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SEASONAL FESTIVALS
Culture vultures should head
to the various exhibitions in
Qingdao’s museums during
the five-day
Chinese Cultural
Fair
in mid-June, while July
will get more lively and sporty
for the
Qingdao Love of the
Sea Tourist Festival
when
you can join the crowds
in fishing and sailing.
STREET EATS
It had its heyday in the 1930s
and ’40s, but now the street-
food area of
Pichaiyuan
has
been resurrected into an even
feistier incarnation after its
renovation in 2008. Go for
the mackerel dumplings and
barbecued seafood stalls.
CITY PARK
Mingling natural beauty with
classic Chinese gardening,
Xiaoyushan
(“
Little Fish Hill”)
Park
at the junction of Yushan
Lu and Fushan Lu commands
a stunning view of Huiquan
Bay. Don’t be put off if you
hear the park is “high on the
hill”; it’s only 60m in height.
MUST BUY
If you’re new to dried seafood
–
a Qingdao speciality – an
old-time food shop is the best
way to get introduced to this
tasty cuisine.
Haibin Food
Shop
on Zhongshan Lu has a
long-standing reputation for
high-quality seafood, and the
decent prices will save you
from having to haggle.
LOCAL NEWS
Find the latest updates and
trustworthy picks about cool
bars and popular restaurants
on
.
DAY TRIP
Sixteen daily high-speed trains
link Nanjing with the bustling
metropolis of
Shanghai
.
The ride takes less than 90
minutes, and will cost you
RMB146 (S$30).
EAT, EAT, EAT
Famous for their meatballs
–
there are several types
to choose from –
Shizi Lou
(29
Hunan Lu) resembles
an indoor market and offers
a great introduction to
Huaiyang fare with various
stands set up along the way.
OFF TO THE PARK
The mausoleum of Sun
Yat-sen, the founding father
of the Republic of China, is
set in the
Purple Mountain
National Park
.
This area
is worth setting aside a
whole day to explore. The
mausoleum vault is set into
the hill and sits atop 392
steps. Cool down on a hot
summer day in the nearby
Zixia Lake, surrounded
by trees that provide
much-needed shade.
SLEEP
Overlooking Gulou Square.
The
InterContinental
(
ichotelsgroup.com) is the
tallest building in the city.
Along with stellar views of
the skyline and nearby Zijin
Mountain, the luxury hotel
has indoor and outdoor
swimming pools. For a more
budget-friendly option, rest
your head at the
Jasmine
International Youth Hostel
(
built over 60 years ago in a
villa with lovely gardens.
SEEK
....
the
scoop...
....
the
scoop...
QINGDAO
Recommended!
NANJING
Recommended!
“
Climb
atop Xiaoyu
Shan and enjoy a
panoramic view
of the sea all to
yourself.”
Han Shuang, 24
“
Jump on
a double-
decker sightseeing
bus which runs
from Zhanqiao to
Shilaoren.”
Momo, 24
“
The art and
live-music
scenes have seen a
massive upswing –
check out Tony’s Bar
on Jinxianghe Lu.”
Alexander Barlow, 30
“
Nanjing is
famous for
Jinling cuisine. Salted
duck is a not-to-miss
dish – the meat is
crisp and tender.”
Sophie Chen, 29
QINGDAO WORDS
YIXUAN FAN
NANJING WORDS
ALICE ONG
