Flo, Sven and I stayed at the so-called YHA Old Observatory which was an interesting hostel not too far from the downtown area. One of the first things that we have seen was the European Style Street:
Unfortunately, it was too cold to go swimming, but it was still a nice feeling to walk along the beach partly covered with snow:
It was funny because I had already been to this city in 2004 and I recognized many places even the hotel where we had stayed back then.
The Chinese New Year traditions concerning fireworks are very similar to the ones we know. The only difference is that all firecrackers and rockets are bigger, louder and more affordable and that they are lit during the whole week not just at one night.
When we usually get the chance to escape the smog in Shanghai, we like to see some nature. This time we went to see the Lao Shan Mountain. It is near Qingdao and as - described in the Lonely Planet China - ideal for day hikes, with waterfalls, temples, thickets of bamboo and pine, and a spectacular coastline in the lower region. Adam, a British guy whom we had met in the hostel went with us.
Actually, it was my first time to see how tea is grown:
On the top of the mountain the weather was very bad, hence we decided to climb back down. On the way, we had some nice views:
On the next day we went to the Tsingtao Beer Museum which is set in the original brewery and can be found in the Qingdao Beer Street:
We saw some old brewery equipment, but also some parts of the modern factory. At the end of the tour we were rewarded with a few sample beers:
Train tickets were sold out and flights were too expensive so we tried a new way of travelling: the night bus. It is common practice that a few extra passengers board the bus between departure and arrival city, but I have never seen a bus that crowded before. I thought the beds were uncomfortable, but what will those people say who slept on the floor?
IN: Chinese fireworks :)
OUT: Cold weather!
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