ZHANG JIANHUA/CHINA DAILY Colonial buildings, especially century-old St. Michael's Cathedral, gives a European flavor to the city's Badaguan neighborhood.

At the International Olympic Sailing Center, visitors might get an eye-opening experience of top-notch international sailing and enjoy the sight of an array of luxury yachts.

East Urban Sightseeing Belt

Near May 4 Square, the new town in the east is Qingdao's political, economic and cultural center. Dozens of landmark squares, parks, theaters, yacht marinas, golf courses and resorts dot the area along with numerous skyscrapers that provide a fascinating seaside landscape.

Laoshan National Park

The highest mountains along China's 18,000-km coastline, the main Laoshan peak is 1,133 meters above sea level. With a spectacular ocean view, it is also famous for Taoism and historic temples. During the summer, crystal water runs through mountain creeks and visitors can find a tranquil sanctum in its forest.

Qingdao International Beer Festival

One of the country's earliest beer breweries and China's most valuable beer brand, Tsingtao Brewery hosts an annual Qingdao International Beer Festival, Asia's largest, It has been recognized as a top 10 festivity in China by the Asia Events Fortune Forum. Last August's festival welcomed more than 2 million tourists over eight days that consumed more than 600 tons of beer.

Qingdao Beer Museum

Qingdao Beer Museum on Dengzhou Road within the Tsingtao Brewery takes full advantage of the century-old German buildings to demonstrate brewing technology and production of its famous brand.

In addition to a vivid beer history, it also includes an interactive "drunken house" where visitors experience sense of being drunk without drinking. At the end of tour, there is a free glass of fresh beer and the opportunity to taste all variety of Tsingtao products.

Food and beverage

Pichaiyuan is the snack area where visitors can taste all kinds of traditional Qingdao snacks such as fried dumplings, tofu jelly and shrimp wontons. On Zhongshan Road, Shinan district, the courtyard has about 40 restaurants.

Another is Qingdao Beer Street on Dengzhou Road in Shibei district that has more than 50 bars and eateries. You can't miss it－the road's painted green.

The popular bar area Zhonglian Creative Square is on Nanjing Road with about 10 bars on the tops of buildings and connected by bridges and clear-glass lifts.

The city also has 145 star-rated hotels and 11 five-star hotels that have hosted top executives, world leaders and celebrities.

Largest movie studio

Already known as a "natural studio" for its scenery and diversity of architecture, the city will also be home to the world's largest film studio by 2017.

With a 30 billion yuan investment from property and entertainment conglomerate Wanda Group, Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis will be a mega-park with filmmaking studios, exhibitions, and cultural and tourism facilities such as museums, hotels and yacht clubs.

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