5/6/2007 ~ Qingdao

On the Rio: Taj Mahal ~ Ooh Poo Pah Doo

Qingdao (Green Island) is a refreshing town on the Yellow Sea. It is dotted with parks, caressed by ocean breezes, and heavy with the aroma of the sea and kebabs (both local delicacies). This is the view of the No. 1 Bathing Beach from my hotel room.

Sleepy Qingdao had a rude awakening at the end of the 19th century, when it became the focus of foreign ambitions. As China was sliced apart by the Western powers, the Germans joined the land-grabbing game in 1897 and occupied the port after the murder of 2 German missionaries. Qingdao woke to find its streets cobbled, a university in place, and the famous Tsingtao Brewery installed.

I did not make it on a tour of the brewery unfortunately, but did drink several beers while eating the great seafood. I tried several octopus salads, lots of shrimp, crispy fried fish, steamed white fish, crabs, and mussels cooked a variety of ways. I guess I can no longer say I'm not a big fan of seafood.

After the meals it was nice to walk along the beach.

Especially watching the children fly kites.


The Japanese wrested Qingdao from the Germans at the end of WWI, and then briefly returned to Chinese hands in 1922, only to be retaken by the Japanese during the war from 1938 to 1945.

This is a May 4th Movement monument.

The May 4th Movement was a Chinese intellectual revolution and sociopolitical reform movement from 1917 – 21. In 1915 young intellectuals inspired by Chen Duxiu began agitating for the reform and strengthening of Chinese society through acceptance of Western science, democracy, and schools of thought, one objective being to make China strong enough to resist Western imperialism. On May 4, 1919, reformist zeal found focus in a protest by Beijing's students against the Versailles Peace Conference's decision to transfer former German concessions in China to Japan. After more than a month of demonstrations, strikes, and boycotts of Japanese goods, the government gave way and refused to sign the peace treaty with Germany. The movement spurred the successful reorganization of the Nationalist Party and gave birth to the Chinese Communist Party.

Qingdao will be the 2008 Olympic host for sailing and yachting events. I don't think this traditional fishing boat will be entered.

Nor is the "water bicycle" an official event.

And here I am with my co-workers James and Huyan.