Korean Job Discussion Forums

bradshaw · Joined: 13 Feb 2007

We're looking at possibly hitting up Qingdao over the upcoming long weekend in May. Prior to scanning for cheap flights, I'd never heard of this city. I've become a bit more familiar with what it has to offer over the internet. Has anyone been here before? What did you do? Was it worth the trip? How does it compare to Hong Kong/Beijing/Shanghai? (I'm looking for something different from those) Thank you in advance for your tips and tricks.

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

Qingdao is my city and I think I can give you some help.
Unfortunately May will be too cold to swim but there is still a lot to do. It should be the Cherry festival in Laoshan the mountain just outside the city. You pay a set fee and then pick as many cherries as you want.Afterwards everybody goes into the countryside where the farmies open up their houses as restaurants and cook local traditional foods that you cant get in the city anymore with local ingredients. I realise that this isnt the Rio De Janiero carnival or anything but its a pretty unique cultural experience and only happens for about a week every year.

Qingdao has some great German architecture to look at, just walk leisurely around the old town taking pictures of markets and German churches.

Badaguan is a must and has the old german stately homes and sanitoriums. Really beautiful.

By No 1 beach you can rent bikes and get a map and cycle the whole of the coastal route. Should tak a good few hours and you will see some great buildings old and new.

Tsingtao brewery is another must. 60 rmb and 2 free beers at the end. Outside is Qingdao beer street where you can enjoy somewhat overpriced but delicious food and the freshest Tsingtao beer.

The are loads of places in town to get body and foot massages(around 35 rmb an hour) and some spas which will cost a pittance compared to home.Check out new one in Yinhai yacht club.

There are some great restaurants around Hong Kong Gardens icluding Mexican, Indian Turkish Italian etc etc and great chinese food. Minjiang road is the famous restaurant street.

The Beach House is opening soon or open and will be the funkiest place to stay by far. Going to be a bohemian hip place with two roof decks and cheap bar and Western food as well as bands etc. Their website is not finished yet but send them an email. Should be all ready by May.

http://beachhouseqingdao.com/
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/The-Beach-House/Qingdao/33850

Many bars aroudn Hong Kong gardens although city still surprisingly quiet at night with it being the 'beer city'. Most popular bar with foreigners is 'Le Bang' although its definitely not as funky or cool as it was since the French owner left.

Erm a smattering of Mandarin will really hep to be honest but Qingdao people are famous for being friendly and relaxed as well as honest.

bradshaw · Joined: 13 Feb 2007

Thank you, Pugwall. I'm looking forward to visiting, especially based on your description!

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

Qingdao is nothing like the other cities you mentioned. It really is a green quiet and pleasant city. A real anomaly for the middle kingdom.

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

http://www.myredstar.com/en/guide/intro

good guide. You should get a hotel to help you with the cherry festival though.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

But isn't Qingdao very popularised these days?

My Mandarin teacher (yeah, I cheated and took Mandarin at uni despite being a fluent speaker.. haha.. mind you not for credit) was from Qingdao and he had always told me to go there to visit..

Have you been to Yantai? On the other side...

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

neil537 · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Location: Incheon, South Korea

certainly looks like pugwall has it covered but thought I would back up the enthusiasim covered in his posts. I was there for a couple of days in August just after the Olympics had finished.

Tsingtao brewery was brilliant, I also has a great walk (but a long one!) from near the main train station all along the coastline to the main business district and the May 5th (maybe wrong date) memorial, a big red sculpture that's pretty cool. I stayed with someone on the couchsurfing website around a big Korean area, it was weird being in China but seeing hanguel everywhere!

Qingdao is a nice city, I would recommend it as a good getaway from Korea for a weekend. Its cheap too.

feckingreal · Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Location: Craggy

gonna keep the rave reviews rolling...

was in Qingdao with a few friends over Chinese Lunar New Year (Oct 2008) and had a blast....

city is beautiful...locals friendly but not pushy....

I'd recommend looking up the Old Observatory Hostel...staff gave us lots of information about what to see and they have a cool roof bar if the weather is good...

i'm kinda jealous... Sad

bradshaw · Joined: 13 Feb 2007

Thanks again for all of the helpful tips! Can anyone recommend a good neighbourhood/district in Qingdao to stay in? We'd like to be close the beach, if possible (though we won't be swimming in May), close to shopping and nightlife. We're not big on hostels, unless the rooms were private and w/ ensuite bathroom. Anyhow, if anyone can recommend a neighbourhood or district to stay in (or better yet, a decent hotel in a hotspot), please pass along the info!

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

I really recommend the Beach house, its the same owners as the old observatory but is more upmarket.

bradshaw · Joined: 13 Feb 2007

Yes, the beachhouse - but it's a hostel no? Really not looking to stay in a hostel. Also, out of curiousity, I checked out their webpage, and then a link to a booking site online and could not get a price and much info about the room. I'd rather book something I could see beforehand. Thanks anyways. Anybody have any other recommendations?

bradshaw · Joined: 13 Feb 2007

Yes, the beachhouse - but it's a hostel no? Really not looking to stay in a hostel. Also, out of curiousity, I checked out their webpage, and then a link to a booking site online and could not get a price and much info about the room. I'd rather book something I could see beforehand. Anybody have any other recommendations?

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

As far as I know it is supposed to be more of a funky party hotel.

http://www.myredstar.com/en/guide/accommodation/place/qingdao/beach_castle_hotel

could be good.

bradshaw · Joined: 13 Feb 2007

Ha, OK I think we're confusing two different accomodations. As far as I can tell, there are two hotels ~ one called the Beach House (maybe the funky party hotel?) and another called the Beach Castle Hotel (a former German prison). Can anyone confirm that these are indeed two different hotels? I'm having a tough time finding much information on the Beach House, and there website is not open for use yet. Does anyone happen to have the email address to the Beach House? If it were indeed a funky party place, we might be up for it ~ if I could first find out if they have ensuite bathrooms to the private twin rooms. Otherwise, the Beach Castle Hotel looks lovely. Any contact info would be greatly appreciated. Google is not my friend today!