Qingdao Olympic Sailing & Marine Culture Tourism Zone

1. Introduction

Qingdao is the birthplace of sailing in China and is renowned as the "City of Sailing." The Qingdao Olympic Sailing & Marine Culture Tourism Zone is located in the Shinan District of Qingdao City, Shandong Province, covering an area of 5.25 square kilometers. It comprises two main areas: the Underwater World and the Olympic Sailing Center. The Olympic Sailing Center, serving as the venue for the sailing competitions of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, possesses the nation's sole Olympic cultural heritage related to sailing. Major events such as the Olympic Games, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, and Navy Day have also endowed the center with numerous valuable cultural resources. The Underwater World houses tens of thousands of rare marine biological specimens, various national first and second-class protected animals, tens of thousands of rare marine creatures from around the globe, and distinctive architectural landscapes.

Leveraging its high-quality tourism resources, the tourism zone offers comprehensive themed products including marine sports, marine science education and research, and coastal leisure entertainment. It aims to develop the area into an international marine cultural tourism destination integrating sailing sports, seaside leisure, cultural experiences, marine research, and MICE tourism.

2. Location

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing & Marine Culture Tourism Zone is located at No. 12 Xinhui Road, Shinan District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, on the original site of the Beihai Shipyard, adjacent to May Fourth Square and Donghai Road.

3. Main Attractions

3.1 Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, abbreviated as the "Olympic Sailing Center," is adjacent to May Fourth Square. With mountains behind and facing the sea, it boasts beautiful scenery and covers a total land area of 0.45 square kilometers. It successfully hosted the sailing competitions of the 29th Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympic Games in 2008, as well as the 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2018. As a landmark "city reception hall" of Qingdao, the Olympic Sailing Center has now developed into a comprehensive scenic area integrating culture, sports, exhibitions, and tourism.

3.1.1 Torch Avenue

Torch Avenue is 208 meters long, symbolizing the "2008 Olympics." The lighting ceremonies for the opening of the 2008 Qingdao Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Regattas were held here. At its southern end stands the 20.08-meter-high Olympic torch "Lucky Cloud," where the Olympic flame once burned brightly, cheering and blessing the athletes amidst the wind and waves. The avenue, backed by a giant Olympic rings sculpture and facing May Fourth Square across the sea, is the best place for Olympic commemorations.

3.1.2 Flag Array Square

Flag Array Square is a circular area with a diameter of 58 meters, surrounded by 54 flagpoles each 10 meters high. During the 2008 Qingdao Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Regattas, athletes from participating countries (regions) held flag-raising ceremonies here, forming a themed square encircled by national (regional) flags. This echoes the Olympic motto "One World, One Dream," symbolizing global friendship and peace.

3.1.3 Yandao Mountain Park

Yandao Mountain Park is situated on Yan'er Island Mountain, close to the "Yandao Autumn Tide." Covering a total area of 54,000 square meters, it features a mountain-viewing trail connecting seven scenic and functional areas: the Yandao Viewing Platform, Olympic Sailing Lookout, Yandao Station, SCO Peony Garden, Fitness Square, Children's Playground, and Tennis Court. It fully integrates natural and cultural landscapes, making it an excellent place to enjoy leisure time at the Olympic Sailing Center and appreciate the natural scenery of mountains and sea.

3.1.4 Lovers' Dam

Lovers' Dam is based on the main breakwater's function, stretching 534 meters. It served as the land-based spectator stand during the 2008 Qingdao Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Regattas. A special "Winner's Return Route" was designated in the waters here during the competitions. Yin Jian, China's first female windsurfing champion, returned via this route. The "Olympic Sailing Lovers' Dam Leisure Street" located beneath the dam is a characteristic themed commercial area integrating fashion, culture, tourism, leisure, and dining.

3.1.5 Olympic Sailing Museum

The Olympic Sailing Museum has a total floor area of 9,360 square meters, with two floors and an exhibition area of approximately 3,800 square meters. Focusing on the Olympic Sailing Regatta and sailing culture, it uses modern methods to comprehensively showcase Qingdao's entire process of supporting Beijing's Olympic bid, preparation, hosting, and post-Olympic development. It is a large-scale specialized museum of Olympic heritage featuring interactive indoor exhibitions and outdoor scenes.

