also one of China's 14 chemical production bases, possessing a large, comprehensive, and fine chemical industry with a complete range of products including soda ash, caustic soda, dyes, barium salts, paint, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals. Among them, Qingdao Soda Plant is one of the country's three major soda plants. The rubber industry has reached international advanced levels, with output value and profit taxes ranking among the top in the domestic industry. Huanghai radial tires and Double Star colored tires are sold worldwide. Emerging industries led by electronics & instrumentation, household appliances, and high-speed trains rapidly rose after a short period of technology introduction and absorption, producing a batch of famous, high-quality products dominant domestically and internationally. Among them, the white goods of Haier, Hisense, and Aucma, and the Harmony EMU trains of CSR Sifang are the most competitive.Through the implementation of a brand strategy, a group of well-known enterprises with strong competitiveness in domestic and international markets has been cultivated, earning the city the reputation as the "City of Brands." In 2010, Qingdao was designated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce as one of the first batch of national demonstration cities for trademark strategy implementation. Currently, it holds 52 administratively recognized China Famous Trademarks. The economic output of Qingdao's famous and well-known trademark enterprises accounts for nearly 50% of the operating revenue of large-scale industrial enterprises in the city. In 2012, six companies—Haier Group Co., Ltd., Hisense Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao Hongling Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao Jifa Group Co., Ltd., Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., and Qingte Group Co., Ltd.—were selected as pilot enterprises for national industrial brand cultivation, ranking first among similar cities nationwide. In the list of China's Top 100 Light Industry Enterprises for 2011 released by the China Light Industry Federation in August 2012, four Qingdao-based companies—Haier, Tsingtao Brewery, Aucma, and Jifa—were included, with Haier ranking first on the list.

Telecommunications
Modern electronic communication in Qingdao began relatively early. In 1893, the Qing government established a telegraph office in Yangjia Village behind the Jiaozhou Governor's Office for military use. During the German lease period, telegraph and telephone institutions were established. In 1922, the Chinese government set up the Jiaozhou Chinese Telegraph Bureau. In 1929, the Nanjing National Government established the Qingdao Radio Station. In 1938, during the second Japanese occupation, the telegraph and telephone bureaus were merged into the Telegraph and Telephone General Bureau. By 1949, there were 17 telegraph and telephone circuits, and the capacity of automatic telephone exchanges reached 9,050 lines. After the founding of the People's Republic, postal and telecommunications services were merged to form the Post and Telecommunications Bureau, and telecommunications development was slow. After the reform and opening-up, communication began to develop, and by 1985, the total capacity of local telephone exchanges reached 22,600 lines, with an average of 2 telephones per 100 people.

In 1986, wireless paging services were launched; in 1987, 120-channel long-distance automatic dialing services were introduced, and all local telephone exchanges were automated. In 1992, mobile communication services were launched; on December 12, 1993, fixed telephone numbers were upgraded to 7 digits; in 1997, the total capacity of local public network telephone exchanges exceeded 1 million lines. In 1998, telecommunications was separated from the postal system again, and the Telecommunications Bureau was established. In 2005, Qingdao's telephone exchange capacity reached 3 million lines; on May 21 of the same year, local network telephone numbers (including fixed-line and PHS) were upgraded to 8 digits. In 2009, third-generation mobile communication (3G) services were launched, providing seven functions such as mobile internet access, video calls, and mobile TV. By the end of 2011, the number of fixed-line telephone subscribers in the city exceeded 2.5 million, and mobile phone subscribers exceeded 10 million. In August 2012, Qingdao was included in the second batch of pilot cities for the fourth-generation mobile communication (4G) standard, with most areas of the city achieving continuous and seamless coverage of the TD-LTE network. In 2019, fifth-generation mobile communication (5G) services were launched.

Information Industry
Qingdao's information industry started early, with rapid development in the software sector. Qingdao Software Park was rated as a national-level software industrial park and a national Torch Plan software base by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2003, Qingdao was listed as one of the first batch of national informatization demonstration cities and established the Qingdao Enterprise Informatization Implementation Guarantee System and Application System. In April 2012, the municipal government issued the "Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Information Industry in Our City," outlining a new vision for the information industry. Accordingly, Qingdao will create a pattern of clustered development of the information industry in the "East Park–West Valley–North District," forming a "品"-shaped information industry layout supported by three points—Huangdao Qingdao Information Valley, Laoshan Qingdao High-Tech Park, and Chengyang Qingdao High-Tech Zone—and radiating to other districts and cities.

During the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period, Qingdao will focus on developing three major industries: new-generation information technology, software, and new-generation electronic information product manufacturing. Ultimately, by continuously optimizing the development environment for the information industry, Qingdao aims to build an information industry system centered on electronic information manufacturing, software, and information services, promote the high-end development of the information industry, and transform Qingdao into a national demonstration city for triple-play integration, a software and information services demonstration base, an Internet of Things application and industrial development base, and a data center for northern China and even Northeast Asia, maintaining a leading position among similar cities in the overall level of the information industry.

Blue Economy
As a major coastal city in China and a long-renowned marine research city, Qingdao was positioned as the core area of the high-end marine industry cluster in the Jiaodong Peninsula in the "Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone Development Plan" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2011. In line with the construction of a national innovative city and the planning of a bay-area metropolis framework, Qingdao will be developed into China's pioneer zone for marine industry development, an international marine research and education center, a Northeast Asian shipping hub, a northern coastal tourism resort, and a marine sports base. The plan involves the scientific development of marine resources and production activities dependent on marine space, directly or indirectly supporting the development of related service industries for marine resources and space. The plan includes the construction of a "Blue Silicon Valley" consisting of "one zone, one belt, and one park," leveraging Qingdao's concentration of marine institutions and marine research talent to promote the integration of marine technology, education, culture, and high-tech industries, the connection between basic marine research, applied marine research, and blue economy research, and the fusion of domestic and international academic exchanges, business interactions, and economic cooperation, fostering marine technology R&D centers, incubation centers for scientific achievements, and talent hubs for marine research, and accelerating the cultivation of advantageous marine industries.

Domestic Trade
Qingdao is one of the largest commodity circulation and distribution centers in East and North China, with a long history of commercial development. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, commercial activities flourished. During the Jiaqing period of the Qing dynasty, trade at Qingdao Port gradually formed a market, earning Qingdao Village the nickname "Qingdao Commercial Village." During the Xianfeng period, many warehouses and shops were built north of today's Zhanqiao and southeast of Zhongshan Road, connecting with Shandong Village (east of today's Qufu Road) to form a commercial street. Before the establishment of the city and the German lease, Qingdao Port already had 62 shops, including those selling oil, fish, meat, porcelain, medicine, tea, cloth, clothing, groceries, food, pawnshops, and taverns. During the German lease period, Qingdao became a commercial port, and the construction of the port and railway led to a surge in import and export goods, rapidly boosting market prosperity. Merchants from multiple countries opened foreign firms and companies in Qingdao, while domestic businesses also established branches and developed.

In 1900, German merchants built the Dabaodao Market; in 1902, the Chinese Business Bureau was established; in 1917, Japanese merchants built the Public Qingdao Market, creating a Japanese commercial district. By the 1930s, there were over 7,000 Chinese-owned shops in the city, employing more than 30,000 people, along with approximately 500 foreign-owned businesses. In the 1940s, due to war and other reasons, many shops closed, and commerce began to decline. After the founding of the People's Republic, the ownership structure and product composition of commerce changed, with state-owned commerce gaining dominance. The reform of the commercial system after the reform and opening-up eventually restored and developed trade. In 1988, the first export-oriented joint venture commercial enterprise was established.

