Qingdao, China

Qingdao is a major city in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. It borders Yantai to the northeast, Weifang to the west and Rizhao to the southeast. Qingdao is a major seaport, naval base, and industrial centre. It is also the site of the Tsingtao Brewery. The world's longest sea bridge, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, links the main urban area of Qingdao with Huangdao district, straddling the Jiaozhou Bay sea areas.

The City of Qingdao is considered to be one of China's cleanest, most beautiful cities. It attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and temperate weather. Parks, beaches, sculpture and unique German and modern architecture line the shore.

Tsingtao Beer is known around the world, and the Tsingtao Brewery is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Port of Qingdao. Xiaoyu Hill is the Port of Qingdao's old town. Boasting many stone houses, villas, and German-build buildings, the Qingdao Guest House (or the German Governor's Residence) is the most popular place to visit.

Things to See & Do

* Tsingtao Brewery
* Xiaoyu Hill – old town area
* Zhan Qiao – famous pier
* Laoshan Beach
* Xinhaoshan Park

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Language – Mandarin
Population – 8,000,000 approx
Land Area – 10,654 km²
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus eight hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 86

Port Location – The port of Qingdao is located approximately 5km from the city centre.

Travel Links – Qingdao Liuting International Airport is the main hub for Shandong Airlines and a focus city of China Eastern Airlines. The flight paths linking Qingdao with Shanghai and Beijing are frequent.

Trains are available to Qingdao from many major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.

From Incheon, Korea there are ferries twice-weekly by Weidong Ferries. There are also twice-weekly connections from Shimonoseki, Japan on Orient Ferries.

Important Visa Information
Australian and New Zealand passport holders staying on board or going ashore to visit any Chinese ports are required to obtain a single-entry Chinese visa (3 month validity) prior to travel. We recommend you include a copy of your itinerary with your application and confirm the expiration of the visa at the time of issue to ensure that it is valid for your stay in China. Visas cannot be issued upon the ship’s arrival. Please note that any passengers not in possession of a Chinese visa may be denied boarding or incur a fine.