Qingdao
(), well-known to the West by its
Postal System Pinyin transliteration
Tsingtao, is a
sub-provincial city in eastern
Shandong province,
People's Republic of China. It borders
Yantai to the northeast,
Weifang to the west and
Rizhao to the southwest. Lying across the
Shandong Peninsula while looking out to the
Yellow Sea, Qingdao today is a major
seaport,
naval base, and industrial center. It is also the site of the
Tsingtao Brewery which produces beer. The name "Qingdao" in Chinese means "Green Island".
*Qingdao was formerly known as
Jiao'ao (胶澳).
*
Qindao (琴岛; lit. "Stringed Instrument Isle") is an additional modern name for the area which according to locals refers to the shape of the coastline.
The
sub-provincial city of Qingdao administers 12
county-level divisions, including 7
districts and 5
county-level cities.
*
Shinan District (市南区)
*
Shibei District (市北区)
*
Sifang District (四方区)
*
Licang District (李沧区)
*
Laoshan District (崂山区)
*
Chengyang District (城阳区)
*
Huangdao District (黄岛区)
*
Jimo City (即墨市)
*
Jiaozhou City (胶州市)
*
Jiaonan City (胶南市)
*
Pingdu City (平度市)
*
Laixi City (莱西市)
Qingdao is located at the southern tip of the
Shandong Peninsula. It borders three prefecture-level cities, namely
Yantai to the northeast,
Weifang to the west, and
Rizhao to the southwest. The city's total jurisdiction area occupies 10 654 km². The geography of the city is relatively flat while mountains spur up nearby. The highest elevation in the area is 1133 m above sea level. The city has a 730.64-kilometer coastline. Five significant rivers that flow for more than 50 km can be found in the region.
Qingdao enjoys mild summers and relatively warm winters, with the average July temperature at 23.8°C and the average January temperature at -0.7°C. The city gets most rain in June and July, at an average of 150 mm.
For details on the colonial period, see Jiaozhou Bay |
German map of Qingdao, 1912 |
The area of which Qingdao is located today was called Jiao'ao (胶澳) when it was administered by the
Qing Dynasty. In
1891, the Qing Government decided to make the area a primary defence base against naval attacks, and planned the construction of a city. Little was done, however, until
1897 when the city was
ceded to
Germany (at the same time
Hong Kong fell under British control and
Macau went to the Portugese). The Germans soon turned Tsingtao into a strategically important port, basing their
Pacific Squadron there, allowing the fleet to conduct operations throughout the Far East. The German Imperial government planned and built the first streets and institutions of the city we see today, including the world-famous
Tsingtao Brewery. German influence extended to other areas of Shandong Province, including the establishment of rival breweries.
Soon after the outbreak of
The Great War, the German Pacific Squadron, under Admiral von Graf Spee, left Tsingtao rather than waiting to be trapped in the harbour by Allied forces. After a subsequent minor British naval attack on the German colony in
1914,
Japan occupied the city and the surrounding province during the
Battle of Tsingtao after Japan's declaration of war on
Germany. The failure of the Allied powers to restore Chinese rule to Shandong after the war triggered the
May Fourth Movement.
The city reverted to Chinese rule in
1922, under control of the
Kuomintang (the
ROC). Renamed
Qingdao in
1930, the city became a special administrative zone of the ROC Government. Japan re-occupied Qingdao in
1938 with its plans of territorial expansion onto China's coast. After
World War II the KMT allowed Qingdao to serve as the headquarters of the Western Pacific Fleet of the
US Navy. On 2nd June,
1949, the
CPC-led
Red Army entered Qingdao and the city and province have been under
PRC control since that time.
Since the
1984 inauguration of China's open-door policy to foreign trade and investment, Qingdao has developed quickly as a modern port city. It is now the headquarters of the Chinese navy's northern fleet.
Qingdao is now a manufacturing center, and home to
Haier Corporation a major electronics firm. The city has recently experienced a rapid growing period, with a new central business district created to the east of the older business district. This new district boasts one of the world's tallest buildings in the
Bank of China Mansion. Outside of the center of the city there is a large industrial zone, which includes chemical processing, rubber and heavy manufacturing, in addition to a growing high tech area.
|
Sketch map of Qingdao (not to scale), circa 1906. |
By the end of 2002, Qingdao is estimated to be the home for more than 7 million inhabitants, of which around 2.6 million reside in the Qingdao urban area. Another estimated 2.3 million reside in other cities under Qingdao's jurisdiction. The annual number of births is calculated around 82,000, with a
birth rate of 11.26/1000 population, and a
death rate of 6.93/1000 population, both calculated on an annual basis. This results to a 4.33/1000 population growth rate overall, not counting immigration, which is substantial. Living standards are among highest of the leading Chinese cities due to the strong export economy and relatively high family wages.
While Qingdao is home to 38
Chinese ethnic minorities they constitute only 0.14% of the city's total population. Qingdao boasts a vibrant expatriate community, led by the Korean community which comprised over 60,000 individuals in 2005.
|
Qingdao May 4th Square [2006 |
]
Qingdao is perhaps most famously known for the
Tsingtao Brewery, which German settlers founded in
1903, and which produces
Tsingtao beer, now the most famous beer in China and known worldwide.
In
1984 the Chinese government named a district of Qingdao a
Special Economic and Technology Development Zone (SETDZ). Along with this district, the entire city had gone through amazing development of secondary and tertiary industries. As an important trading port in the province, Qingdao flourishes with foreign investment and international trade.
South Korea and
Japan in particular made extensive investment in the city. At least 30,000 South Korean nationals reside there. Construction proceeds at a relatively fast pace in Qingdao. Famous corporations include
Haier.