In the 1990s, various types of shops and markets flourished across the city, featuring both bustling commercial streets and large-scale shopping malls with annual sales exceeding billions. Supermarkets, shops, direct-sale stores, chain stores, and convenience stores were scattered throughout. Entering the 21st century, residents' consumption entered a stage of transformation and upgrading, with consumption hotspots emerging. The increase in urban and rural residents' income and the boost from tourism enhanced consumption capacity, leading to sustained activity in urban and rural consumer markets. Currently, the city has five municipal-level commercial centers: Zhongshan Road, Hong Kong Middle Road, Taidong, Licun, and Xiangjiang Road. International large-scale retail chains such as Walmart (USA), Carrefour (France), Tesco (UK), Metro (Germany), Aeon (Japan), and Parkson (Malaysia), as well as domestic companies like Beijing Hualian, Dalian Wanda, Shenzhen MixC, Qingdao Guohuo, Liqun, Weike, and Likelai, have opened department stores, commercial plazas, and supermarkets in Qingdao. South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan are the three largest sources of foreign investment in Qingdao, with a total investment of approximately $24 billion.

Foreign Trade
Qingdao is one of China's major trade ports, with a long history of foreign economic and trade relations. As early as the Northern Song dynasty, Banqiao Town became the only open port in northern China, with Korea and Japan as the main trading partners, trading items such as silk, medicine, porcelain, and food. After being designated as a German leasehold, the port was built, foreign firms were established, and trade with Western countries began, mainly importing steel, machinery, hardware and building materials, chemical dyes, rubber, and timber, and exporting food and handicrafts. During the Japanese occupation, foreign trade was primarily conducted with Japan. In the early years of the People's Republic, the Qingdao Foreign Trade Administration was responsible for the city's foreign trade work, followed by the establishment of Qingdao Customs and Shandong Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. In 1959, Qingdao began independent procurement of goods for export; in the 1960s, the main export commodities were textiles, chemicals, medicine, and food.In 1978, the Qingdao Foreign Trade Bureau and six import and export branch companies were established. Prior to this, apart from limited foreign trade activities, foreign investment and foreign economic relations were almost non-existent in Qingdao. Qingdao became a coastal open city in 1984; gained autonomous rights in foreign trade and economic affairs in 1987; and began reforming its foreign trade system in 1988. In the 1990s, Qingdao's opening-up accelerated significantly: the High-Tech Industrial Park was established in March 1992, followed by the Bonded Zone in November. Entering the 21st century, Qingdao implemented an economic internationalization strategy, intensified its opening-up efforts, expanded foreign trade exports, enhanced the level of foreign trade exports, and improved the utilization of foreign capital: the Export Processing Zone was established in 2003, the Bonded Logistics Park in 2004, the West Coast Export Processing Zone in 2006, the Qianwan Bonded Port Area in 2008, the Sino-German Ecopark began construction in 2010, and efforts to establish a China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Zone Demonstration Area started in 2012. The United States, Japan, and South Korea are Qingdao's three major trading partners.

7. Transportation

Qingdao is situated within the Bohai Rim Economic Circle, at the junction of East China and North China regions. It connects across the sea to Northeast China and faces Japan and South Korea across the sea, possessing geographical advantages and an economic foundation for developing comprehensive land, sea, and air transportation. As one of China's national comprehensive transportation hubs (node cities), Qingdao has planned and constructed transportation hubs that connect with expressways, railway passenger dedicated lines, and civil aviation airports. It has built a supporting cargo collection and distribution system centered on ports, focusing on enhancing the capacity of rear railway lines, expressways, and pipelines for specialized ports handling coal, ore, oil & gas, and containers. Aiming to promote inland multimodal transport, Qingdao has constructed container transfer hubs, aligning technical standards with international norms and integrating management and information systems.

As the midpoint of the north-south coastal transportation corridor from Heihe to Sanya, part of China's national comprehensive transport corridors, Qingdao serves as a key link connecting major cities along China's north-south coastline. As part of the main axis of the South Asia International Transport Corridor, it connects the eastern coast with the inland. The Qingdao-Lhasa transport corridor, hailed as the second Eurasian Land Bridge, uses Qingdao Port as a hub to connect with international maritime transport networks. Qingdao is among the second batch of pilot cities in China for building a low-carbon transportation system. It is committed to optimizing public transport planning, prioritizing rail transit development, vigorously promoting environmentally friendly and energy-saving vehicles; optimizing road transport organization and management, constructing intelligent transportation projects; improving public transportation information services, and actively advancing the establishment of a low-carbon transportation system.

Highways By the end of 2015, the total highway mileage within Qingdao's administrative area reached 16,301 km (including 3,177 km of national and provincial highways, and 818.4 km of national and provincial expressways), with a highway density of 1.445 km/km². Its expressway mileage ranked second among sub-provincial cities nationwide, and its mileage of high-grade highways (Class II and above) ranked first among sub-provincial cities. The "one-hour economic circle" within the city's administrative area was basically established, forming a relatively complete highway transportation system. The urban area of Qingdao currently has 9 long-distance bus stations, operating 658 long-distance bus routes to surrounding areas and major domestic regions (covering 27 provincial-level administrative units).

Highways

• National Expressways: G15 Shenyang–Haikou Expressway · G18 Rongcheng–Wuhai Expressway · G1813 Weihai–Qingdao Expressway · G20 Qingdao–Yinchuan Expressway · G2011 Qingdao–Xinhe Expressway · G22 Qingdao–Lanzhou Expressway
• Provincial Expressways: S16 Rongcheng–Weifang Expressway · S19 Longkou–Qingdao Expressway · S21 Xinhe–Dongying Expressway · S24 Qingdao–Shangqiu Expressway · S30 Dongying–Liangshan Expressway · S61 Liuting Airport Expressway · S62 Jiaodong Airport Expressway · S7601 Qianwan Port Area No.1 Port Access Expressway · S7602 Qianwan Port Area No.2 Port Access Expressway · S7603 Qianwan Port Area No.3 Port Access Expressway · S85 Jiaozhou Bay Bridge
• National Highways: G204 · G206 · G228 · G308 · G309 · G341 · G342 · G517
• Provincial Highways: S102 · S202 · S209 · S211 · S212 · S213 · S214 · S215 · S216 · S217 · S218 · S219 · S220 · S307 · S309 · S310 · S311 · S312 · S502 · S503 · S504

Railways Railway construction in Qingdao began in 1899. The Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway (Jiaoji Line), connecting to Jinan, opened in 1904, marking the city's first and one of China's earliest railways. By the end of 2015, there were 8 trunk railways within Qingdao's administrative area with an operating length of 390.9 km, 47 dedicated railway lines totaling over 50 km, and 40 railway crossings.

The Qingdao Railway Hub is a significant railway hub in East China. It involves multiple passenger dedicated lines, intercity lines, and high-speed lines, covering the Jiaodong Peninsula, radiating inward to Shandong and connecting to Beijing-Shanghai and northwestern regions. Qingdao Railway Station, constructed in January 1900, is the starting point of the Jiaoji Line and the Jiaoji Passenger Dedicated Line (part of the Qingdao-Yinchuan Corridor) and is currently the primary top-class passenger station. Located less than 200 meters from the seafront, it mainly operates direct high-speed rail (EMU) services to major domestic cities. Qingdao North Station, located in Licang District, handles most conventional passenger trains, EMU trains stopping at all stations between Qingdao and Rongcheng, and the starting/terminating services for the Qingdao-Yancheng intercity trains. Qingdao West Station in the West Coast New Area and Hongdao Station in the Hongdao Economic Zone are the other two major passenger stations within the hub. Lancun West Station, the largest marshalling yard in the hub, is located in Ligezhuang Town, Jiaozhou City. Chengyang District has Chengyang Station. Additionally, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport has an integrated Qingdao Airport Station, sharing airport passenger flow with the Qingdao Metro.

