About City

Qingdao is a city in the Province of Shandong (China), situated555 kmto the South-East from Beijing, on the shore of the Yellow Sea. According to the data of 2007, its population made out 2.7 million people.

Archeological excavations confirm that people used to settle down on the territory of the modern Qingdao as early as 6,000 years ago. In the course of the government of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770—256 BC), the town of Jimo was established here, then the second largest settlement inShandong. The first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huangdi, departed exactly from here toKoreaandJapanin 221 BC, after the unification ofChina. 

Nevertheless, Qingdao was founded in 1891 only upon request of the Qing Dynasty, who decided to create a military fortress there, which would prevent sea attacks. The building process was progressing slowly, and the town as a part of the territoryJiaozhouBaywas given over toGermanyaccording to a concession agreement in 1897. Since that time, the German Imperial Eastern Asian Cruiser Squadron was based inQingdao, which was undertaking military operations throughout thePacific Ocean. The government of the Second Reich prepared planning of streets and created a city plan, which has been in operation until today.

After the First World War, international allies decided to give over Qingdao to Japanese troops. This resulted in a series of anti-imperialist revolts of 1919 – and the city was won back for the Republic of China three years later. However, the Japanese army took overQingdaoin the course of the Second World War again, and the city became free upon its end only. Since 1949, the city has been a part of the Communist People’s Republic of China.

With liberalization of the political course in the 1980s, Qingdao was quickly developng as a modern port and industrial centre. The largest branches of economics are machine-building, chemical, oil, textile, metal, pharmaceutical indsutries as well as agriculture and animal farming. Scientific technologies and manufacture have been emerging in a fast way, too. Besides,Qingdaois a leader in Chinese brewing, since it has been under the German patronate; the Annual International Beer Festival takes place here as well.

The most important income item of Qingdao is also tourism, which includes not only inflows from renting the city sand beaches and enterntainment facilities but also tours to the Mount Lao situated40 kmfrom Qingdao as well as Taiqing Palace Tao Temple.

Partner city of Perm since 2003. 

www.qingdao.gov.cn