Qingdao, archaicly known as Tsingtao,Template:Efn is a prefecture-level city in the eastern ShandongProvince of China. Located on China's Yellow Sea coast, Qingdao was long an important fortress.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1897, the city was ceded to Germany. For the Germans, Qingdao was a strategic trade center, port and base for its East Asia Squadron, allowing the German navy to project dominance in the Pacific.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Japan occupied the city and the surrounding province during the Siege of Tsingtao. In 1915, China agreed to recognize Japan's special position in the territory through what became known as the Twenty-One Demands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1918, the Chinese government, under the control of the warlord Duan Qirui, secretly agreed to Japanese terms in exchange for a loan. Following the First World War, during the Paris Peace Conference, Japan secured agreements with the Allied powers to recognize its claim to the areas in Shandong, which included Qingdao, previously occupied by Germany. In 1922, Shandong reverted to Chinese control following the United States' mediation during the Washington Naval Conference.<ref name=":1" /> Today, Qingdao is a major nodal city of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that connects Continental and East Asia with Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has the highest GDP of any city in the province.
Template:Expand section
Human settlement in the area dates back 6,000 years. The Dongyi lived here and created the Dawenkou, Longshan and Dongyeshi cultures.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC), the town of Jimo was established, which was then the second-largest one in the Shandong region.
Sketch map of Qingdao, circa 1906Main gate of former Chinese munitions depot, taken over by the Imperial German Navy, Kiautschou Bay, Shandong peninsula, 1898
Under the Qing Empire, the area in which Qingdao is now located was known as Jiao'ao (Template:Lang).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1891, the Qing decided to fortify Jiao'ao as a defense against naval attacks. Imperial German naval officials observed and reported on this activity during a formal survey of Jiaozhou Bay in May 1897. In November of that year, the Juye Incident would take place, in which three German missionaries were attacked, and two were killed. Subsequently, German troops seized and occupied the fortification.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The preindustrial, waning Qing Empire was forced to concede the area to Germany the following year, and the Kiautschou Bay concession, as it became known, existed from 1898 to 1914.<ref>Li 2005, p. 81.</ref>
With an area of Template:Convert, it was located in the imperial province of Shandong (alternately romanized as Shantung or Shan-tung) on the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula in northern China. Jiaozhou was alternatively romanized as Kiaochow, Kiauchau, or Kiao-Chau in English, and Kiautschou in German; Qingdao was its administrative center. "The so-called Marktstrasse (Market Street) was nothing more than the old main street of the Chinese village of Qingdao, and the buildings lining it were the former homes of fishermen and farmers. Having sold their property, they resettled their homes and fields in the villages further east."<ref name="Matzat1">Template:Cite web</ref>
Upon gaining control of the area, the Germans outfitted the impoverished fishing village of Qingdao with wide streets, solid housing areas, government buildings, electrification throughout, a sewer system and a safe drinking water supply, a rarity in large parts of Asia at that time and later.<ref name="Flagge">Template:Cite book</ref>
The area had the highest school density and the highest per capita student enrollment in all of China, with primary, secondary and vocational schools funded by the Imperial German treasury and Protestant and Roman Catholic missions.<ref name="Flagge" /> Commercial interests established the Germania Brewery in 1903, which later became the world-famous Tsingtao Brewery.<ref name="Matzat2">Template:Cite web</ref> German cultural and commercial influences extended to other areas of Shandong Province, including the establishment of diverse commercial enterprises.
Before the outbreak of World War I (1914–1918), ships of the German naval forces under Admiral Count von Spee were located at central Pacific colonies on routine missions. The fleet then rendezvoused in the Marianas Islands to plan a transit back to Germany rather than be trapped in the Pacific by more powerful and numerous Allied fleets (British and Japanese).Template:NoteTag
After a minor British naval attack on the German concession in Shandong in 1914, Japanese troops occupied the city and the surrounding province during the Siege of Tsingtao (Qingdao) after Japan's declaration of war on Germany in accordance with the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.<ref name="Source Records of the Great War, Vol. III, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923">Template:Cite web</ref> China protested against Japan's violation of her neutrality but was not able to interfere in the military operations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The decision of the Paris Peace Conference and the Versailles Treaty negotiations not to restore Chinese rule over the previous foreign concessions in Qingdao after the Great War triggered the May Fourth Movement (4 May 1919) of anti-imperialism, nationalism and cultural identity in China.<ref>A. Whitney Griswold, The Far Eastern Policy of the United States (1938) pp. 239–68.</ref>
Map of Qingdao in 1912
The city came under Chinese rule in December 1922, under control of the Republic of China (ROC) established in 1912 after the 1911 Revolution the year before. However, Japan maintained its economic dominance of the railway and the province as a whole.<ref>Griswold, The Far Eastern Policy of the United States (1938) pp. 326–28.</ref> The city became a direct-controlled municipality of the ROC Government in July 1929.