Maritime Shipping and Ports Qingdao has a long history of maritime shipping and port development, with records of seaports and navigation activities from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty to the Song and Yuan Dynasties. In 1892, Qingdao's first artificial pier was built, known today as Zhanqiao (the Pier). In 1898, Germany began constructing Qingdao Port within the leased territory. Upon completion, it was acclaimed as the finest port in East Asia and opened as a free port to the world in September, gradually establishing Qingdao as one of China's most important port cities. In 1998, Qingdao Port became China's third port with an annual throughput exceeding 100 million tons. In 2002, Qingdao Port completed its westward relocation, elevating Qianwan Port into the ranks of major international container ports, later equipped with a bonded port area. By 2013, it had 74 berths capable of handling vessels over 10,000 DWT, 153 shipping routes (including 124 international container routes), a cargo throughput exceeding 458 million tons (including 314 million tons of foreign trade cargo), and a container throughput of 15.52 million TEUs. Qingdao Port's annual cargo throughput and container throughput ranked 7th globally, its foreign trade throughput ranked 3rd domestically, and its container throughput ranked 4th domestically. The passenger terminal operates passenger ships to Incheon, South Korea.

With economic development, domestic and international maritime trade volume surged, and the original three port areas of Qingdao Port could no longer meet demand. Therefore, Qingdao Port planned and constructed four major port areas: Binhai New City, Haixi Bay, Dongjiakou, and Aoshan Bay. The functions of the old port area (Dagang) will be adjusted to passenger transport, building a cruise home port, while cargo functions will be transferred to areas like Dongjiakou. The plan is to form a multi-level port development system with the Jiaozhou Bay comprehensive port transportation hub as the core, Aoshan Bay and Dongjiakou port areas as the two wings, supplemented by local small ports and comprehensive tourism ports. During the 12th Five-Year Plan period, Qingdao will, in conjunction with the layout of large coastal steel bases and new railway corridors, support the construction of large-scale iron ore unloading terminals at ports; and construct large-scale deep-water specialized container and energy transport terminals.

Aviation and Airports Qingdao's air transport began in the 1930s, making it one of China's earliest cities to develop civil aviation. In 1933, an air route from Shanghai to Beiping (Beijing) via Qingdao opened, landing at Cangkou Airport. In 1992, Liuting Airport was approved as an international airport; in 1999, it was officially handed over to Qingdao City for management and use. In November 2010, Liuting Airport achieved an annual passenger throughput of 10 million; in December 2016, passenger throughput exceeded 20 million. It basically formed an open route network "connecting north and south, radiating westward, linking Japan and South Korea, and facing the world." Due to increasing passenger and cargo volume, Liuting Airport operated beyond saturation and at full capacity. In October 2014, the State Council and the Central Military Commission approved the construction of Jiaodong Airport. In August 2021, Jiaodong Airport commenced operations, and Liuting Airport closed simultaneously. Jiaodong Airport provides ground handling services for 47 airlines, including three base carriers: Qingdao Airlines (headquarters), Shandong Airlines (Qingdao Branch), and China Eastern Airlines (Shandong Branch).

Pipeline Transport Pipeline transport in Qingdao began in the early 20th century. In 1908, an oil pipeline was laid from Berth No. 4 at Dagang to an oil depot, receiving 3,742 tons of kerosene transported by a British tanker for the first time. By the end of 2011, PetroChina's Shaanxi-Beijing Pipeline Jining Link and the West-East Gas Pipeline's Pingdu-Taian Line began supplying natural gas to Qingdao Taineng Gas's pipeline network, allowing Qingdao to use PetroChina's natural gas and achieve a three-source gas supply. In 2012, Qingdao began constructing a large-scale gas supply management system primarily based on pipeline-delivered natural gas, featuring a "multi-source" supply, a citywide "one main line, three branch lines" and ring-Jiaozhou Bay distribution network, and a "dual-route" supply guarantee for the main urban area. It established and improved a high-pressure/sub-high-pressure pipeline network with the Jiaozhou Gate Station–Chengyang Gate Station as the main line and Huangdao, Pingdu, Jimo, and Laixi as branch lines, connecting with the sub-high-pressure pipeline network in the urban area to form a citywide unified dispatch and distribution network. It further optimized the layout of the medium-pressure natural gas pipeline network in the urban area, renovated 160 km of gray cast iron gas pipelines to ensure safe and stable gas supply. During the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the pipeline gas penetration rate in the urban area reached 90%, with all urban residents using natural gas. The Sinopec Shandong LNG Project (Phase I) was completed, implementing 1,400 km of pipeline network construction and renovation, basically achieving full coverage of pipeline natural gas.Urban Public Transportation Urban public transportation in Qingdao began during the German concession period, with the initial modes of transport being European-style passenger carriages and Japanese-style rickshaws. In 1907, a German merchant established the Feilichade firm, operating bus passenger services from the urban area to Liushutai in Laoshan, marking Qingdao's earliest for-profit public bus route. In the late 1930s, the Jiao'ao Electric Company planned a government-business partnership to operate trams, establishing a tram preparation office; high-speed (rail transit) lines were also planned for the urban area, but none were realized. In 1960, trolleybuses began operating on main urban routes. In 1994, the Qingdao Metro Corporation was formally established, and construction began on metro stations and a test section. In 2004, the Qingdao–Xuejiadao ferry route officially commenced operations. In 2009, construction began on the first phase of the metro project. In 2011, four tunnel bus routes connecting the main urban area and Huangdao District via the Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel opened; in the same year, the first staffed intercity bus route connecting Laoshan District to the former Jimo City began operation. In January 2012, four tunnel bus routes connecting the main urban area to the former Jiaonan City via the Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel opened, marking the formal entry into the development stage of cross-regional bus services between Qingdao's main urban area and surrounding areas; in October, the IC card "Qindao Tong Card," usable for fare payment, became universally accepted throughout the city. In December 2015, the first metro line began operation. In March 2016, a tram demonstration line opened for operation in Chengyang District.

Public buses (including trolleybuses) and the metro are now the primary modes of transportation for residents. Within the city's administrative area, there are nearly 8,000 buses operating over 480 routes, essentially covering every corner of the city; most buses are self-service fare collection vehicles, with a flat fare of 1 RMB for ordinary buses and 2 RMB for air-conditioned buses. Using the Qindao Tong Card grants a 20% discount. The Qingdao Metro commenced operation of its first line on December 16, 2015. Currently, there are 8 operational lines covering the main urban area and surrounding regions, with a total network length of approximately 348 kilometers (as of May 2024). The starting fare is 2 RMB, with discounts of 10-30% available when using the Qindao Tong Card.

As a flexible complement to buses, taxis serve the city with 37 passenger transport companies operating approximately 11,000 taxis. The main body of the taxi is painted with a unified diamond silver lower section, while the upper section is differentiated by the owning company: Yiqing uses memory red, Huaqing uses sky blue, Zhongqing uses mint green, Jiaoyun uses fashionable green, Haibo uses dark blue, Disheng uses flash silver yellow, and other companies with fewer than 1,000 vehicles all use富贵绿 (wealth green). The emblem primarily features a stylized version of the first letter "Q" from the pinyin of "Qingdao," paired with the city's iconic symbol "Wind of May." The starting fare for ordinary cruising taxis is 10 RMB, with a per-kilometer rate of 2.10 RMB.

