Essential Guide to Qingdao

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Essential Guide to Qingdao - Part 3
Nicholas Buckland, a self-confessed sailing fanatic, lives inQingdao and provides his guide to what else may tempt you whileyou're in town plus a list of handy phrases and tips from a local.

ACTIVITIES

Beaches
Qingdao boasts seven bathing beaches, with the most popular beingNo's 1, 2 and 3. Clean and sandy, with an azure sea that'sdefinitely worth a dip, no trip to Qingdao would be completewithout spending some time joining the locals and catching somerays. Watch out for the remarkably fit and toned 60-year oldsjogging and exercising along the beach; enough to make anyonequestion their own fitness regime. If time allows, head toShilaoren (Old Stone Man) beach, just outside the city, for morespace.

Tsingtao Beer Factory
56 DengZhou Road
Open Daily 9am-4.30pm, entrance 50 RMB (3.30 GBP)
Tel.: ( 0086) 532 8382-1169
In a city where 'drink beer' is pronounced in the local dialect as'ha pi', it's no surprise to find the frothy brown stuff gushingfrom every available pore; the fact that it's cheaper to buy a canof lager in the local supermarkets than a bottle of water istestament to the amount the locals quaff on a daily basis. Comingto Qingdao and not trying the local ale is akin to travelling toDublin and not tasting the black stuff, so give in and spend a fewhours on a tour of the Tsingtao Brewery seeing how the deliciousbeer is made. The brewery is surrounded by bars and restaurantswhere you can enjoy this world-renowned lager at its source.

Beach Walk
The Qingdao metropolitan area has approximately 40 kilometres ofcoastline, and the government has ploughed millions intotransforming the areas closest to the sea, so that visitors canview the best of Qingdao while enjoying the serenity of the ocean.If you don't fancy (or don't have time for) the whole 40km, startat No. 1 beach and walk east, to see the beaches and rockformations, as well as century-old colonial buildings standingshoulder-to-shoulder with ultra-modern skyscrapers, a microcosm ofwhat contemporary China is all about.

Parks - Badaguan, Xiaoyushan, Zhongshan, Luxun
These parks allow you to take a breather from the busy downtown andbeach areas, and enjoy some quiet solitude, as well as witness sometraditional Chinese pagodas, temples and gardens. Although at theirmost colourful in spring, these parks they are still a welcomebreak from city life at any time of the year.

Laoshan Mountain
Admission 50 RMB (3.30 GBP)
For those with a more adventurous streak, Qingdao is in closeproximity to two mountains, with Laoshan by far the more favourablechoice. Situated 40km from the city centre, the site of the Loashanspring features waterfalls, temples and secluded walkways.Accessible by bus from Hong Kong Road or around 50 RMB in a taxi,this is very much worth exploring, but be warned; to make the mostof the experience the majority of a day is needed. Buses and taxisstop returning from the mountain at 5 pm, so start out early.

SHOPPING

The vast majority of shops in Qingdao fall into two main categories- Large Western-style shopping complexes, and local markets. Bothoffer varying shopping experiences.

Jusco, 72 Hong Kong Middle Road
Open 8.30 am-11.00 pm
Tel.: ( 0086) 532 8571-9630
One of the largest shopping centres in the province, and possiblythe most popular - a Saturday afternoon spent here is strangelyreminiscent of a bustling January sale. However, anything that youcan possibly need for your trip can be found, with a supermarket,clothes shops and electronics stores. There's even a Starbucks anda McDonald's - if it wasn't for the vast swathes of local Chinesemilling around, you could be forgiven for thinking you were backhome&

Jimo Road Market, Jimo Lu
Open 9.00 am-5.30 pm
For those who are after some authentic Chinese souvenirs, who havean eye for a bargain, or simply wish to experience how the majorityof Chinese people shop - this is the place for you. The localshopping mecca is four floors of hundreds of shops, sellingabsolutely everything. They won't speak English, there are no moneyback guarantees and they certainly won't take Mastercard - butthat's what shopping in a different country's all about, isn't it?


