Qingdao (pronounced “Tsingtao”) is one of the most important economic central cities in China and one of the open costal cities. It also is a state-level historical and cultural city as well as a renowned tourist scenic spot at home and abroad.
Being a beautiful seaside city surrounded by mountains and with mild climate, Qingdao enjoys the reputation of “Switzerland in the East”. Red-tiled houses, green trees, blue sea and azure sky paint a fabulous picture; craggy reef, light waves, colorful sails and golden beach make a harmonious poem; history, religions, customs and festivals greatly enrich Qingdao’s tourism; and the European-style architectures served as the former celebrity residences endow Qingdao with a harmonious integration of western and eastern culture.
Qingdao is also a key production center of textile, light industry and chemicals in China. The city has special advantages in household electrical appliances, electronics, rubber, locomotive and rolling stock manufacture as well as food processing. The city's GDP in 2005 reached 269.55 billion RMB.
Qingdao is endeavoring to build a modern industrial system revolving around three economic sectors (port, ocean development and tourism) and four pillar industries (electronics and home appliances; shipbuilding, locomotives, rolling stock and container manufacture; petrochemicals; and new materials).
8,149 foreign-funded enterprises have registered in Qingdao.

ABCs about Qingdao
Qingdao co-hosts 2008 Olympic Games with Beijing.
Total area: 10,654 k㎡
Total population: approximately 7.4 million (2005)
Downtown population: approximately 2.65 million (2005)
Coastline: 730.64 km
Average temperature of August(the hottest month of the year): 25℃
Average temperature of January(the coldest month of the year): 1.3℃
Qingdao’s well known companies: Tsingtao Beer, Haier, Hisense, Aucma…
Local festivals:  Qingdao International Beer Festival
                         Qingdao Ocean Festival
                         Qingdao International Fashion Week
                         SINOCES (China International Consumer
                         Electronics Show) …
Port: Port of Qingdao, a natural port with 6.31million TEU
        (in 2005)
Transportation: 40 minutes drive from downtown area to
                         Qingdao International Airport
Qingdao International Airport with 14 international
flight lines, connecting Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka of
Japan, Seoul, Busan, and Daegu of South Korea
Bangkok of Thailand, Paris of France (via Shanghai),
Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao etc.