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Qingdao China Sister City

Qingdao - "Switzerland of the Orient"

Qingdao, a beautiful seaside city, is located in the southeast part of Shandong Province. To the east, a short distance across the Yellow Sea, lie Korea and Japan, making Qingdao an important city for international trade.

For thirty three years, up to 1949, Qingdao was a colony of Germany and Japan. Thus, Qingdao has a great deal of European architecture. This foreign architecture - a remnant of the colonial past - now beautifies this seaside city.

The red roofs, green trees, blue sea and azure sky form a bright and colourful picture of Qingdao. The city is sometimes known as the "Switzerland of the Orient".

Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Qingdao attracts many tourists with its charming seascape. Sights like the Eight Passes Villas, the Zhan Bridge, Wusi Square, Mt. Laoshan, will help you remember Qingdao. Just walking on the sand and listening to the surf breaking on the beach becomes enjoyable.

Qingdao offers food with distinctive flavours - especially seafood. So take this chance to enjoy the delicious seafood of Qingdao. Also Qingdao is the home of the famous Qingdao (Tsingtao) Beer. Have a bottle of pure Qingdao Beer right here in Qingdao.

The Qingdao Municipal Government recognizes the importance of the tourism industry and has further plans to develop tourism in Qingdao. To enhance the tourism industry, Qingdao now sponsors the Qingdao International Beer Festival, the Qingdao International Sea Festival, Beach Culture festival, the Sea Affection Festival and the Summer of Qingdao Festival.

In cooperation with the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, Qingdao will hold the Sailing Competition in the Olympic Games 2008 thereby both building and enhancing its future as a premier maritime and tourist destination.

Follow this link for more information on Southampton's sister city Qingdao and for a travel guide link here