10 Do's and don'ts for your time in Qingdao

Do pick up a copy of the local English speaking magazine,MyRedstar, from your hotel or any Western restaurant/bar - Forcomplete restaurant and entertainment listings, as well as localnews and topics of interest for foreigners in Qingdao.

Don't tip in restaurants - It is not part of the culture here. Ifthe restaurant feel that you should be paying for their service,they will charge you a surcharge.

Do get a local map in Engish and Chinese - Essential for gettingaround, one with both is preferable, so that you can point to theChinese when in a taxi. Ask for one at your hotel.

Don't ever pay the asking price at the markets - When you buyanything from any market stall, whether it's a pair of sunglassesor a pair of batteries, never pay the first amount. The localmarket traders are looking forward to the Olympics more than most,and expect prices to be hiked. A general rule is, if you pay muchmore than half the asking price, you've paid too much. Remember,there's always someone else selling the exact same thing ten yardsaway.

Do pay a visit to Culture Street (Wenhua Jie) - Although notsomewhere that will demand a great deal of time, this smallpedestrianised street is full of little shops selling Chinesetrinkets, and many a bargain can be found. You can also buypre-paid international phone cards, both for landlines and mobiles,here.

Don't forget the time difference - Chinese time is seven hoursahead of British Summertime, so if you want to tell all back homeabout Ainslie, Morrison et al.'s exploits, then don't phone at 10am every day or you may not be the most popular person in yourhousehold upon your return.

Do look out for the 'Maomorabilia' to be found everywhere - Theformer Chairman and founder of modern China not only has his faceon the nation's currency, but it also adorns almost every productimaginable, from plates to playing cards, and makes up asubstantial part of many a market seller's revenue.

Don't forget to check out the local Ultimate Frisbee team - Untilrecently a relatively unknown phenomenon outside the US, the sporthas taken this city by storm due to the plentiful beach space, andthe local team's training sessions attract quite a crowd. If you'reon No. 1 beach on a Sunday afternoon then it's worth a look, andyou may even get to join in.

Do keep your wits about you - Although in general an extremely safecountry, while walking around markets such as the one on Jimo Rd,be careful to keep your valuables safe; the local poor view theOlympics as a potential pay-day, and this is arguably the only wayin which the least well-off in society will share in the richfinancial benefits of hosting the Games, so keep your valuablessafe.

Don't forget to pack mosquito spray - They can be a menace at thistime of year, and a serious impediment to a day's sailingenjoyment.


Useful Chinese phrases


Ni hao! Hello

Zai jian! Goodbye

Duo shao qian? How much?

Zhe ge This one

Na ge That one

Tai gui le! That's too expensive

Qu& Go to/towards&

Wo/women yao& I/we would like&

Xie xie! Thank you


For assistance with Chinese pronunciation, click here .


TOURISM INFO

Changing money - All featured hotels offer money changing servicesfrom all major currencies into Chinese renminbi (RMB also known asyuan), and all banks will offer a similar service, with all majorbranches open from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm every day.

ATMs - There are plenty of ATMs that will accept internationalcredit and debit cards, especially around the main businessdistrict. Check with your hotel to find out which one is nearest.

Medical centres - If you need urgent medical assistance, then thePeople's Hospital near Zhongshan Road (Tel. 1680-6222) is thelargest around, however for anything less than serious, simply popinto a pharmacy (Jusco has one), but don't expect perfect English.(wo su zui le, ["I have a hangover"] may prove useful.)

Tourist info - The best bet for any tourism information is to askthe concierge at your hotel. Their local knowledge is unparalleled,and they will be able to organise transport.

Internet access - Is available in all up-market internationalhotels, and internet cafes are plentiful, with many and are on moststreets. Just look for the sign; (pron. wang ba)

Yachting World, 28 July 2008