The development of the Qingdao urban space during the German occupation (1898–1914) originated from the port. Mass urban construction began in 1898 with the relocation of Chinese dwellers along the coast.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With the completion of such series of mass construction projects such as wharves, the Tsingtao-Jinan Railway Line, Tsingtao Railway Station and locomotive works, a city was starting to take shape.<ref>Schultz-Naumann, p. 182</ref> The area had the highest school density and highest per capita student enrollment in all of China, with primary, secondary and vocational schools funded by the Berlin treasury as well as Protestant and Roman Catholic missions.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1910, the Germans drew up for the second time the city planning of Tsingtao (Warner 2001, p. 33). The former urban area was extended four times highlighted by the emphasis on the development of commerce and trade. Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), leader of the 1911 Revolution and subsequently first president of the Republic of China, visited the Tsingtao area and stated in 1912, "I am impressed. The city is a true model for China's future".<ref>Schultz-Naumann, p. 184</ref>
1914–1922
The development of Tsingtao urban space continued during the first Japan-occupation period (1914–1922). In 1914, Tsingtao was taken over by the Japanese and served as a base for the exploitation of natural resources of Shandong and northern China. With the development of industry and commerce, a "New City District" was established to furnish the Japanese colonists with commercial sections and living quarters, which suggested a striking contrast to the shabby houses in the local Chinese zones (Li 2007, p. 133). In the meantime, several schools, hospitals, and public buildings were constructed, followed by urban streets and intercity highways as well. The urban spatial layout continued to expand northward along the east bay area.
1922–1938
The development of Tsingtao urban space during the ROC-ruled period (1922–1938). This period saw the substantial progress of the urban development of Tsingtao. The government engaged itself in mass construction that gave birth to villa districts at the beach and bank groups in CBD. Plenty of public buildings and facilities for entertainment and sports were completed. By the year 1937, the urban population numbered 385,000(Lu 2001, p. 327). Tsingtao consequently distinguished itself as a prominent holiday resort and summer retreat.
1938–1945
The development of Tsingtao urban space during the second Japan-occupied period (1938–1945). Japanese armed forces returned to Tsingtao in 1938 and started to strive for the construction of the Greater Tsingtao in the following June. Accordingly, they worked out the city planning of the Greater Tsingtao and the City Planning of the Mother Town (Tsingtao City Proper), even though they had not had the opportunity to actualize either, respectively. The period in question did not witness much urban progress except for the logical construction of No. 6 Wharf, some Japanese residences, and a small number of roads and streets (Lu 2001, p. 339).
Postwar
After World War II, the KMT allowed Qingdao to serve as the headquarters of the Western Pacific Fleet of the US Navy in 1945; however, its headquarters were transferred to the Philippines sometime in late 1948. On 2 June 1949, the CPC-led Red Army entered Qingdao and the city and province have been under PRC control since that time.
Since the 1984 inauguration of China's open-door policy to foreign trade and investment, Qingdao has rapidly developed into an ultramodern port city. It is now the headquarters of the Chinese navy's northern fleet. An early example of the open-door policy occurred on 5 November 1984, when three United States Naval vessels visited Qingdao. This was the first US port call to China in more than 37 years. Template:USS, Template:USS, and Template:USS and their crews were officially hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Northern Qingdao, particularly Shibei, Licang, and Chengyang districts, are now major manufacturing centers. The city has recently experienced a strong growth period, with a new central business district created to the east of the older business district. Outside of the center of the city, there is a large industrial zone, which includes chemical processing, rubber, and heavy manufacturing, in addition to a growing high-tech area. Numerous local and national service companies, rather than manufacturers, are based in the city's southern district.
Image of Qingdao in the early 1900s
Administrative divisions
City Hall of Qingdao
The sub-provincial city of Qingdao has seven districts (区; qū) and three county-level cities (市; shì):Qingdao City, located in Shandong Province, China, is a prefecture-level city with several aliases, including "Island City" and "Jiaozhou Bay". Qingdao is a vice-provincial-level city, a separately listed city, and recognized as a major city.
According to the approval of the State Council, Qingdao is designated as an important coastal center city and a coastal resort tourism city in China, as well as an international port city. Qingdao City administers 7 districts and 3 county-level cities. These districts include Shinan District, Shibei District, Huangdao District, Laoshan District, Licang District, Chengyang District, and Jimo District, while the county-level cities consist of Jiaozhou City, Pingdu City, and Laixi City.
