Tipped to be one of the must-visit points of interest in China for beer lovers the Qingdao Beer City is akin to Germany’s beer Mecca Stuttgart in so many ways that the two beer based hamlets are often spoken of in the same light by hop fans the world over. Famed as the largest beer enclave of its kind in all of Asia this quirky township devoted to the world’s most popular brewed beverage is a must-see highlight for all visitors heading to this intriguing quarter of the otherwise straight-laced Chinese Republic. Located in the centre of Qingdao the international beer town is divided in to two sections with the northern quarter occupying a leisure enclave christened “Around the World” and an entertainment centre taking centre stage within the southern reaches.
The entrance to the Beer City is found in its southern region where a larger than life sculpture of a beer mug featuring a world map welcomes guests to this unique venue. The mug which has been placed at the centre of a circular pong is dubbed “spilling over the world” and features foamy beads that flow like a fountain creating a pond full of frothy water which represents Qingdao’s signature beverage, Tsingtao Beer. The region surrounding this iconic sculpture also features a 10,000 visitor capacity plaza that takes the shape of a Chinese fan. Another highlight at the venue is of course China’s only backward travelling rollercoaster which travels at break-neck speeds in dual directions to afford riders bird’s eye views of the beer town.
Hosting China’s own version of Oktoberfest each year the Qingdao Beer City attracts nearly 3.8 million beer enthusiasts annually for the16-day long international festival. Marked by colorful parades, beer drink-offs and other engaging activities the festival showcases brews not only from Japan and China but the United States, Germany and the Czech Republic as well. A whopping 1.1million liters of the hop-based brew are downed each year at this one of a kind festival where beer tents and food vendors are omnipresent across the Beer City. Taking a stroll down Beer Street is another tradition at the festival as the area features the world’s most popular beer brands lined up alongside food stalls filled to the brim with delectable goodies from around the world.
Travellers in search of a luxury hotel in Qingdao should look no further than Copthorne Hotel Qingdao for all their accommodation needs. Conveniently situated in the heart of the city’s commercial centre this stylish Qingdao hotel pulls out all the stops when it comes to elegant living spaces.
