Experience the beauty and leisure of old Qingdao. Recommended walking routes in the old city of Qingdao (part 2)

The beauty of the old city of Qingdao comes from a not-so-glorious history, as a colony. In 1891, the Qing government sent people to garrison Qingdao and establish its administration. In 1897, Germany forcibly seized Qingdao as a colony. That was a period of humiliation in history, and even now, there are many artillery batteries on the mountains of Qingdao that date back to the German occupation period. At the same time, this place was also the only battlefield in Asia during the First World War, silently telling its history to the world. The old city of Qingdao is filled with various German-style buildings. Earlier, Qingdao was famous as the "Switzerland of the Orient". The urban development of Qingdao has also followed the pattern of many cities, with various high-rise buildings constantly emerging in the old city area, making the overall landscape of the old city not as it used to be. However, personally, I think Qingdao has done a relatively good job in preserving its old buildings. Therefore, strolling through the old city of Qingdao is an extremely enjoyable experience. It has European-style streets and buildings, as well as several generations of Chinese people living here. The unique charm of the old city of Qingdao lies in its undulating terrain. Various red-roofed houses are neatly arranged, creating a picturesque view. Going up a steep slope will only take you to the doorstep of a household. This kind of enjoyment can be found not only in the mountainous city of Chongqing, but also in the old city area of Qingdao.

Liangyou Bookstore

As one of the cultural 'landmarks' of Qingdao's old town, this retro bookstore exudes an artistic vibe. The old German-style building on Guangxi Road has been rebuilt to its appearance from a century ago, and the decorative style of Liangyou Bookstore continues the cultural charm and atmosphere of the 1920s Shanghai-style 'Liangyou Pictorial'. Here, you can not only buy books produced by Liangyou Bookstore, but also find uniquely crafted Qingdao tourist maps, enjoy hand-crafted coffee, and most importantly, truly feel the rich cultural atmosphere that permeates this city.

Jiaozhou Governor's Office

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, this place also served as the Qingdao Municipal Government. It was relocated to East Qingdao in the 1990s. It is now the office of the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Qingdao Municipal People's Congress, and is not open to the public.

Yishui Road

After the tour, you can enter the Yishui Road area. Although Yishui Road is not long, it has many attractions and is called 'Consulate Street'. It features the British and American Consulates in Qingdao, the old site of the German Navy Barracks, and more. On the other side of Yishui Road is the Qingdao Christian Church.

Jiangsu Road Christian Church

As mentioned above, at the end of Yishui Road is the Qingdao Christian Church (Gospel Church). It still functions as a church, with people attending services every weekend. Therefore, although it is free on Sundays, it is very crowded. It is not recommended to visit during this time; instead, if you have time, you can choose to go later. The ticket office here closes very early. One time I went around five o'clock and it was already closed. I was the only person in the small square in front of the church. Facing the church, I sat quietly for a while and took a good look at this exquisite building.

Signal Hill

The hill itself is not of much significance. But from here, you can overlook the old town of Qingdao, with its red tiles, green trees, blue sea, and blue sky, all in full view. If you want to see it, go quickly, as there are more and more high-rise buildings in the old town. The scenery is not as beautiful as it used to be.

Ocean University of China

The geographical location of OUC is excellent; it used to be a military camp. From the amusement park near OUC, you can enjoy the full view of Signal Hill. During the cherry blossom season in April, looking at Signal Hill from Yinghai Road is extremely beautiful!