Qingdao
Qingdao is a Shandong coastal city known for its German-era old town, seafront streets and the summer beer festival.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Qingdao is a coastal city on the Yellow Sea in Shandong Province, eastern China. Germany held the area as a colonial concession from 1898 to 1914, and German-era buildings still stand in the old streets near the harbor. The Tsingtao Brewery, founded in 1903, still brews beer here, and the city's beer culture grows out of that history. Walking the seafront streets and the old town is the main reason to visit.
Plan the trip around the coast, seafood and walks through the old town. Laoshan, the mountain east of the city, makes a full day trip for hiking and visiting Taoist temples. The summer beer festival brings the biggest crowds, and typhoon season can disrupt plans in summer and early autumn. Spring and autumn are calmer and better for walking. Two to three days covers the core sights.
Qingdao in five
- Decide on the beer festival firstThe 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival ran 17 July to 15 August 2026, per the city government. Dates and venues change each year, so check the next edition before you book rooms in July or August.Qingdao government report (Chinese)
- Pick a festival venue, not all of themThe 2026 edition had a West Coast venue, a Laoshan venue at Century Square Beer City, and an Old Town venue. Choose the one near your hotel instead of crossing the city each night.
- Walk the old town districtsThe city government names Shangjieli and Dabaodao as the two zones of the festival's Old Town venue, which gives you a walking route through the older blocks even outside festival dates.
- Keep late-summer plans flexibleTyphoons can disrupt flights and trains on this coast, so a July or August festival trip needs a refundable room and a spare day. Season dates are in the China guide.China travel guide
- Arriving by cruise ship?Qingdao is one of the 13 ports in the group-only cruise visa-free rule. Independent visitors cannot use it; the China guide has the full rule.China travel guide
Things to do in Qingdao
See all attractions in Qingdao
Need to know
- Airport
- Qingdao Jiaodong (TAO)
- Getting there
- Flights and high-speed rail from Beijing, Shanghai and other cities
- Getting around
- Metro, buses and taxis
- Best base
- The old town for walking; the West Coast during the festival
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh4°Low-2°Cold, dryJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- FebruaryClear3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low0°ColdFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°CoolMarchClear
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Spring, mildAprilClear
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°PleasantMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Pleasant
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Sea fogJuneClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Sea fog
- JulyRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Beer festivalJulyRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 225 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beer festival
- AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Beer festivalAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 211 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beer festival
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Clear, warmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, warm
- OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Clear, mildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberClear4 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°CoolNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh6°Low1°ColdDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
Average daily high and low in Qingdao, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Aug Qingdao International Beer Festival
Right now in Qingdao
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 61%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Qingdao
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today19°12°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed19°15°98%Wednesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Thu19°12°100%Thursday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri15°7°4%Friday: Fog. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat12°7°18%Saturday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sun12°10°37%Sunday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 37%.
Updated 02:26 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- AugQingdao International Beer FestivalQingdao
Day trips by train
- Laoshanwithin the city districtThe mountain venue of the festival, at Century Square Beer City in 2026.
- Old Townin the city centerShangjieli and Dabaodao, the two old-town zones named by the city government.
- West Coast New Areaacross the bayThe main festival site and a newer district with seafront space.
Before you go to Qingdao
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Qingdao, checked
- The 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival ran 17 July to 15 August 2026 at three venues; check the next edition's dates and venues.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Qingdao
Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities
Read the guideBeijingHigh-speed rail north to the capital
Read the guideShanghaiThe Bund and fast rail south
Read the guideTianjinAnother northern port city
Read the guideChina visa-free entryThe 30-day list and the 240-hour transit
Read the guideMoney and costs in ChinaCashless payments and backup cash
Read the guideDalianAnother Bohai port, with sea promenades
Read the guideQingdao FAQ
When is the Qingdao beer festival?
The 36th edition ran 17 July to 15 August 2026, per the Qingdao government. The festival is annual, but dates and venues change, so check the next announcement before booking.
Where should I go for the Qingdao beer festival?
The 2026 edition had a West Coast main site, a Laoshan venue and an Old Town venue. Choose the one near your hotel; each has its own programs and food areas, and crossing the city adds travel time.
How many days do you need in Qingdao?
Two to three days covers the old town, the seafront and a Laoshan outing. Festival stays benefit from an extra evening for the venue you pick, and weather can shorten outdoor plans.
When is the best time to visit Qingdao?
May, then July to October for sea weather and the festival. Winter is cold and dry. Late-summer typhoons can disrupt plans, so keep bookings flexible and read the season note in the China guide.
Can I enter Qingdao visa-free on a cruise?
Only as part of a tour group of two or more, run by a China-registered agency, arriving by cruise ship. Qingdao is one of the 13 listed ports; the China guide has the rule and the 15-day limit.