Postal Services Modern postal services in Qingdao began in the late 19th century. In 1897, after the German concession was established, a field post station was set up; in 1899, the German Postal Department established the Deutsche Reichspost at the Jiao Customs, issuing stamps and handling services such as letters, books, samples, parcels, remittances, and cash-on-delivery. In 1911, the post office separated from the customs; in 1914, the Qingdao First-Class Post Office was established. After the Japanese occupation, they took over German postal facilities, established field post offices, set their own postage rates, and issued stamps. In 1922, the Chinese government established the Jiao'ao Postal Administration Headquarters. In 2007, the postal industry underwent a separation of government and enterprise functions. The Qingdao Office of the Shandong Provincial Postal Administration was established, taking over all administrative functions originally belonging to the Qingdao Postal Bureau. It is responsible for postal supervision within the administrative areas of Qingdao, Weihai, and Rizhou. The Postal Bureau no longer holds any administrative functions and operates as a subsidiary of China Post Group, providing universal postal services and special services purely as an enterprise. In 2012, following the State Council's major ministry reform plan, the Qingdao Municipal Postal Administration was established and formally incorporated into the transportation department's management.

8. Education

Qingdao has a long history of education. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan founded the earliest educational institution in Qingdao—Kangcheng Academy—at the foot of Buqi Mountain, attracting over a thousand students. During the Sui Dynasty, official schools were established in various prefectures and counties, managed by appointed educational officials. In 1270, the Jimo County School was founded and continued to operate until the Qing Dynasty. Private schools and academies were also prevalent among the people. In 1885, Jimo saw the establishment of a new-style primary school founded by American missionaries, marking the beginning of modern education in Qingdao.

After the establishment of Qingdao, modern education gradually replaced traditional education as the dominant form. Following the German lease in 1897, the government, missionary organizations, social groups, and scholars established various educational institutions at all levels, including primary schools, secondary schools, universities, vocational schools, and girls' schools. While disseminating scientific and cultural knowledge, these institutions also promoted religion and foreign civilizations. In the early 1900s, government-run higher primary schools were successively established in Jiaozhou, Pingdu, Jimo, and other areas. After the abolition of the imperial examination system in 1905, secondary schools and normal schools were further developed. In 1909, the Qing government and the German government jointly founded Qingdao's first university—Deutsch-Chinesische Hochschule. After the May Fourth Movement, education in Qingdao developed rapidly, with a significant increase in the number of public, private, and missionary schools. Various unconventional educational institutions, such as preschools, adult education, vocational schools, and schools for special needs groups, also emerged. In 1924, the private Qingdao University was established, which was reorganized into National Qingdao University in 1930 (later renamed National Shandong University), becoming a nationally renowned institution.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, missionary schools were gradually closed, with some converted into public schools. Many private primary schools in urban areas were merged or closed, while part-time literacy classes, accelerated secondary schools, and night universities were established to encourage the development of rural private primary schools. In 1951, East China University merged into Shandong University. From 1952 to 1956, over a dozen departments of Shandong University were relocated to other regions in batches. In 1958, the main campus of Shandong University moved to Jinan, with the remaining departments forming Shandong College of Oceanography. As a result, higher education in Qingdao (particularly in the humanities) declined due to resource shortages caused by the relocations. Subsequent political movements further severely impacted basic and vocational education.

Since the reform and opening-up, education in Qingdao has begun to recover and develop. Since 1980, Qingdao No. 2 Middle School has become a key secondary school in Shandong Province, with notable alumni including Wang Tao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Xu Zhenchao, a national model worker. Ocean University of China, founded in 1924, is a key comprehensive university directly under the Ministry of Education and is included in both the national "985 Project" and "211 Project." The number, scale, and quality of schools at all levels have improved to some extent. However, the number of preschool institutions in urban areas remains insufficient, and the number of primary schools has decreased due to mergers, leading to challenges in enrollment for some newly developed urban areas. In 2012, Qingdao implemented centralized grading and allocation of examination papers for junior high schools in the main urban area.

9. Population

At the end of 2022, Qingdao had a permanent resident population of 10.3421 million, an increase of 0.83% compared to the end of the previous year. Among them, the urban permanent resident population was 7.9965 million, with an urbanization rate of 77.32%, up by 0.15 percentage points from the end of the previous year.

At the end of 2020, according to the results of the Seventh National Population Census, the permanent resident population of Qingdao was 10.0717 million, including 5.1322 million males and 4.9395 million females. By the end of 2016, Qingdao was home to 52 ethnic minorities, totaling 76,700 people, accounting for approximately 0.88% of the total population. Additionally, Qingdao has a significant number of foreign permanent residents, with the largest group coming from South Korea, which lies across the sea. By 2008, there were approximately 150,000 South Korean residents (data from the South Korean Consulate General in Qingdao indicates 160,000, with 150,000 permanent residents and 10,000 on tourist visas).

By the end of 2014, the life expectancy of Qingdao residents was 80.98 years. The registered elderly population aged 60 and above was 1.53 million, accounting for 19.6% of the total population, making Qingdao the second most aged city in China after Shanghai. It is conservatively estimated that there were about 700 centenarians in the city. It is predicted that the peak of population aging in Qingdao will occur around 2035, when the elderly population will account for approximately 35% of the total population.

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10. Culture

As a nationally renowned historical and cultural city, Qingdao boasts a long-standing culture that has evolved over thousands of years, becoming an integral part of the mainstream of Chinese civilization. More than 80 ancient cultural sites from the Neolithic Age, over 200 ancient tombs, and over 2,000 unearthed artifacts have been discovered in the Qingdao area, reflecting the primitive culture of the ancient Dongyi people. Early Dawenkou culture sites in Qingdao are represented by sites such as Nanqian, Beiqian, Dongyandi, and Dinggezhuang, while the late period is represented by the Sanlihe site. Longshan culture sites are scattered throughout the city. Additionally, the Dongyueshi site in Pingdu has been named the Yueshi culture by the archaeological community. During the Zhou Dynasty, most of the Qingdao area belonged to the State of Qi, with the remainder belonging to the State of Lu, both of which were economically and culturally advanced civilizations. The tours and quests for immortality by emperors of the Qin and Han dynasties to Langya added a significant touch to Qingdao's culture and folklore. The large wooden puppets (used for puppet shows) and lacquer Liubo game sets unearthed from late Western Han tombs in Laixi indicate that cultural and entertainment life in Qingdao had already developed quite richly during this period. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the master of Confucian classics, Zheng Xuan, established the Kangcheng Academy in Mount Lao, which can be considered the earliest institution of higher learning in Qingdao.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, many literary and artistic masters left behind poems and writings in the Qingdao area: Li Bai wrote the lines "I once roamed the eastern sea, dining on purple clouds at Mount Lao" ("To Meng Darong, the Hermit of Wangwu Mountain"); Su Shi composed verses praising the Goryeo Pavilion in Banqiao Town. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, language, literature, and history developed well: Wang Bangzhi of Jimo authored the 60-volume Lü Lü Zheng Sheng on phonology; Gu Yanwu visited Mount Lao, wrote songs, and verified records related to Mount Lao in Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Qin Shi Huang; Pu Songling created famous works about Mount Lao in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, including The Taoist Priest of Mount Lao, Xiangyu, and the long poem Song of Watching the Mirage at Mount Lao, along with other notable works such as Xu Ji's Watching the Mirage at Mount Lao and Yin Linji's Watching the Mirage at Baiyun Cave. Fa Ruozhen, Hu Yiyang, Li Mingqian, Huang Yuheng, Gao Fenghan, and others published multiple volumes of poetry and essays. In 1467, the Tianhou Palace was built, and in 1644, a theater stage was added, making it a public cultural and entertainment venue, primarily hosting performances such as Zhougu and Bangliu. The Haiyun Temple in Sifang and Xiaobaodao held entertainment fairs in the name of worship, such as the Tangqiu Fair and the Radish Fair.

