Qingdao

• Overview
  Country: China

  Population: 9,204,000

  Time zone: China standard time (UTC+8)

  Languages: Mandarin Chinese

  Currency: Renminbi (yuan; ¥) (CNY)

  Drives on the: Right

  Calling code: +86

  Official website: http://rc.qingdao.gov.cn/

  Best for:

  Beach

  Outdoors/Nature

  Food

  Adventures

  Architecture

  Fashion

  Though it might not be obvious upon first glance, you’ve no doubt heard of this hidden gem before. Best known as being home to China’s favourite beer, Qingdao – or Tsingtao as you may recognize it – boasts far more than just this famous boozy beverage. Situated on China’s north eastern coastline, the city is blessed with fresh sea air, mystical mountains and Instagram-worthy seaside views that are sure to make your friends and family jealous – no matter where you’re from.

  Qingdao plays a key role in China’s international trade, supplying in-demand goods such as seafood, minerals and natural energy to the rest of the world. Such exports have helped propel the city into the future, making it one of the Middle Kingdom’s many one-to-watch hubs of activity and drawing in masses of foreign investment. With this has come an explosion of opportunity for eager young professionals around the world in fields from import and export to sales and marketing. 

  Despite its rapid development, the city has maintained an impressively firm grip on its historical charm, made evident by the German-style architecture and cobbled streets that form large parts of the city. This enticing combination of Chinese culture and European influence make Qingdao a fascinating place to explore and an even more exiting one to live in. An internship in Qingdao will provide you with endless opportunity to develop your skills and network in a way that few get to – even in other Chinese cities.

   

  Get in touch with Hutong School today to start your Qingdao adventure! 

   

   

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• Student Life

  

  If there’s one thing that life in Qingdao is not, it’s boring. No matter where you go, or what you enjoy doing, there’s always something going on, be it day or night. Spend the time off from your internship lounging on the beach, strolling around the old-town or venturing up mountains with new friends and colleagues from around the world.

  Qingdao might be home to a smaller expat population than Beijing and Shanghai, but that’s by no means a disadvantage. Fewer foreigners mean tighter-knit communities that will take you under their wing and show you the best the city has to offer. The nightlife scene is still bursting with choice and preferential deals offered to expat punters, whose presence is known for helping draw in more customers. As an intern in Qingdao, you’ll get to experience the best of everything China has to offer; from culture and nature, to professional opportunity and modern city-life. What more could want?

  Some of Qingdao’s must-visit places are:

   

  Qingdao No.1 Bathing Beach

  It says it in the name; boasting soft sands, gentle waves and pleasant water temperature, this is the best beach in Qingdao, and one well worth visiting.

  Badaguan Scenic Area

  This area, known in English as the Ten Thousand Country Architecture Garden, is home to picturesque foreign villas and scenic paths. It’s a beautiful place to wander around and take photos.

  Mt. Laoshan

  Located just a short distance from the city center Laoshan Mountain is a great place to escape to and get amazing views of the coastline. There is so much to see and do there that you could easily spend one to two whole days exploring. The best time to climb the mountain is between May and October.

   

  Get in touch with Hutong School today to start your Qingdao adventure! 

   

   

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• Practical Information

  

  Qingdao is a large city in China’s north eastern Shandong Province. Its coastal location means the city is blessed with clean air, blue skies and pleasant year-round temperatures, all of which have helped the city gain the reputation of being one of China’s most livable cities.

  The city has a relatively short, but extremely interesting history. In the 1800’s, Qingdao was seized by the Germans, who had control over the port city from 1898 until 1914. During this time, the Germans left their mark on the city, transforming it from a small fishing village into the metropolis we know today. In doing so, they built wide, winding streets, installed a sewage system and helped improve the standard of living for the city’s residents. In 1903, the Germans opened a brewery which later became known as the famous Tsingtao Brewery. Just over a decade later, during World War I, the Germans lost the city to the Japanese, who controlled Qingdao until 1922 and again from 1938. The city became fully under Chinese rule in 1949 along with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

  Since then, Qingdao became a major port city and a focus point of the Chinese government’s policy to encourage foreign trade and investment. This has helped the once sleepy fishing village transform into an important hub of development for the rest of the nation.

  Situated by the Yellow Sea, Qingdao has a comfortable temperature all year round. It’s neither too hot nor too cold, no matter what time of year. The city experiences all four seasons, but the best time to travel there is said to be between March to early November – ideal for a summer internship. The hottest season is in August with the average temperature of 25.1C and the coldest in January with the average temperature of 0.9°C below zero. As a seaside city, it can get windy so be prepared if you’re going to be there during the autumn!

  Getting around Qingdao is very easy; the city has a well-developed public transport system, with a bus and metro system that can take you anywhere you need to go. For the more active travelers, it’s also a pleasant city to ride around on a bike – be warned though; it’s a hilly city!

  Life in Qingdao can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. As a developing Chinese city, it’s easy to enjoy both a local lifestyle and indulge in western luxuries. Of course, the latter comes with a higher price tag, but it’s nice to treat yourself every once in a while. On average, you can expect to spend around 3,000 – 5,000 RMB per month to cover the basics whilst making the most of your time – which is plenty considering the generous allowance of most internships in Qingdao!

   

  Get in touch with Hutong School today to start your Qingdao adventure! 

   

  Did you know?

   

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