青岛市

Why this place

Qingdao was a German concession from 1898, and the red-roofed town, the brewery and much of the street layout are still German in origin. It is the country's most attractive coastal city and its beach-and-beer culture is genuinely part of local life.

What to see

• The old town's German architecture, particularly around the Protestant church and Badaguan with its villa district
• The Tsingtao Brewery museum, and the beer festival in August
• Zhanqiao Pier and the coast road, plus the beaches at Shilaoren
• Mount Lao (Laoshan), the Taoist mountain behind the city, and its temples

What to eat

• Tsingtao beer, drunk from a plastic bag in summer — genuinely the local habit
• Clams in beer, grilled squid and the seafood market cook-your-own tradition
• Shandong-style dumplings and mackerel dumplings, the local speciality

How to plan

Two or three days: the old town and Badaguan, Mount Lao, and the coast road.

Best time

May–June and September–October; August is the beer festival and very busy

Practical tips

• Qingdao's old town is best walked — the streets are steep and narrow and the architecture is the point