Known as a "pearl on the Yellow Sea," Qingdao (population 7.03 million, area 10,456 square kilometres) is surrounded on three sides by water, with Laoshan Mountain as a backdrop. Qingdao's red-tiled roofs and verdant foliage complement its picturesque setting. Its fine beaches, pleasant climate and popular beer brewery make it widely appealing to tourists both at home and abroad. Qingdao, which is the finest aquatic sports centre in Asia, is well known for water competitions. Thus it is no surprise that the International Sail-Boating Association judged that Qingdao is capable of becoming the site of the sailing contest after Beijing won the bid for hosting the 2008 Olympics. The port of Qingdao in East China's Shandong Province has become the 16 th largest in the world with a handling capacity of at least 100 million tons of cargo a year. The port has navigation routes to more than 400 ports in 130 countries and regions worldwide. The port's container handling capacity has been increasing at an annual rate of between 30 per cent and 40 per cent during the past few years. All the world's top 10 container-shipping companies do business with the port. Qingdao boosts three important economic sectorsport, tourism and marine industries and four major industrial bases-home appliance, auto and chip-building, oil and petrochemicals and new materials .

The Qingdao National Aquatic Sports Centre

A world-class aquatic sports centre has been built in Qingdao. The Qingdao National Aquatic Sports Centre meets the requirements of the sailing and windsurfing events for the 2008 Olympic Games. Qingdao is a partner host city to Beijing, which on July 13.2001 won the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The sports centre, construction of which began in 2002, covers an area of 420.000 square metres, and is located next to Fushanwan Beach, a local scenic spot. The sports centre will combine competition, exercise, entertainment, vacation and tourist functions. On its four sides highways have been built, linking it to the downtown area of the city. A commercial area has been designed inside the sports centre and those· participating in the 2008 Games are expected to compete there, enabling them to enjoy the sky, and mountain scenery of Qingdao. The city is considered an ideal place for the international sailing and windsurfing competitions. In recent years the city has successfully held international sailing and surfing competitions many times. In mid-July 2002, the 39 th World Sailing Championships took place here, attracting about 400 athletes from 45 countries and regions. Qingdao will be a brand-new city to meet the needs of all the waterborne sports in 2008. It will channel more funds into the construction of urban infrastructure facilities in the next few years before 2008, such as speeding up port construction and enlarging the Qingdao International Airport.

Mount Lao

Located about 30 kilometres southeast of Qingdao, Mount Lao is one of the national parks in China. It encompasses 300 square kilometres. Standing on the north shore of the Yellow Sea, the majestic and beautiful mountain and the sea join together. Its highest point is Giant Peak , commonly known as Peak Lao ( at an .elevation of 1,133 metres. It used to be a sacred place of Taoism in North China. The mountain is noted for producing mineral water. Built in 1903, Qingdao (Tsingtao) Beer is made of quality oat, rice, hops and spring water from Mount Lao. It is rich of carbon dioxide, soft and refreshing, with white and fine foams and unique taste. The beer enjoys a high reputation both at home and abroad. Emperors of the Qin and Han dynasties, 2,000 years ago used to come here to visit the mountain. Temples were constructed after the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and there were more than 1,000 Taoist temples at a time and these temples have been well preserved.

The Pier

Situated in Qingdao Bay south of Qigndao City, off Zhongshan Road, the pier stretches into the sea from the shore. As the first wharf in the city, it was first built in 1891 and expanded in 1931, It is 44 metres long and eight metres wide. The northern part of the pier is of stone base, while the southern part in the sea is made of steel and cement. Its southern end is a semi-circle breakwater, with Huilan (Billow-Returning) Tower standing there. The Feige Huilan (Billow Returning at the High Tower) is one of the 10 most famous scenes in the city of Qingdao.