City pushes the boat out to become Asia's top sailing destination

Leveraging the Olympic legacy, Qingdao has continued to excel as a hotspot for sailing professionals and spectators in recent years.

In return the sport has spurred on growth in other fields and helped drive the city towards becoming an international metropolis.

"Qingdao is a perfect sailing city with high-level venue and amazing sailing conditions as well as local people and the government's enthusiasm," said Leigh McMillan, one of UK's top multihull sailors who won the Extreme Sailing Series in 2012 and 2013.