Qingdao

Qingdao Map

Known as a "pearl on the Yellow Sea, " Qingdao (population 7.03 million, area 10,456 square kilometres) is surrounded on three sides by water, with Laoshan Mountain as a backdrop. Qingdao's red-tiled roofs and verdant foliage complement its picturesque setting. Its fine beaches, pleasant climate and popular beer brewery make it widely appealing to tourists both at home and abroad. Qingdao, which is the finest aquatic sports centre in Asia, is well known for water competitions. Thus it is no surprise that the
International Sail-Boating Association judged that Qingdao is capable of becoming the site of the sailing contest after Beijing won the bid for hosting the 2008 Olympics.

The port of Qingdao in East China's Shandong Province has become the 16thlargest in the world with a handling capacity of at least 100 million tons of cargo a year. The port has navigation routes to more than 400 ports in 130 countries and regions worldwide. The port's container handling capacity has been increasing at an annual rate of between 30 per cent and 40 per cent during the past few years. All the world's top 10 container-shipping companies do business with the port