Qingdao

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Qingdao (Traditional Chinese: 青島, Simplified Chinese: 青岛, Pinyin: Qingdao, Wade-Giles: Ch'ing-tao) is a port sub-provincial city in the Shandong province of China, located at the southern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, in Jiaozhou Bay, facing the Yellow Sea. The name of the port used to be romanised as Tsingtao.

Qingdao has seven urban districts and five county level cities under its jurisdiction. The total population adds up to 7 million.

The GDP per capita was ¥26961 (ca. US$3260) in 2003, ranked no. 32 among 659 Chinese cities.

History
The city became a German concession in 1897 and a major German naval base in the Far East. It was occupied by Japan in 1914, when Japan declared war on Germany during WWI. The city reverted to Chinese KMT rule in 1922, but was occupied by Japan again during the Second World War in 1938. After WWII, the KMT allowed Qingdao to serve as the headquarters of the Western Pacific Fleet of the US Navy. On June 2, 1949 Qingdao was taken by the Chinese Liberation Army. Today it features a significant number of Chinese military facilities.

Industrial
Qingdao is famous for the Tsingtao Brewery, which was founded in 1903 by German settlers, and produces Tsingtao beer, now the most famous beer in China.
Qingdao is strong in light industry. A large Korean population, partly associated with industry, has sprung up in and around the city.

Tourism
Qingdao is a major Chinese tourist destination due to its seaside setting and excellent weather. The shore is lined with parks, beaches and sculpture, as well as some unique architecture. Qingdao's other attractions include:
Zhanshan Temple