Want to learn Chinese? "Qingdao" is Chinese for "green island." Why do you want to know that? Because the green island may very well be your next study abroad destination.
Not actually an island, per say, Qingdao is a lush landscape that "borders Yantai to the northeast, Weifang to the west, and Rizhao to the southwest" and lies across "the Shandong Peninsula while looking out to the Yellow Sea," (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingdao). Qingdao is a major seaport, naval base, and industrial center, and is home to the Tsingtao Brewery, which makes the most famous beer in China.
Study Abroad Programs in Quingdao
The city is pleasantly flat with mountains functioning only as borders, and five rivers running throughout the region. The summers are mild and the winters are warm, making the city a great place to stay all year round.
Due to its close proximity to water, Qungdao connects with Shimonoseki, Japan via the orient ferry, and there are smaller ferries that take patrons to South Korea. This is all due to Qungdao playing host to one of China's largest seaports with cooperative relations established between 450 ports in 130 countries. The city also possesses the highest railway in the world with specially designed high-altitude railcars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingdao).
"The unique combination of German and Chinese architecture in the city center, combined with modern high-rises and freeways, along a coastline of beaches, rocky headlands, and picturesque cypress trees, give Qingdao a distinct atmosphere not found anywhere else in the world. Qingdao is proud to be the host city for several events of the 2008 Olympics, including the sailing competitions, which will take place along the complicated shoreline directly offshore from the city" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingdao).
The buildings and structures are truly breathtaking, especially a bright red spiral of metal that looks like a top spinning at high speeds. The city also possesses German inspired buildings, gothic Roman cathedrals, life-size statues depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, a Buddhist temple, and much, much more. If you are into beautiful landscapes, impressive skylines, perfect weather, world-famous beer, and water, water, water, then Qingdao is for you.