In 1898, the Deutsches Kiautschou Amtsblatt was founded in Qingdao, becoming the first newspaper in Qingdao's history. In 1905, the Chinese Theater (Chinesisches Theater) was built. In the same year, the Prince Heinrich Hotel Concert Hall was completed, marking Qingdao's first dedicated concert hall. In 1907, the Sanjiang Guild Hall was built, featuring a traditional Chinese theater stage. In 1911, Qingdao's first cultural society—the Confucius Worship Literary Society—was established, and in 1914, a library was added. The German leasehold and two periods of Japanese rule filled Qingdao's modern culture with Western and Eastern influences. After Qingdao's return in 1922, cultural endeavors saw significant development, with a large number of cinemas and theaters constructed. In 1924, the Public Popular Library was established, and Qingdao's first Chinese-language photography collection—Commemorative Photo Album of the Recovery of Qingdao—was published. In 1929, the Qingdao Drama Society was founded. In 1930, the first mass cultural institution—the Qingdao Public Education Center—was established. Subsequently, with the founding of National Qingdao University, a large number of cultural scholars and writers came to Qingdao, promoting the New Culture Movement in the city and completing or publishing numerous literary works, films, and theatrical productions. In 1931, the Qingdao Aquarium, dedicated to promoting marine culture, was established. In 1932, the Seagull Drama Society was founded. In 1933, Qingdao's earliest radio station—the Public Education Center Radio—began broadcasting.

In 1937, due to the outbreak of war, Qingdao's cultural endeavors were severely affected, and modern cultural activities declined, a situation that persisted until 1945. The reopening of National Shandong University played a crucial role in the revival of Qingdao's culture. However, the subsequent civil war, the decline in Qingdao's administrative status after the founding of the People's Republic, changes in the city's positioning, the relocation of universities, and political movements all limited the development of Qingdao's cultural undertakings, making the journey fraught with setbacks. After the reform and opening-up, Qingdao's cultural endeavors began to recover, with the establishment of professional art groups such as drama theaters, Peking opera troupes, Lü opera troupes, song and dance theaters, folk art troupes, Maoqiang opera troupes, Liuqiang opera troupes, and orchestras. In addition to municipal cultural venues, mass cultural institutions were also established in various districts, streets, and units. Various professional associations and academies under the Qingdao Federation of Literary and Art Circles were successively established. A new generation of writers and artists emerged in large numbers. The news and publishing industry also developed. In January 2012, five municipal state-owned cultural and media groups—Qingdao Radio, Film, and Television Media; Qingdao Press Media; Qingdao Publishing Media; Qingdao Performing Arts; and Qingdao Network Media Group Co., Ltd.—were officially inaugurated.

Literature, Drama, and Folk Art Qingdao has a relatively developed literary and folk art creation scene, with a long history of folk activities. Ancient times saw poets and writers such as Huang Pei, Ding Yaokang, and Zhang Qianyi. When Li Bai, Wang Anshi, Su Shi, Gu Yanwu, and Pu Songling visited Mount Lao, they also left behind poems and writings. Drama activities emerged in the early Qing Dynasty, and by the late 19th century, folk operas such as Benzhougu and Yiyangqiang had evolved into Liuqiang and Maoqiang operas, becoming independent local opera genres. Before the establishment of Qingdao, there were already storytelling forms such as Jimo drum singing, Jiaozhou octagonal drum singing, and Zangma drum singing, as well as Yugu and Qinshu. After the Xinhai Revolution, Peking opera gained attention, with amateur performances increasing. Mei Lanfang, Xun Huisheng, Shang Xiaoyun, Yang Xiaolou, and others performed together at the Qingdao New Stage (later known as the Yong'an Grand Theater).

Vernacular literature and modern drama performances in Qingdao began in the early 20th century. By the late 1920s, groups such as the New Literature Research Society, drama societies, and literary societies had emerged, founding several literary journals or newspaper supplements. The establishment of National Qingdao University brought together a large number of literary writers who examined social life from a realist perspective, creating a wealth of literary works reflecting the fate of ordinary people, urban life, and the hardships of war, forming the first peak of creative output in Qingdao's modern literary history. During this period, folk artists were often seen performing on the streets or in squares, or entertaining in teahouses. Xiangsheng performers Ma Sanli and Liu Baorui, Xihé drum singer Liu Taiqing, Shandong clapper talk performers Gao Yuanjun and Yang Lide, Shandong Qinshu performers Li Jinshan and Gao Jinfeng, and acrobats Xiao Tianyi and Wang Shazi all performed in Qingdao.

Novels such as Wang Tongzhao's Mountain Rain, Lao She's Rickshaw Boy, Xiao Jun's Village in August, Xiao Hong's The Field of Life and Death, and Shu Qun's Child Without a Country, as well as short stories created in Qingdao by Ba Jin, Chen Xianghe, Shen Congwen, and Lao She, are all important works in modern literary history. In the 1930s, the most influential poetic works in Qingdao's literary scene included Wen Yiduo's Miracle, Wang Yaping's The Lighthouse Keeper, Pu Feng's Qingdao, and Zang Kejia's Brand and The Sinful Black Hand. Essay collections created or published in Qingdao included Wang Tongzhao's Spring in the North, Liang Shiqiu's Collection of Prejudices, Wu Boxiao's Feather Book, and Xiao Jun's October 15th. Other notable writers who lived or worked in Qingdao included Yang Zhensheng and Wang Jingzhi, while literary translators included Zhang Yousong, Bian Zhilin, and Zhang Tiemin. During this period, Qingdao also saw the emergence of a group of young writers, such as Yu Heiding, Wang Lin, Li Baifeng, Xu Zhongyu, and Cai Tianxin. From the second Japanese occupation period to the founding of the People's Republic, Wang Dulu, who created over 20 martial arts novels, became known as one of China's four great martial arts novelists. In 1953, the adaptation of The Marriage of Xiao Erhei by the Qingdao Federation of Literary and Art Circles' cultural troupe was officially named as a new opera genre—Lü opera—due to its unique characteristics. In 1959, the monthly journal Seagull (now Qingdao Literature) was founded, becoming Qingdao's only literary journal after the founding of the People's Republic.

In the late 1970s, the second peak of creative output in Qingdao's modern literary history emerged, with realism as the mainstream. Literary genres such as novels, poetry, essays, literary criticism, folk literature, and translated literature all saw significant development. Works published during this period included Liu Xuejiang's Spring Breeze Next Door, Xu Benfu's Dragon-Taming Bay, Liang Xiu's Night Tide, and novels by Li Boping, Xiao Bing, and others. Ji Yu's long recitation poem Song of Romance was highly rhythmic, while Xin Xianling's film script In-Laws won multiple national awards after being adapted into a movie. You Fengwei became a representative writer of realist fiction with his novellas and short stories such as Clear Water Yamen, White Lotus, and Mountain Land, while Zhou Liwu created works with modernist tones, such as The Giant Beast. From the 1980s to the present, Qingdao's literary and folk art creation and performance teams have gradually grown, ranking among the top in the country in terms of the number of authors, fields covered, and the quantity and quality of works. At the end of 2010, after eight years of design and five years of construction, the Qingdao Grand Theater—the most comprehensive, largest, and highest-grade public cultural and performing arts facility in Qingdao's century-long history, with world-class standards—was officially opened. Resembling a silver-white grand piano standing in the eastern part of the city, it marks another significant achievement in Qingdao's cultural development.Music
Qingdao has a long history of folk music, with early development of modern Western music and a high level of musical literacy among its citizens, earning it the reputation as the "Island of Music." During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Taoist music in Laoshan saw significant development. After Germany established its concession in 1897, Western music began to spread. In 1902, the German Navy Soldiers' Club was built, featuring an auditorium that could be used as a concert hall. In 1905, the Prince Heinrich Hotel established a concert hall, where musicians and the German Navy Orchestra frequently held concerts and invited European musicians to perform. Traditional opera music, such as Jiaozhou Yangko, sailors' work songs, Maoqiang, and Liuqiang opera, also gained popularity among the people.

