Qingdao (aka Tsingtao)

Our first stop in China was the city of Qingdao, in Shandong province, on the central eastern coast of the country. The city was a German enclave in the late 19th century, and as such has a very different appearance to a typical Asian town. Also a legacy of the German history is the famous brewery, whose name goes under the old spelling of Tsingtao. The city also has a great beach, and although we didn't swim it was nice to take in some blue skies and coastal breezes.

Much of the older part of town looks very Bavarian in its architecture

The city centre (in the background) is in the process of modernising for the Olympics - Qingdao will host the sailing competitions.