In terms of primary industry, Qingdao has an estimated 50,000 acres (200 km²) of
arable land. Qingdao has a zig-zagging pattern coastline, and thus possesses an invaluable stock of fish,
shrimp, and other sea resources. Qingdao is also home to a variety of mineral resources. Up to thirty different kinds have been mined. Qingdao's
wind power electricity generation performs at among the best levels in the region.
The
GDP per capita comprised
¥29,596 (ca. US$3,659) in 2004. The GDP has grown steadily at an average pace of 14% annually.
The
Orient Ferry connects Qingdao with
Shimonoseki,
Japan. There are numerous smaller ferries connecting Qingdao with
South Korea as well.
The
Qingdao Liuting International Airport, 36 kilometres away from city centre, is served by 13 domestic and international
airlines, operating 58 routes of which 10 are international and regional. It is estimated that in
2002 over 2.3 million people, including 450,000 international travelers, were transported through the airport.
Qingdao hosts one of China's largest
seaports. Cooperative relations have been established with 450 ports in 130 countries worldwide. The
1999 annual cargo handling capacity was 72 million
tons. Exported commodities amounted to more than 35 million tons and 1.5 million
TEUs.
Qingdao's railway development was picked up during the late 90's. At the present, domestic rail lines connect Qingdao with
Lanzhou,
Chengdu,
Xi'an,
Zhengzhou,
Jinan and
Jining. There are a total of 1,145km of roads in the Qingdao area, with nearly 500km of expressways. Expressways connect Qingdao with
Jinan. The specially designed high-altitude railcars required for the
Qinghai"Tibet railway, the highest railway in the world, are also built in Qingdao.
Through the unique combination of German and Chinese architecture in the city center, combined with modern high-rises and freeways, along a coastline of beaches, rocky headlands, and picturesque cypress trees, give Qingdao a distinct atmosphere not found anywhere else in the world. Qingdao is proud to be the host city for several events of the
2008 Olympics, including the sailing competitions which will take place along the complicated shoreline directly offshore from the city.
Unlike many large Chinese cities with a long history, Qingdao is a relative newcomer, being nothing but a fishing village in 1897. The majority of residents are immigrants having migrated from other locations to take advantage of the opportunities Qingdao offers. Nonetheless a distinctive local accent known as "
Qingdao Hua" distinguishes the residents of the city from those of the surrounding province (who speak "
Shandong Hua", both being dialects of
Mandarin).
The distinctive cuisine is
Lu Cai, the
Shandong regional style.
The area's most famous festival is the
Qingdao International Beer Festival, held annually since
1991.
Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and excellent weather. Parks, beaches, sculpture and some unique architecture line the shore. Qingdao's major attractions include:
*
Ba Da Guan, the older area of town with some surviving German architecture.
*
Huadong Winery*
Jiaozhou Governor's Hall, former seat of the present and previous two governments.
*
Laoshan, a famous
Taoist mountain.
*
Lu Xun Park, named after
Lu Xun, a famous modern Chinese writer.
*
Qingdao Beer Museum, on the site of the old brewery.
*
Qingdao Naval Museum*
Qingdao International Beer City, the primary site of the annual
Qingdao International Beer Festival.
*
Qingdao Underwater World*
St. Michael's Cathedral, a Gothic/Roman cathedral designed by German architect
Pepieruch, completed in
1934.
*
Underground World of Chinese Mythology, lifesize figures and groups depicting scenes from the Chinese mythology
*
Xiao Yu Shan (Little Fish Hill)*
Zhan Qiao (Zhan Pier)*
Zhanshan Temple, Qingdao's only
Buddhist temple.
 |
Panorama of Qingdao, taken from Little Fish Hill |
|
Badaguan (German section), Qingdao |
Post-secondary educational institutions in Qingdao include:
*
Ocean University of China (formerly Ocean University of Qingdao), the largest university of its kind in China
*
Qingdao University*
Qingdao University of Science and Technology*
Qingdao Technological University*
Shandong University of Economics and Trade*
Qingdao Hotel and Management College*
Laiyang Agriculturual UniverisySecondary School:
*
Qingdao 2 high school*
Qingdao No. 17 high school*
Qingdao 26 middle school*
Qingdao 19 high school There are also several international schools in Qingdao. These include:
*
Qingdao International School*
Qingdao MTI International SchoolQingdao has long been a hub of professional sports in China. Clubs include:
*
Chinese Super League (
soccer)
**
Qingdao Zhongneng*
Chinese Football Association Jia League**
Qingdao HailifengAlong with Beijing's winning bid to host the
2008 Summer Olympics, Qingdao will be the site for sailing events. These events will be held in
Fushan Bay, near the city's
central business district. A hotel and an international broadcasting center are under construction.
Qingdao is a
sister city of the following cities around the world.
*
Shimonoseki,
Japan (since
October 3,
1979)
*
Long Beach,
USA (
April 12,
1985)
*
Acapulco,
Mexico (
August 21,
1985)
*
Odessa,
Ukraine (
April 29,
1993)
*
Taegu,
South Korea (
December 4,
1993)
*
Nes Ziyyona,
Israel (
December 2,
1997)
*
Velsen, the
Netherlands (
December 9,
1998)
*
Southampton,
UK (
December 27,
1998)
*
Puerto Montt,
Chile (
August 17,
1999)
*
Montevideo,
Uruguay, (
April 15,
2004)
*
Klaipėda,
Lithuania (
May 30,
2004)
*
Bilbao,
Spain (
August 21,
2004)
*
Nantes,
France (
June 4,
2005)
*
Government website of Qingdao (available in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean)