In the 1920s, folk music performances became very common during traditional festivals. Music education also began to develop, with schools such as the Municipal Middle School, Wende Girls' School, and Shenggong Girls' School offering music classes. Music teachers from these schools formed the Qingdao Music Association, organizing concerts in schools and inviting musicians from other regions for exchanges. Church music also gained popularity with the establishment of Christian churches, with the pipe organ music at the Zhejiang Road Catholic Church and Jiangsu Road Christian Church being particularly famous. In 1935, Wang Mei, the president of the Qingdao Music Association, produced one of China's early violins in Qingdao. After the reform and opening-up, music activities gradually flourished, with annual summer concerts, public music events, and music competitions. In 1986, a comprehensive arts festival began to be held. In 2002, the first Qingdao New Year's Concert was held. In 2005, Qingdao hosted its first music festival and the first China International Violin Competition. In April 2005, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra was re-established. In 2007, the first Qingdao Rock Music Festival was held. In 2012, the first Qingdao International Sailing Music Festival took place, and the Ministry of Culture hosted the first Li Delun National Conducting Competition in Qingdao. In 2017, the European Union Youth Music Festival was held in the Qingdao West Coast New Area.

Dance
Qingdao has a long history of folk dance with distinct local characteristics, including Yangko, stilt walking, land boat dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lion dancing, and acrobatics. Major forms of folk dance include the aquatic lantern dance popular in Cangkou, song and dance Yangko in Laoshan, shamanic dance in Huangdao and Jiaozhou, Yuyue dance in Jimo and Jiaozhou, Jimo's minor tune Yangko and Tianxie lantern dance, Jiaozhou's small Yangko opera, and prop dances such as Jimo's donkey running, Wu Song Fights the Tiger, and land boat dancing, as well as Jiaozhou's big-headed doll dance, dragon lantern dance, and Ergui wrestling, and Huangdao's Jiang Lao Carrying His Mother-in-Law. Acrobatic dances mainly originated from the variety shows of the Han Dynasty, such as carrying sedan chairs, lever officials, mending large pots, and flower stick dancing. Among folk dances, Yangko is the most widespread and popular.

In 1960, the Qingdao Song and Dance Troupe was established, becoming a professional art group performing opera, ballet, ethnic dance dramas, and dance programs in Qingdao. During the Cultural Revolution, the "Loyalty Dance" became popular but lost its artistic value. After the 1970s, professional and amateur dance teams were established one after another. In 1989, the Qingdao Dancers Association was founded. In 2000, Qingdao hosted the first high-level, large-scale international dance competition held in China—the International DanceSport Federation World Cup. In 2002, the Qingdao Dancers Association organized the first Qingdao Street Dance Competition. In 2009, the first Qingdao International Dance Festival was held.

Fine Arts, Calligraphy, and Photography
The history of fine arts in Qingdao dates back to the Neolithic Age. The pottery dog-shaped and pig-shaped vessels unearthed at the Sanlihe site are hailed as outstanding representatives of bird and animal sculptures from the Neolithic period in Chinese art history. Bronze artifacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, such as the bronze handled you, bronze square yi, Fu Jia jue, and Fu Gui jue unearthed at the Xihuanggu'an site, the Langya stone inscription from the 28th year of Qin Shi Huang unearthed in Huangdao, the Han Dynasty jade dancer unearthed in Yifengdian, Jimo, the stone relief of a crouching deer unearthed in Chengyang, the "Zheng Wengong Stele" cliff inscription on Tianzhu Mountain in Pingdu, and over a hundred stone sculpture fragments from the Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang dynasties unearthed near Fahai Temple, all demonstrate the advanced bronze art and ancient carving techniques in the Qingdao region during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Additionally, folk arts such as New Year paintings, paper-cutting, and embroidery are also prevalent in Qingdao.

In the late 19th century, Western fine arts and photography began to spread. Sculpture was commonly seen in buildings, gardens, and cemeteries, while photography initially served news reporting. During the German concession period, major photo studios included Takahashi Photo Studio and Taifang Photo Studio. Picture postcards also became popular during this time, with Qingdao Printing Bureau, Ross & Co., and Deji Trading Company being the main publishers of Qingdao scenic postcards. From 1908 to 1909, during his global travels, French financier Albert Kahn's hired photographer, Stephane Passet, used Lumière Autochrome technology to take a set of color photographs in Qingdao, which are the earliest known color photos of Qingdao. After the Xinhai Revolution, a group of Qing Dynasty loyalists moved to Qingdao, many of whom were skilled in calligraphy and painting, such as Kang Youwei, Wu Yusheng, and Liu Tingchen. Their artistic activities had a profound impact on Qingdao's calligraphy and painting circles, making Qingdao one of the regions where traditional Chinese art and Western art developed side by side in the early 20th century. In 1924, Ban Pengzhi published Qingdao's first Chinese-language news photo collection, "Souvenir Photographs of the Restoration of Tsingtau, 1923." In the early 1930s, Qingdao newspapers began publishing photography and film advertisement photos, and artistic photography also emerged.

In the early 1960s, Qingdao's fine arts activities entered a new period of vitality. Many domestic painters came to Qingdao to hold exhibitions, lectures, and academic seminars, with dozens of famous painters such as Pan Tianshou, Li Kuchan, Wang Xuetao, and Cui Zifan participating alongside Qingdao painters like He Baozhen, Ma Longqing, Feng Ping, Du Zongfu, and Huang Gongzhu. From the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, calligraphy and seal carving exhibitions flourished in Qingdao, and calligraphy and seal carving societies were established one after another. Many calligraphers and painters and their works won awards domestically and internationally. With the deepening of reform and opening-up, many commercial galleries, art shops, and decoration engineering companies were established, marking the diversification of fine arts. In 1995, the Cultural Celebrity Sculpture Park was built. In 1997, the Donghai Road Sculpture Street was completed.

In 1998, the Qingdao Style Photography Competition was held. In 1999, Qingdao hosted an International Fine Arts Invitational Exhibition, with over 50 painters from more than 20 countries participating. At the same time, a Chinese Printmaking Exhibition was held, collecting 263 prints from across the country. In 2000, the Qingdao International Print Biennale was held, with over 360 artists from 46 countries submitting approximately 800 works. This was a large-scale international cultural exchange event and the first international print exhibition hosted in China. In the same year, Qingdao also held its first Female Painters' Works Exhibition and published a collection of works. Around the same time, the Qingdao Sculpture Art Museum opened. In 2001, the National Chinese Painting Exhibition was held in Qingdao. In 2004, Qingdao watercolor painter Wang Shaobo's work "Fisherman's Song" won the gold medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition for the first time, breaking Qingdao's record of having no national gold medals.

News and Publishing
Book publishing in Qingdao began in the Ming Dynasty, with official publications such as the 1579 "Jimo County Annals" and later "Jiaozhou Annals" and "Pingdu Annals." Private publications included "Laoshan Annals," while commercial publications included Jiaozhou's Chengwentang, Wenfutang, and Jimo's Xiudetang. During the German concession period, modern publishing and printing industries emerged in Qingdao, with seven publishing institutions such as the Qingdao Printing Bureau (Adolf Haupt Bücherei) and Fuchang Publishing House (Deutsch-Chinesische Bücherei und Verlaganstalt). Qingdao's newspaper industry began in the late 19th century. On November 21, 1898, the first newspaper in Qingdao's history, "Deutsch-Asiatische Warte. Amtlicher Anzeiger des Kiautschou-Gebietes," was published, with texts primarily in German. When announcements, notices, or advertisements needed to be known by Chinese people, they were published in both German and Chinese. On July 1, 1900, the weekly "Amtsblatt für das Deutsche-Gebiet" was published, replacing the previous "Deutsch-Asiatische Warte," with mixed Chinese and German texts.