3.1.6 Qingdao International Convention Center

The Qingdao International Convention Center has a total floor area of 54,302 square meters and served as the main venue for the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit. Its architectural shape resembles a soaring seagull, symbolizing "soaring to pursue dreams and sailing to lead the way." It is a comprehensive convention venue integrating meetings, dining, exhibitions, and tourism visits. The center houses 26 meeting halls, some of which retain their original appearance from the SCO Summit, showcasing a unique style of "world-class standards, Chinese grandeur, Shandong character, and Qingdao features."

3.1.7 Marine Banquet Hall

The Marine Banquet Hall was the venue for the welcome banquet of the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the banquet hall covers an area of 1,200 square meters, featuring a spacious 600-square-meter foyer and two high-end VIP lounges. Its design concept emphasizes the character "乐" (joy), conveying harmony between heaven and earth and heartfelt connection. It is a banquet venue that combines the cultural connotations of Qilu (Shandong) with Qingdao's marine characteristics, exuding the demeanor of a great nation.

3.1.8 Yandao Autumn Tide

"Yandao Autumn Tide" is one of the ten classic scenic spots of old Qingdao. Yan'er Island protrudes into the sea with cliffs. Every autumn, strong winds and high waves crash against the cliffs, creating towering sprays like snow. During the golden autumn season, especially when southerly winds are strong and astronomical high tides occur, the deafening sound of waves can be heard from afar. Up close, the surging waves and rolling foam resemble ten thousand galloping horses, presenting a spectacular and breathtaking scene.

3.1.9 Blessing Lighthouse

The Blessing Lighthouse is located at the end of Lovers' Dam. It is a large-scale nautical lighthouse, standing 20.08 meters tall to symbolize the "2008 Olympics." It also serves as the coordinate for locating Qingdao station in various large-scale international sailing events. The lighthouse stands alone in the sea, overlooking Taiping Mountain, resembling a sea goddess blessing the peace of Qingdao's people. At night, it radiates brilliant light, creating a magnificent spectacle.

3.2 Qingdao Underwater World

The main exhibition area of the Underwater World comprises four underground floors and nine major exhibition zones, displaying thousands of species and tens of thousands of marine creatures. A distinctive feature is that all main displays are located underground. The nine richly themed exhibition zones include the Underwater Tunnel, Ship Cabin Passage, Underwater Performance Hall (featuring the world's largest single acrylic cylindrical display tank at the time of opening), Coral Bay, Turtle Bay, "Dream Blue" Premium Marine Life Zone, B1 Themed Exhibition Zone, and Marine Science Interactive Education Zone (including underwater touch interactive wall, open laboratory, marine science classroom, fish therapy experience area, milk-feeding fish feeding area, etc.).

3.2.1 Dreamy Jellyfish Palace

The Dreamy Jellyfish Palace is a professional jellyfish exhibition hall. In this magical kingdom of jellyfish, over a dozen species totaling thousands of jellyfish are displayed, mainly including moon jellyfish, ribbon jellyfish, upside-down jellyfish, and flower-hat jellyfish. These crystal-clear marine spirits float in the water like blooming flowers in a garden, guiding visitors with their silky tentacles into an azure dream world.

3.2.2 Seal Pavilion

The Seal Pavilion is a professional seal exhibition hall offering comprehensive, multi-perspective displays, integrating functions such as exhibition, breeding, conservation, and science education. In this approximately 1,200-square-meter "seaview mansion," marine animals like seals, sea lions, penguins, and sea turtles reside. Strolling through the pavilion, visitors can closely observe and appreciate the agile and graceful underwater movements of seals, quietly experiencing the natural harmony between marine animals, the environment, and humans.

3.2.3 Marine Biology Hall

The Marine Biology Hall displays over a thousand types of marine biological specimens. It is a comprehensive marine products museum with over eighty years of history, focusing on marine life as its exhibition theme. The exhibits are carefully selected from tens of thousands of collection items, featuring unique and rare species such as a huge sperm whale skeleton specimen, the giant Japanese spider crab known as the "killer crab," and various rare corals of different shapes.