Template:Administrative divisions of Qingdao
Geographically, there are three districts (Shinan, Shibei, Licang) constituting a peninsula on the east coast of the Jiaozhou Bay as the core urban area, one (Chengyang) on the north coast and one (Xihai'an) on the west coast of the Yellow Sea.
Qingdao (labeled CH'ING-TAO (TSINGTAO) Template:Lang) (1954)Map including Qingdao (labeled as CH'ING-TAO (TSINGTAO))
Qingdao is located on the south-facing coast of the Shandong Peninsula (Template:Langx). It borders three prefecture-level cities, namely Yantai to the northeast, Weifang to the west, and Rizhao to the southwest. The city occupies an area totaling Template:Convert, and stretches in latitude from 35° 35' to 37° 09' N and in longitude from 119° 30' to 121° 00' E. The populated sections of the city are relatively flat while mountains spur up within city limits and nearby. The highest elevation in the city is located Template:Convertabove sea level. Of the total area of Qingdao, 15.5% is highland, while the foothill, plain, and lowland areas constitute 25.1%, 37.8%, and 21.7%, respectively. The city has a Template:Convert-long coastline. Five significant rivers exceeding Template:Convert in length can be found in the region.
Climate
Qingdao has a temperate, four-season, monsoon-influenced<ref name="SDIO">
Template:Cite web
</ref> climate that lies in the transition between the humid subtropical (Köppen: Cwa) and humid continental (Köppen: Dwa) regimes. Due to the direct regulation of the marine environment, the city is influenced by the southeast monsoon and the currents and water masses from the ocean, so it also has significant maritime climate characteristics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Winters range from cool to cold and windy, but are generally dry, with a January average of Template:Convert. Summer is generally hot and humid, but very hot days are rare, with an August average of Template:Convert. Due to its proximity to the coast and location on a peninsula, compared to most inland areas of China, its spring is delayed by one month,<ref name="SDIO"/> and the annual diurnal temperature variation is only Template:Convert; conversely, its fall is milder than inland areas in Shandong. The water temperature peaks at about Template:Convert in late August. Thus, swimming is possible for two months on either side. The annual mean temperature is Template:Convert. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from Template:Convert on 7 and 8 January 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to Template:Convert on 15 July 2002;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> unofficial readings have reached a record low of Template:Convert or for the official weather station there, Template:Convert on 10 January 1931.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 38 percent in July to 59 percent in October, the city receives 2,261 hours of bright sunshine annually.<ref name="cma new">Template:Cite web</ref>
During the summer months, the beaches of Qingdao are afflicted by massive algal blooms. The decomposing algae release large amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas, which produces an offensive "rotten egg" odor. Sea lettuce blooms, which are partially caused by seaweed farming in Jiangsu Province, led local officials to declare a "large-scale algae disaster" in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Of the 10 million residents of Qingdao, 6.2 million reside in the Qingdao urban area. Another estimated 5 million live in other cities under Qingdao's jurisdiction.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The annual birth rate is calculated around 76,507, with a birth rate of 10.15 per year per thousand, and a death rate of 6.32, both calculated on an annual basis. Living standards are among the highest of leading Chinese cities due to the strong export economy and relatively high family wages.
There is a large Korean community in Qingdao. By 2009, there were approximately 100,000 Koreans working, studying and living in Qingdao, which makes Qingdao the second in terms of Korean population in China, following Beijing which has about 200,000 Koreans.<ref>
Template:Cite news
</ref>
According to the 2021 Qingdao Statistical Yearbook, the permanent resident population of Qingdao in 2020 was 10.1057 million, an increase of 182700 people compared to the previous year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Economy
Qingdao-based Tsingtao beer, China's second-largest domestic brand and its largest export brand.Qingdao TV Tower
In recent years, an important region in Eastern China, Shandong Province has seen substantial change in its economic landscape. Much of this development has been concentrated in Qingdao.<ref name="KPMG">Template:Citation</ref> Qingdao has seen rapid development. With an annual growth rate of 18.9 percent in 2006, the city's GDP reached 42.3 billion, ranking first in Shandong Province and tenth out of China's top 20 cities.<ref name="KPMG"/> GDP per capita comprised CN¥52,895 (US$7,616) in 2008. In 2024, Qingdao's GDP per capita comprised CN¥161,200 (US$23,000).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2006, Qingdao was ranked one of six "golden cities" by the World Bank, out of 120 Chinese cities assessed on factors including investment climate and government effectiveness.<ref name="KPMG"/> In 2018, Qingdao's GDP reached CN¥1200.15 billion, though it shrank a little in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited
Internationally, Qingdao is perhaps best known for its Tsingtao Brewery, founded by a German-British joint venture in 1903 that produces Tsingtao beer, the best-known Chinese export beer. It is also home to Haier, a large white goods manufacturer, and Hisense, a major electronics company. In 2002 guitar manufacturers Epiphone opened a factory in Qingdao.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 30 June 2011, the longest bridge over water opened in Qingdao. The bridge, Haiwan Bridge, is Template:Convert long and connects Qingdao to Huangdao and Hongdao. The bridge is almost three miles (Template:Convert) longer than the previous record-holder, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the American state of Louisiana. Haiwan Bridge is supported by more than 5,000 pillars and costs about 10 billion yuan which is about 1.5 billion dollars. The bridge was designed by the Shandong Gausu Group and the construction lasted for four years. Haiwan Bridge cut the commute between the city of Qingdao and the sprawling suburb of Huangdao by 30 minutes. At least 10,000 workers toiled in two teams around the clock to build the bridge, which was constructed from opposite ends.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On the same day, the Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel opened. The tunnel brought much convenience to people by supporting public buses and making transport between the two areas more convenient.
