I’ve seen an awful lot of China over the past decade. If I were to draw up some kind of top ten, I’d almost certainly find a spot for the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong Province.

My stay there came way back in the summer of 2009 during my first period of travel in China. While there are no jaw-dropping sights to speak of, the city certainly has bags of charm.

It also has a decent collection of beaches. The main stretches of sand right in the city centre are nothing to write home about, but head out just a few miles and the scene becomes much more beautiful, not to mention quieter!

Moreover, the city has European style churches and squares, cobbled streets and surrounding mountains. To get the full lowdown on these long ago adventures, why not Visit Qingdao through my travels reports from:

Lennon Bar

Number One Bathing Beach

St. Michael’s Cathedral

& my handpicked spots from around the city

Furthermore, Qingdao features in my short story Don’t Let Me Down, taken from my series Challenged in China.

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