Our coastal city has a wide selection of places to see, dishes to eat and lots of new expe riences to cherish. If you enjoy eating out, the choice is endless, ranging from many different types of Chinese cuisine to Korean, Japanese, Cantonese and some excellent western style restaurants. (Still not up to the variety of Shanghai, but we’re getting there!)You can be as adventurous as you like; but be sure to sample some the delicious local seafood. The seafood in Qingdao is a speciality not to be missed. Something very popular here is bbq, which is basically meat on a stick. It’s fantastic in the summer at the beach eating this tasty food and drinking ice cold beer from a bag. (don’t worry, you get cups). Chinese food is by far the cheapest way to eat, however, if you’re not really into Chinese, be prepared to pay western prices for western foods.

There is no shortage of bars and casual places to drop by. Most are open at lunchtime too, but not all, so bear that in mind. Certainly there’s a style for everyone, some offering live music or a DJ, or just a pool table and place to make friends. The expat community in Qingdao is not very large, so spending one evening in a bar is almost a sure fire way to meet some people and make new friends. Of course if you’re not the bar going type but you want to meet people, join one of the Qingdao Expat’s events. Also, there are lots of
Karaoke Bars to go to, which is a favourite amongst locals, just make sure you go to the more respectable ones.

Shopping is fun in Qingdao! You may choose from local markets to polished department stores. The colourful indoor and outdoor markets invite you to experience the local lifestyle (be sure to barter for a good price). Don’t expect to get absolutely everything you want, but you’ll be able to find pretty much what you need.

If you wish for a change of scenery then Qingdao has several parks and seafront walks. Put on some comfortable shoes and walk for miles to see some very contrasting buildings and streets; each one having a place in the history of this thriving city which was once a fishing village.

In our listings, we have placed some of the more popular restaurants, bars and shopping venues in Qingdao. We cannot place everything, but any suggestions are welcome and to make a suggestion about a great venue, please email the appropriate category in our Contact Us page. We aim to make life in Qingdao for new and existing expats more comfortable, and we are sure that one way or the other, you’ll find living in Qingdao to be a memorable experience.