In 1901, Qingdao's first all-Chinese weekly, "Kiautschou Pau," was founded by Chinese democrat Zhu Qi. In 1905, "Tsingtauer Neueste Nachrichten" was published. In 1916, the special issue "Salt Industry of Jiaozhou Bay" was published, marking Qingdao's first formal periodical. In 1923, the "Jiao'ao Daily," distributed in Qingdao and domestic and international port cities, was founded. In December 1924, the Jiao'ao Commercial Port Administration Office published the "Jiao'ao Gazette." In 1932, the Chinese-language "Qingdao Daily," with a Chinese editor-in-chief, was founded. By May 1949, over 80 Chinese-language newspapers, more than 20 foreign-language newspapers, 268 periodicals of 313 types, over 20 publishing houses, over 30 printing bureaus, and over 40 book distribution bureaus had been established in the city.After the People's Liberation Army captured Qingdao and took power in 1949, only the Damin Daily continued publication for a short period, while all other newspapers, periodicals, publishing houses, and book distribution institutions were either shut down or suspended. Zhongzheng Bookstore and its printing factory, as well as the Chinese Cultural Service Society, were taken over and controlled, leading to the establishment of the Qingdao branch of Xinhua Bookstore. In 1959, the Qingdao Federation of Literary and Art Circles founded the literary monthly Seagull (now Qingdao Literature). In 1987, Qingdao Publishing House was officially established. In 1988, the Public Relations Guide was launched. In 1989, Qingdao Ocean University Press (now China Ocean University Press) was founded. In 1992, the Qingdao Evening News was launched. In 1996, the Public Relations Guide was renamed Qingdao Life Guide (now Qingdao Morning News). In 1998, the Qingdao Daily became the first newspaper to adopt color printing and, together with the morning and evening editions, established an online newspaper reading platform—Qingdao News Network. In 1999, the Peninsula Metropolis Daily was launched in Qingdao.

Radio and Television
Wireless broadcasting in Qingdao began in the 1930s. In June 1933, the Qingdao Municipal Government established the city’s first wireless radio station, broadcasting for nine hours a day. In July, Qingdao Hongbo Electric Company set up a private radio station. On March 21, 1938, the Qingdao Broadcasting Bureau was established, broadcasting in Chinese and Japanese at different times. In 1940, the Qingdao Broadcasting Bureau was renamed Qingdao Radio Station. In March 1946, Qingdao Radio Station launched its second broadcast channel. In February 1949, it launched its third broadcast channel. On June 2, 1949, the Qingdao Military Control Commission took over Qingdao Radio Station, renaming it Qingdao People's Radio Station and operating two sets of programs. In 1971, the Qingdao Television Relay Station was built; in 1976, the relay station was transformed into Qingdao Television Station. In 1979, Qingdao Television Station officially began broadcasting; by 1980, it achieved full-color program broadcasting.

In 1987, Pingdu Television Station, Jiaozhou Television Station, Laoshan Television Station, and Laixi Satellite Ground Receiving Station were established. In 1995, the Qingdao Radio and Television Transmission Tower was completed. In 2000, all villages in Qingdao’s suburbs achieved television coverage. In 2001, Qingdao’s radio frequencies achieved digital production and broadcasting, and the television station successfully trial-broadcast its first independently produced high-definition digital television program. The cable network center also experimentally launched standard-definition and interactive digital television. In 2002, China’s first radio and television EIP management network was established, and television news production, editing, and broadcasting became fully digital. In 2004, Qingdao’s experience in constructing cable digital television was dubbed the "Qingdao Model" by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and promoted nationwide. In 2007, terrestrial wireless high-definition television officially began broadcasting. By the end of 2011, the city had one radio station with 12 programs and one television station with 15 programs. The number of cable television subscribers reached 2.682 million, with digital television subscribers reaching 2.4388 million.

Film
Film distribution and screening in Qingdao began in the early 20th century. Due to the lack of venue restrictions for early film screenings, it is almost impossible to determine exactly when film screenings first appeared in Qingdao. However, the Naval Club Hotel built in 1902 and the Prince Henry Hotel Concert Hall built in 1905 had the conditions for film screenings. In 2016, Qingdao media reported that the Naval Club Hotel was "China’s first cinema." In 1923, the Qingdao Nanhaiyan Ping'an Film Company was established, operating Qingdao’s first movie theater. Before Chinese films were produced, Qingdao screened films from Germany, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with all film distributors being foreigners. After the emergence of Chinese films, some domestic and foreign production companies had their own film distributors in Qingdao. In 1931, the Shandong Grand Theater was built and remains in use today (now called China Cinema). In 1950, Qingdao’s first rural film projection team was established. In January 1959, the Qingdao Distribution Station was renamed the Qingdao Film Distribution and Screening Company, shifting from solely handling film distribution to overseeing the entire film distribution and screening work in the city. In 1998, the first Qingdao Farmers’ Film Festival was held; in 2001, the first Qingdao Student Film Festival was held; in 2003, the first Qingdao Open-Air Film Festival was held; in 2004, the first Qingdao College Student Film Festival was held. In 2007, the China Film Golden Phoenix Awards designated Qingdao as its permanent host city. In 2013, Wanda Group invested 50 billion yuan to build Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis in the Qingdao West Coast New Area, a large-scale film and television industrial park covering tourism, commerce, and other functions, which began operations in 2016. In 2018, the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival opened in Qingdao.

Cultural Facilities
The construction of cultural facilities in Qingdao began during the German concession period. The Naval Club Hotel, built in 1902, included an auditorium. In 1905, the China Theater was built, a theater operated by Chinese, later known as "Huale Theater." In the same year, Qingdao’s earliest concert hall—the Prince Henry Hotel Concert Hall—was built. In 1909, the German-Chinese University established a teaching experimental equipment exhibition hall, a precursor to modern museums. Later, the Jiaozhou Customs established a customs museum. In 1914, German sinologist Richard Wilhelm founded the Zunkong Wenshe Library. In 1916, Qingdao established a commodity exhibition hall. In 1924, the Qingdao Public Popular Library was established. The Qingdao Education Bureau Public Education Center, established in 1930 (later renamed Qingdao Municipal Public Education Center), was Qingdao’s earliest cultural and educational institution. In 1932, the Qingdao Aquarium opened. In 1936, the Qingdao Public Popular Library was renamed the Qingdao Library; in the same year, the Qingdao Auditorium was built, and the Shandong Industrial Museum was completed.

In 1965, the Qingdao Museum was officially established. In 1989, the Chinese Navy Museum was built. In 1998, the Qingdao Cultural Expo Center was completed. In 1999, the Qingdao Archives met the standards of an international first-class archive. Entering the 21st century, many thematic museums were established. In 2000, Qingdao launched the Digital Archives Project; Shinan District, Laoshan District, Huangdao District, and Chengyang District built new cultural complex facilities. In 2004, the Qingdao Library met the standards of an international first-class library; the Municipal Archives went to Germany to collect and reproduce a large number of early precious archives of Qingdao. In 2010, the Qingdao Grand Theater was completed. By the end of 2011, the city had 470 cultural institutions of various types, including 40 cinemas and theaters, 183 cultural centers (stations), 9 museums, and 13 public libraries.

