Qingdao travel guide

Qingdao is a well-connected city by sea, land and air, but if you are coming from another province, the train is the best option. From elsewhere in Shandong Province, driving is also convenient.

Jiaodong International Airport now offers more than 100 domestic routes and more than ten international and regional routes. The airport is about 39 km from the city centre, and a shuttle bus takes around 80 minutes to get there.

Qingdao's “Land-Air Link” express transit line has officially launched. Air passengers arriving at or departing from Qingdao Airport no longer need to change buses: they can take a long-distance coach directly from other cities to the airport terminal, or board one straight from the airport to their destination. This seamless air-land connection is the first of its kind in Shandong Province.

Qingdao Railway Station is located near Zhanqiao Pier. Its Gothic-style building means you can see the sea as soon as you exit the station, and Zhanqiao Pier is an 8-minute walk away. Trains from Qingdao Station run daily to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinan, Tai'an (for Mount Tai) and other destinations. Qingdao North Station is a transfer hub for rail, metro and long-distance buses, and has become an important junction in Qingdao's transport network.

1. The Green Channel at the railway station sells tickets 24 hours a day. The ground-floor Green Channel in the waiting hall sells tickets from 8:00–11:00 and 13:00–17:00, covering soft and hard sleeper and soft and hard seat tickets sold up to 7 days in advance.

2. Connecting tickets can be bought for the transfer or return leg with a specific seat or berth number, but this only applies to stations within the Jinan Railway Bureau's networked system.

3. If you book by phone, remember to collect your ticket on the day of booking, from 8:30 to 18:30, at Window 12 in the station's ticket hall. Unclaimed tickets are cancelled automatically. No bookings for the next day can be made between 18:30 and 21:00.

4. Phone booking and ticket delivery have a Green Channel for urgent cases: you may board first and buy your ticket afterwards.

There are 22 high-speed trains daily from Qingdao to Beijing South. The fastest journey takes 2 hours 59 minutes.

A network of expressways and first-class roads links Qingdao with Mount Tai, Qufu, Penglai and other places in the province.

Qingdao is a first-class national port with sea passenger routes to South Korea and Japan. Qingdao Ferry Company's ferries and high-speed passenger boats connect Qingdao and Huangdao. Ferries run 56 trips a day and high-speed boats run 42 trips a day, with departures so frequent you are almost certain to catch one even at short notice.

Qingdao's city transport network is built around buses, metro lines and taxis. For sightseeing, three tourist bus routes run air-conditioned luxury coaches, which are very convenient. Taxis come in standard and deluxe types. Standard taxis charge ¥10 for the first 3 km and ¥2 per km thereafter. Deluxe taxis charge ¥12 for the first 3 km and ¥2.5 per km thereafter. Each taxi trip carries a ¥1 fuel surcharge. Qingdao currently has seven metro lines: Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11 and 13.

From January to April, Qingdao is windy and cold, and temperatures rise slowly, so travellers with arthritis are best to avoid this period. From May to July, dense fog and high humidity make the air heavily polluted, which is unsuitable for those with bronchitis. In March and November, temperatures in Qingdao fluctuate greatly, so people with coronary heart disease should avoid visiting during these months.

Qingdao's roads and buildings are distinctive, but for out-of-town visitors driving their own cars, the city's traffic is a real challenge. There are many one-way streets arranged like a maze, and those unfamiliar with the layout can easily lose their way.

Visitors often feel that Qingdao's taxis like to go around in circles. To clarify, the city's downtown roads are narrow, and to ease traffic pressure many streets are one-way, which is why routes can feel roundabout.

1. Travelling to Qingdao by train is inexpensive and comfortable. Qingdao Railway Station is surrounded by many hotels, inns and guesthouses, and several major attractions are nearby, so getting around is very easy.

2. If you arrive by train, do not hail a taxi in the station car park, as those taxis do not use meters. Take a taxi from the square outside the station to ensure a metered fare.

Qingdao's standard bus fare is ¥1 and the air-conditioned bus fare is ¥2. Buses 26, 201 and 202, which depart from the ferry terminal or railway station, run along the seafront past Zhanqiao Pier, Badaguan and many other attractions. Three air-conditioned sightseeing routes are also available, each with a guide on board. Taking one of these is perhaps the most comfortable and convenient way to see the city.

Departing from Huaneng Plaza, this route passes nine sights including Little Qingdao Island, Huashi Building, Zhanshan Temple, the former Governor's Residence and the Catholic church. The full fare is ¥99 per person (¥25 for transport and ¥74 for admission), and each person receives a free standard ¥30 lunch.

Entry to Zhanqiao Pier is free. On the pier, you can watch fishermen in diving goggles collecting snails at night and see the North Sea Fleet. You will also feel as though you are standing out over the sea. If you are interested, you can even try fishing for crabs yourself.

1. At the end of the pier stands the Huilan Pavilion, the best spot for admiring Little Qingdao Island in the distance.

2. You can take a boat out to sea for a view of Qingdao. Winds are strong on the water, so bring warm clothing.

The barbecue on Yunnan Road and Taishan Road is absolutely delicious, and it isn't very expensive.

The best time to eat seafood in Qingdao is spring and summer, when the seafood is tender, plump and smooth. Qingdao's snacks are varied, featuring specialties from across Shandong as well as local seafood snacks. Together with the famous Tsingtao Beer, they form Qingdao's distinctive snack style.

If you want to buy pearls, don't buy from street vendors by the sea. Go to a pearl factory to find genuine, high-quality pearls.

Bargaining in Shandong can be rather difficult, for two reasons: prices are not particularly high to begin with, and locals are not keen to spend much time arguing.

In Qingdao you can also choose budget chains such as Home Inn and Jinjiang Inn.

Around Xinjiazhuang there are many family guesthouses that are clean, tidy and inexpensive. The area is close to Hong Kong Road, one of Qingdao's best shopping streets, and only one or two stops from the Carrefour and Jasco supermarkets. It is also not far from Qingdao University, so it is worth a try for students.

Accommodation in Qingdao is generally expensive, and seaside hotels cost even more. Depending on your budget, you might consider a hotel a little further away, as Qingdao's public transport is very well developed. University guesthouses are also a good option; the areas are safe and the prices are reasonable.

Pineapple Can Youth Hostel (Qingdao May Fourth Square Branch): Located downtown, about 500 metres from May Fourth Square, with large supermarkets nearby for shopping. It is an 8-minute walk from the metro station.

As night falls, ordering a beer in one of Qingdao's bars, whether to savour it or simply pass the time, has become the new fashion in this beautiful city.