By Xu Jing
Updated: 2007-08-10 09:23

Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and excellent weather. Parks, beaches, sculpture and some unique architecture line the shore. For more information head over to the Qingdao Information Center for International Visitors located on XiangGang Zhong Lu. Qingdao's major attractions include:

Zhan Qiao (loading pier) pier is at the tip of Qingdao Bay off Zhongshan road. This 440 meter (1,443.6ft) strip that stretches into the sea and was the first wharf in Qingdao. An octagonal pavilion called the Billowing Back and Forth Tower (huilan ge) if loosely translated, stands at the end of the pier. The pier itself was built in 1891 during the German occupation of Qingdao. The pavillion at the end was built in 1930. Zhanqiao pier is viewed in the eyes of many as the official symbol of Qingdao as it was made famous by being placed on the front of the Tsingtao Brewery beer can.

Also in the vicinity of Zhan Qiao Pier is the small Qingdao Island (Xiao Qingdao), the Qingdao Navy Museum, and many neighborhoods featuring German colonial architecture. The coastline lights up at night with spotlights on nearby buildings and several neon billboards.

Ba Da Guan

Ba Da Guan (the eight passes) is a major tourist-attraction close to the coast of Qingdao. It's made up of eight streets named after the eight great military forts of the ancient times. Along the streets are many classic European houses built when Qingdao was a German protectorate (1897-1914). Its atmosphere is unlike any other place in China, with large, grassy lawns, wide streets, and minimal traffic. Many of its residents are retired Communist Party and military officials.

Ba Da Guan must be one of China's great centers for wedding photography. On nearly any day one can see tens of newlywed couples being photographed along Ba Da Guan's shoreline and greenspace.

May Fourth Square (Wusi Guangchang) is a large public square in Qingdao's central business district. It is located between the new municipal government building and Fushan Bay and is composed of Shizhengting Square, the central square and the coastal park. Named after the nationwide protest movement that started in Qingdao, the square is best recognized by the large "May Wind" (Wuyue Feng) sculpture near the seaside. The square is a popular tourist destination, and is bordered by the city government to the north, the sea to the south, and residential and commercial buildings on either side. On pleasant days May Fourth Square fills with young couples on the ground and kites in the air.

Laoshan

Laoshan (Mount Lao) is a famous mountain in Shandong province, China. It lies about 30km east of the city of Qingdao, and is an important tourist destination. The Laoshan Velodrome will play host to track cycling events at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Laoshan has been an important center of Taoism in China for many centuries.

In 412 the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Faxian landed at Laoshan on his return from India.

One of the main reasons that both locals and tourists visit Laoshan is to see two specific temples located in the mountain. In one temple resides a goddess who is said to send a wife from heaven for any man that kneels before the altar and prays for one. Similarly, the other temple contains an altar to a male god who caters to hopeful females wishing to find husbands. A person's presence is not necessarily required in order to pray for a future mate: many hopeful mothers have been known secretly to visit the goddess's temple in hopes of finding the perfect daughter-in-law for their sons.

Many gamblers visit Laoshan for the famous tree located in the mountain, as it is said that three pats of the tree's trunk will bring instant luck for those seeking money.

Another popular tourist area is a pond located near the very center of the mountain. It's said that if a person is able to place a paper dollar in the water and have it float on the surface of the water, the owner of the money will be blessed with good luck.

Tsingtao Brewery is made famous because its beer is said to be brewed with Laoshan spring water.