Cultural Relics Protection

• Cultural Relics Survey
  The first cultural relics survey in Qingdao began in 1952, paused in 1955, and resumed in March 1957. During this period, the focus was on the Laoshan area, where 31 ancient cultural sites, 11 ancient tombs, over 40 ancient buildings, 2 Jin Dynasty stone carvings, 2 Tang Dynasty Tianbao stone carvings, and 40 Jin, Yuan, and Ming Dynasty stone carvings were discovered. From May 24 to June 24, 1973, Qingdao formed a cultural relics survey team to conduct the second cultural relics survey, focusing on key cultural relics protection units in Qingdao. In 1981, Qingdao conducted the third cultural relics survey, organizing surveys of cultural relics in Jiaonan, Jiaoxian, Laoshan, and Huangdao. This survey discovered 41 new ancient cultural sites.

In 1987, Qingdao conducted the fourth cultural relics survey, discovering 2 Dawenkou cultural sites, 7 Longshan cultural sites, 1 Yueshi cultural site, 15 Han Dynasty cultural sites (tomb clusters), 2 Song Dynasty tomb clusters, and 4 Ming Dynasty buildings. Additionally, nearly 100 cultural relics such as Han Dynasty stone reliefs, ironware, stone statues, epitaphs, and porcelain, as well as a batch of Yan Kingdom knife coins and historical celebrity calligraphy and paintings, were collected. In 2000, an underwater archaeological team was organized to conduct a 20-day survey of the Langya Port site in the southern sea area, the Song-Jin naval battle site, the Yadao Ming Dynasty shipwreck site, and the Ming-Qing coastal defense facilities. In July 2007, Qingdao launched the fifth cultural relics survey, identifying over 860 immovable cultural relics sites across the city, including more than 570 newly discovered ones. On January 19, 2012, the National Cultural Heritage Administration approved Qingdao to pilot the survey of state-owned movable cultural relics.

Customs and Habits
The ancestors of the Qingdao region were the Dongyi people. As early as the Neolithic period, cultural activities reflecting Dongyi customs existed, such as dietary and aesthetic customs demonstrated by pottery utensils, primitive worship and belief customs centered on bird totem worship, and funeral and birth customs reflected in burial forms and coming-of-age rituals. During the pre-Qin period, customs centered on Qi culture gradually formed, which later evolved under the influence of Confucian culture after the Qin and Han dynasties. Over the following millennia, Qingdao’s customs changed little, only incorporating characteristics from different ethnic groups and regions and undergoing some localized changes. In the early 20th century, a large number of migrants came to Qingdao to make a living and settle, bringing their hometown customs. Through continuous integration, Qingdao’s urban customs gradually formed, centered on the traditional maritime culture of the Qi State while incorporating customs from various inland regions.In modern times, due to the rule of Germany and Japan, the folk customs of the urban area have taken on a somewhat "imported" character, with traditional customs and Western culture blending, absorbing, and coexisting harmoniously. This is specifically reflected in residential architecture: Qingdao has produced courtyard houses that combine traditional quadrangle dwellings, Japanese-style buildings, and Western architecture, while modern times have mostly replaced them with apartment buildings. In terms of weddings, couples wear wedding dresses and suits, and are greeted with decorated cars, while also incorporating traditional music and lion dances. For funerals, flower tributes are common, but traditional incense burning and paper offerings are also indispensable; sea burials and body donations are gradually gaining acceptance. Regarding festivals, in addition to essential traditional celebrations such as Laba Festival, Minor New Year, Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, foreign holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are also widely accepted. Overall, Qingdao's folk customs have unique characteristics and are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. However, due to political interventions from the upper echelons during the early years of the establishment of the People's Republic, such as "changing customs and traditions" and "destroying the Four Olds," modern people (especially those living in urban areas) no longer understand, value, or participate in traditional folk culture as they once did, often viewing it more as bystanders.

Specialty Cuisine
Qingdao's representative dishes originate from the dietary culture of the Qi State, primarily using local Qingdao ingredients and based on Shandong cuisine cooking techniques. They incorporate characteristics from various domestic and international cuisines, forming dishes with distinct Qingdao local flavors. These dishes mainly feature seafood such as sea cucumber, abalone, dried scallops, prawns, and crabs, emphasizing lightness, savory freshness, and preserving the original flavors and nutritional content. Cooking methods often include stir-frying, deep-frying, quick-frying, braising, and steaming. The cuisine emphasizes being salty but not overpowering, spicy but not choking, sweet but not cloying, rich but not heavy, and light but not bland. Famous dishes include braised sea cucumber with scallions, abalone in its shell, quick-fried sea snail, snow crab, sesame scallop skewers, spicy stir-fried clams, braised yellow croaker with tofu, deep-fried oyster fritters, crispy chicken, and braised flatfish. At the same time, the cuisine draws inspiration from traditional Sichuan, Cantonese, and Huaiyang cuisines, using local ingredients to innovate and improve, creating dishes suited to local tastes, such as sour and spicy fish balls, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork, crispy suckling pig, oyster sauce beef, Liuting pig trotters, prawns with Chinese cabbage, and Laoshan mushroom stewed chicken. Additionally, braised mackerel is an indispensable traditional dish during Qingdao's festive activities.

Located in the northern coastal region, Qingdao is abundant in seafood. Even during times of poverty, people would eat cornbread or pancakes with salted fish, dried shrimp, or shrimp paste. Qingdao's specialty snacks mostly utilize local seafood and traditional cooking techniques to create affordable, popular snacks with distinct local flavors. Their main characteristics are "tender texture, fresh taste, smoothness, and refreshing mouthfeel." The top ten "Qingdao specialty snacks" are: Chunhelou steamed dumplings with three delicacies, seaweed jelly, grilled skewers (squid), braised pig trotters, mackerel dumplings, three-delicacy potstickers, cabbage and pork buns, seafood noodle soup, chicken wonton soup, and pork rib rice. Other flour-based snacks include stuffed pancakes, sweet porridge, fried dough sticks, sugar pancakes, mung bean cakes, and sesame balls. Most of these can be tasted at the Pichaiyuan Food Culture Park in the western part of the Shinan District and the Yunxiao Road Snack Street in the eastern part.

Qingdao's locally distinctive beverages include:
Laoshan Mineral Water: Sourced from deep granite crevices in Laoshan Mountain and its surrounding areas, rich in various trace elements, it is China's earliest mineral water with a century-long history.
Tsingtao Beer: Made from malt, rice, hops, and Laoshan spring water, brewed with century-old yeast originally from Germany. It is of excellent quality and renowned both domestically and internationally.
Jimo Old Wine: Made from glutinous millet, wheat, and Laoshan spring water, naturally fermented. It is of excellent quality, rich in nutrients, and known as the "Northern School" of yellow wine.
Huadong Wine: Made from over ten varieties of high-quality wine grapes introduced from Europe, using advanced equipment from Germany, Italy, Australia, and other countries, and brewed according to French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée standards, it is of high quality.
Langyatai Liquor: A strong-flavored liquor brewed using multi-round fermentation and distillation techniques, it is a famous liquor with a 2,000-year brewing history.
Laoshan Cola: Developed in 1953 by national researchers in Qingdao, it is China's first carbonated beverage.
Laoshan Baihua Sheshe Cao Water: A beverage made with Hedyotis diffusa as an ingredient, with a unique taste, it has been popular in Southeast Asia for many years.

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11. 著名人物

青岛人杰地灵、名人辈出。清代书画名家高凤翰生于胶州，戊戌变法领袖晚年定居青岛。国内诸多以海洋科学家为主的著名科学家荟萃青岛，其中中国科学院院士和中国工程院院士20余位。青岛培养一大批著名音乐巨匠、影视明星和许多在国内国际重大赛事中屡屡获奖的体育名将。近代历史上，曾有许多文化名人前往青岛观光游览、定居或在国立青岛大学（后改国立山东大学）[注34]从事教育教学工作。

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Shinan District

Huangdao District

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Cedar

Winter Jasmine, Chinese Rose