By 2011, the port had become the world's sixth-busiest by Total Cargo Volume, having handled Template:Convert of cargo in that year. As of 2016, it was the 8th in the world in terms of TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Orient Ferry connects Qingdao with Shimonoseki, Japan. There are two ferry lines connecting Qingdao with South Korea. The New Golden Bridge II operates between Qingdao and Incheon, and the Blue Sea Ferry operates between Qingdao and Gunsan.<ref>Ferries Korea-ChinaTemplate:Webarchive. Seat61.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-12.</ref>
Qingdao port also includes a number of large adjacent ports including Dongjiakou.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Qingdao's railway development picked up during the late 1990s. It is at the start of the Jinan–Qingdao high-speed railway, the Qingdao–Jinan passenger railway and the original Qingdao–Jinan railway. Qingdao's city proper has some major railway stations, including Qingdao railway station, Cangkou railway station, Dagang railway station and Qingdao North railway station.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sifang railway station is now closed to passengers.<ref>For several years before August 2008, travelers not from Qingdao were often confused because railway tickets to Qingdao showed the destination as "Sifang". Those trains were headed to Qingdao's Sifang station as a temporary measure. Once renovations to the larger Qingdao Railway Station were complete, the name of the destination reverted to "Qingdao".</ref>
Qingdao's public traffic owns 5283 large and medium-sized buses, CNG buses Template:As of. There are also 136 trolleybusesTemplate:As of. All of the buses and trolleybuses can be accessed using the Qingdao Public Traffic IC Card (Template:Linktext), which uses radio frequencies so the card does not have to physically touch the scanner. After that, all public transportation companies use Qingdaotong Card, the last company that started to use this card is the Zhenqing bus company located in The West Coast New Area of Qingdao (original Huangdao Distinct) in 2019.
Non air-conditioned buses cost 1 yuan (excluding the tunnel bus), The volume of road passenger transport approaches 737 million per year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Public Transport Brand of 'Ri-Xin Bus (Template:Linktext)' is also known in China.
There are several taxi companies in Qingdao including Yiqing Company, Zhongqing Company, Jiaoyun Company, and, Huaqing Company.
After getting the approval from the State Council, the government announced on 18 August 2009 that Qingdao is ready to spend more than 29 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) before 2016 on its subway construction. Construction of Template:Convert of subway line 3 was completed before 2016 with a total investment of 29.2 billion yuan ($4.3 billion). Metro Line 3 is the first line in function and opened on 16 December 2015. In the long term, the city plans to build eight subway lines in downtown and some suburban districts, which account for Template:Convert in future.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The system has an operating length of Template:Convert, lines in operation including Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 6, Line 8, the Oceantec Valley Line, and the West Coast Line.<ref name="QINGDAO METRO" />
As of February 24, 2023, according to the approved network plan of Qingdao City, there are 19 long-term plans for Qingdao Metro, with a total length of 872 kilometers; The third phase construction plan has been approved, with a total of 13 lines and a total length of 503 kilometers, ranking ninth in the national approved mileage level; Seven lines have been opened and operated, including Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, and 13, with an operating mileage of 315 kilometers. As of March 2023, there are 146 operating stations, ranking tenth in China and second in northern cities; There are 10 lines under construction (including extension lines), including the West Extension and Phase II of Line 2, Line 5, Phase I and Phase II of Line 6, Phase II of Line 7, South Section and Branch of Line 8, Phase I of Line 9, and Phase I of Line 15. The total length under construction is 188 kilometers, and it is expected to be fully completed by 2028.