3.2.4 Whale Hall

The Whale Hall is a professional exhibition hall dedicated to comprehensively showcasing cetaceans (whales). These "whales" are usually only seen in film and video materials and are rarely encountered in aquariums. The hall not only displays specimen specimens and graphic materials but also continuously plays whale-related audio-visual materials on超大显示屏 (large screens), vividly presenting the full picture of the whale family. The narwhal exhibited in this hall is particularly rare in China.

3.2.5 Underwater World

The main exhibition area of the Underwater World comprises four underground floors and nine major exhibition zones, displaying thousands of species and tens of thousands of marine creatures. A distinctive feature is that all main displays are located underground. The nine richly themed exhibition zones include the Underwater Tunnel, Ship Cabin Passage, Underwater Performance Hall, single acrylic cylindrical display tank (the world's largest at the time of opening), Coral Bay, Turtle Bay, "Dream Blue" Premium Marine Life Zone, B1 Themed Exhibition Zone, and Marine Science Interactive Education Zone.

3.2.6 Freshwater Biology Hall

The Freshwater Biology Hall primarily displays freshwater organisms, including national protected animals such as Chinese sturgeon, Yangtze alligator, giant salamander, and Chinese sucker. The amphibian and reptile exhibition hall and marine scientific research成果展 (achievements exhibition) on the second floor feature rare display species like the green iguana, red-eyed tree frog, plated lizard, and South American horned frog. The central hall features sculptural landscapes themed on Inca and Mayan cultural elements, adding narrative,趣味性 (interest), and神秘感 (mystery) to the tour.## 4. Featured Projects

4.1 Night Cruise on Fushan Bay

With a gentle sea breeze and flowing night scenery, wander above the sea to experience the enchanting night of the island city. The "Night Cruise on Fushan Bay" will offer you a new perspective of Qingdao at night. Departing from the Olympic Sailing Center to the Lovers' Dam area, the cruise provides distant views of famous landmarks such as the Qingdao International Convention Center along the way. Savor the picturesque and colorful coastal line under the night sky and feel the unique charm of Qingdao after dark.

4.2 Water Sports

The sea endows Qingdao with infinite possibilities and also brings the thrill and passion of water racing. The uniquely designed bow of the jet skis at the Olympic Sailing Center mitigates wave impact, while the hull, incorporating the latest technology, offers passengers a more comfortable riding experience and enhanced maneuverability. The streamlined structure also ensures driving performance and static stability. Ride a jet ski, brave the wind and waves, and carve a cool arc across the water in the hot month of July.

Simultaneously, the Olympic Sailing Center offers speedboat experiences for visitors. The low and wide hull, condensed with the latest technology, provides passengers with a more comfortable ride and excellent wave-cutting ability and maneuverability. Board the pirate ship of life and become a joyful pirate. The world is vast, and life is beautiful. Take a speedboat to see the most beautiful sea and experience a different kind of speed and passion.

4.3 Festivals and Celebrations

The Qingdao International Sailing Week · Qingdao International Ocean Festival is held annually at the Olympic Sailing Center every summer and has become a significant festival brand for Qingdao.

4.4 Underwater Performances

The Underwater World regularly features special underwater performances such as the "Upgraded Human-Shark Dance" and "Dream Mermaid," offering visitors an immersive experience.

5. Construction History

• On the afternoon of May 25, 2003, Qingdao held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center for the 29th Olympic Games.
• On June 30, 2006, all essential projects of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center were completed.
• In 2007, construction of the Olympic Sailing Center progressed smoothly, with all venue constructions completed by the end of the year.
• The 2008 Beijing Olympics were scheduled to open on August 8 and close on August 24. Sailing competitions typically began 2-3 days after the opening ceremony (in Beijing), lasting about 15 days. This was the only sub-venue outside Beijing where medal ceremonies could be held. The 2008 Beijing Olympics sailing competitions included 9 classes and 11 events: 4 men's events, 4 women's events, and 3 "open" (mixed-gender) events. The athlete quota was 400, with 270 sailboats participating. Each country was allowed only one boat per event.
• After the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, the competition facilities within the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center were slightly adjusted to meet the needs of building the "Sailing City" and post-Games development and tourism.