You may not have heard of Qingdao before, but to Chinese people and westerners living in China, Qingdao is one of the most sought after living destinations in the whole country. The mix of clean air, pristine beaches, a moderate climate, active expat community and its close proximity to Beijing and Shanghai make Qingdao a dream location for ‘foreigners’ living in China. Qingdao is a city with over eight million inhabitants, about 2.5 million of which live in the downtown area, and boasts the third busiest shipping port in Asia. However, with a unique history and mix of seaside chic and modern development – it is not your typical huge Chinese metropolis. Qingdao has its own unique flair: it was a German colony around the start of the 20th Century and there are still many European style buildings in the old part of Qingdao, however this taste of the past is now contrasted with sleek glass skyscrapers which emphasise a growing cosmopolitanism. More detailed information on the city can be found here: wikitravel.org/en/Qingdao.
Sights & Activities: The beauty of living in Qingdao is that you can enjoy city life but with beautiful countryside and beaches on your doorstep. The picturesque old town of Qingdao can be found in the west of the city; German troops first landed here over 100 years ago on “Zhan Qiao Pier”, the old symbol of Qingdao which can also be found on the label of the famous Tsingtao beer. After building a handful of skyscrapers in the area, the government passed legislation designed to preserve its historic views and unique character for future generations.
There are several nice parks in the west of Qingdao which offer good views over the coastline and colonial buildings in the old town. At the opposite end of Qingdao in the east, the ‘Shi Lao Ren District’ is home to some Qingdao’s wealthier residents but also hosts the yearly Qingdao Beer Festival and the longest beach in Qingdao, which is perfect for swimming and beach sports in the summer. Further to the east beyond Shi Lao Ren, the holy mountains of ‘Lao Shan’ loom in the distance. This area of mountain trails, waterfalls, Taoist temples and coastal views is easily within reach, being only a 30 minute taxi drive from the city. Sandwiched in-between the old town in the west and the mountains in the east, there are 2 modern city centres. 
The coastal ‘Shi Nan’ district is centred on a bay which has a beach at one end and the Olympic Sailing Centre (where you can do various water sports) at the other. This is where you will find most of Qingdao’s skyscraper office buildings, with modern department stores, cafes, clubs and bars. To the north of Shi Nan there is the Tai Dong district, which has a more typical ‘Chinese’ feel, with some of Qingdao’s cheapest and tastiest local restaurants, bustling day and night markets, a beer museum and shops selling virtually everything under the sun, from electronics to live animals!
Daily life: One advantage of using an agency like Intern China is that we can help to ease you into life in China. We will pick you up from the airport, take you to your accommodation, introduce you to your internship company on the first day of work and help you find your feet with an orientation meeting in our office. We also organise regular events designed to bring you together with other interns from all over the world. In general, life in Qingdao is cheap and easy going. Qingdao has a good mix of foreign style conveniences so that you can buy all the things you are used to back home, but also tons of local places where you can eat, drink and buy daily necessities at a fraction of the cost of back home. It is very cheap to get around, with the bus only costing 1 RMB to most locations across the city and an average taxi ride costing 10 RMB. The language can be tricky, but it is not prohibitive. People are helpful and we will give you all the necessary things you need, plus you can book a package including Chinese classes, which significantly contribute to making your life easier in Qingdao!