The Qingdao Tram system is operating in Chengyang District
The Qingdao Tram (official name: Modern tram demonstration line) of Chengyang District, Qingdao, is a tram system operating in Chengyang District, Qingdao, China. It opened in 2016. The Qingdao Public Transport Group Rail Bus Co., Ltd. is responsible for operation and management. The system is only composed of 1 tram line.
Culture
Architecture
Qingdao retains many buildings with a German architectural style
There are a large number of German-style buildings in Qingdao's city center, a remarkable fact considering the German leased-territory period only lasted 16 years (1898–1914). The unique combination of German and Chinese architecture therein, combined with German demographic roots and a large Korean expatriate population, gives Qingdao a rather distinct atmosphere. An old saying described Qingdao as a city of "red tiles green trees, blue sky, and blue sea." This saying indeed gives a picture of a bird view of Qingdao. A larger number of areas in former foreign styles are well preserved. Although the new city area is under large-scale reconstruction, the old city area (especially the western part of Shinan District) still retains many traditional buildings.
During the city's leased-territory days, German, the official language, was rigorously taught and promoted. Since the demise of Germany's colonial empire after World War I, the German language is all but gone, leaving little impact on the local languages. A local accent known as Qingdao dialect (Template:Lang-zh) distinguishes the residents of the city from those of the surrounding Shandong province. Due to the efforts by the city government to promote standard Mandarin, most educated people can speak standard Mandarin in addition to their native dialect. With reform policies and English teaching, some young citizens have been taught English and many can converse with English-speaking foreigners. Business and traffic signs in English are becoming more and more common.
Qingdao previously had a large German community and a German garrison, so three German newspapers operated in Qingdao.<ref name=Walravens90>Walravens, p. 90Template:Webarchive.</ref> German papers included Deutsch-Asiatische Warte (Template:Lang-zh;<ref name=Walravens91>Walravens, p. 91Template:Webarchive.</ref> weekly newspaper published until 1906, included Die Welt des Ostens, Altes und Neues aus Asiens drei Kaiserreichen, a cultural supplement),<ref name=Walravens90/> the Tsingtauer Neueste Nachrichten and the Kiautschou Post (a daily paper published from 1908 to 1912, referring to the Kiautschou (Jiaozhou) Bay concession). German publishing in Qingdao ended after World War I and the beginning of the Japanese administration.<ref name=Walravens91/>
Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and temperate weather. Parks, beaches, sculptures, and unique German and modern architecture line the shore. Its centrally located tourist information center, the "Qingdao Information Center for International Visitors for International Visitors," is located on Middle Hong Kong Road (Template:Lang).
Qingdao International Sailing Centre, 2021Qingdao International Sailing Centre (青岛奥林匹克帆船中心), hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing competitions in 2008.
National Shilaoren Tourist Resort (Template:Lang), the famous bathing beach symbolized by a characteristic natural sea rock with a shape like an old man
Xiaomaidao Park (Template:Lang), the park with hills, a beach, and a nice view of the coastal line
Education
Qingdao is also one of the world's top 35 cities for global scientific research as tracked by the Nature Index.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Higher education
Old Main Building of Qingdao University of Science and Technology
During the 2008 Summer Olympics, Qingdao and Beijing cohosted the Olympic Sailing competitions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Qingdao, the events took place along the shoreline by the city. These events were hosted at the Qingdao International Sailing Center at Fushan Bay, near the city's central business district. An international broadcasting center and purpose-built hotel were constructed for the Games.
Gottschall, Terrell D. By Order of the Kaiser: Otto von Diederichs and the Rise of the Imperial German Navy 1865–1902. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. 2003. Template:ISBN
Schultz-Naumann, Joachim. Unter Kaisers Flagge: Deutschlands Schutzgebiete im Pazifik und in China einst und heute [Under the Kaiser's Flag, Germany's Protectorates in the Pacific and in China then and today]. Munich: Universitas Verlag. 1985.
Walravens, Hartmut. "German Influence on the Press in China". In: Newspapers in International Librarianship: Papers Presented by the Newspaper Section at IFLA General Conferences. Walter de Gruyter, 1 January 2003. Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN.
Also available at the website of the Queens Library – This version does not include the footnotes visible in the Walter de Gruyter version.
Also available in Walravens, Hartmut, and Edmund King. Newspapers in international librarianship: papers presented by the section of the newspaper at IFLA General Conferences. K.G. Saur, 2003. Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN.
_-_ChangJiang_Road_(Middle)_(16668263526).jpg)
