In my quest to add as many pins as possible to different countries on my Pinmapple map, I'm digging deep into my photo archives for some old travels. You'll see quite a lot of me during this particular travel because those were the days when I took more photos of myself rather than the place. This is me outside St Michael’s Cathedral in the city I'll be showing you today. Can you guess which country I'm in?
Qingdao in China
Today's trip is to a country where I won't be going again in the near future, and definitely not under the current regime. The country is China, my neighbouring country when I used to work in Hong Kong. Back in those days, China was friendlier, and often I'd hop across the border for a day out as it was a lot more affordable than Hong Kong. I've also been to other major cities in China like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu (to see the pandas), Guangzhou the largest city in the south, and Qingdao a big city on the east coast facing Korea. My post today is about Qingdao.
You may notice the image above looks very European, that's because in 1898 Qingdao was leased to the German Empire for 99 years. During this period, the Germans developed this small fishing village, investing heavily to modernise it. They built ports (the Germans needed to strengthen their navy base in Asia), railways, and German-style buildings. The whole city was thoroughly electrified, safe drinking tap water was provided, a rarity in Asia. Source Plus there was a nice waterfront for the German expats to enjoy themselves.
Many of the German style buildings still exist today giving Qingdao a unique European feel. I think it's actually quite amazing that they weren't bombed down during the two world wars especially since the German empire lost control over Qingdao in 1914. Their sovereignty here was short lived, lasting only 16 years, but the legacy last a lot longer.
Even this house, which looks like it could have been anywhere in Europe still exists. I remember I was really surprised to see one like this in Qingdao.
Tsingdao Beer
The other legacy that the Germans left behind in Qingdao is Tsingtao Beer, China's biggest exported beer and fifth largest beer producer in the world according to their website. You'll probably be ordering this if you ever go to a Chinese restaurant.
Image credit Tsingdao.com
We did a tour of the Tsingdao beer factory, but I didn't take many photos. It was an interesting tour and the first beer tour I did (since then I've done many beer and whisky distillery tours). The only decent photo I managed to find is this one I took outside. The fountain comes out from the beer bottle and glasses. It would have been really cool if beer gushes out, but it was just water!
Laoshan National Forest Park
Another place we visited during our Qingdao trip is Laoshan. This is a very big national park east of Qingdao and is famous for, amongst other things spectacular landscape. (Sorry, it's me again, it's the last one, I promise)
We took a cable car up to a particular part called Yangkou to see the many peaks and mountain. And we also got to see the coast and sea from high above. I vaguely remember taking the cable car ride as it was a long time ago, but now looking back at these photos, I don't think I'd do the ride again. The open carriages looks really dangerous!!! But at least I've been there and done it. Most important of all I've added another country to my Pinmapple map now!
You can checkout all my travel post on the Pinmapple here or click on Mr Pinmapple below
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Very European feel indeed :) Btw you look so cute in those photos! What a tiny little girl :) But yeah, my old files with travel shots also include a lot of pictures of myself while I do this only very rarely these days :D Interesting phenomenon :)
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It's been a long time since someone described me a cute 😄
I did consider hiding my face behind an emoji, but I thought that would be no fun!!
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
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What a beautiful Cathedral of San Miguel, dear @livinguktaiwan of China, and Qingdao it looks very pretty. I admire you for your visits, in these beautiful places, I congratulate you and wish you much success. Congratulations from Cumaná, seafaring city, capital of the Sucre state in Venezuela.
Thanks for dropping by @omarrojas
I will always visit you, for giving us such beautiful publications dear @livinguktaiwan Have a happy day.
Wow, what an interesting history this area has. I never would have guessed you were talking about China when I first saw the opening photos. Very interesting stuff. I hope there is one day I have traveled so much I have a hard time remembering all the places and specifics like you! :)
Memories from these older trips are rather vague for me as well, luckily with Google help I can identify exactly where some of these places are
Good old Google!
I had no idea there was a place so European-looking in China XD.
I'd like to visit China someday, specially Macao.
Macau is a very weird place, ever more so than Las Vegas
How young do you look?!? I didn't know you've been to see tha pandas! I've always wanted to do that but like yourself I won't be going to China anytime soon or again. That cable car would not pass the UK health & safety regulations, all they have there is a bar and that's it!
We actually went to Chengdu because of your mum!!! She won a few nights hotel in Chengdu, and we were mad enough to fly there because of free accommodation 😄
We went to the panda breeding centre to see the pandas, but they hide away most of the time. I had turned around to take some random photos when one came out, and by the time I realised it had gone back to its den. So half way round the world and I didn't even get to see any pandas. Plus I can't even find the photos now 😖
@kathrynkw She actually looks very young in person still. I saw Pauline last Hivefest in Amsterdam and seeing these photos, I don't see much difference :D
You're so kind Priya!! See you in a few days time!
Yes, not many days left...
Great pics, and when did this portrait thing change? 😁
I was just a few days ago referring this beer. I did it in two posts because I had never thought of a Chinese beer. And lo and behold, I find out now from you that it is a German legacy.
This was the first time I talked about that beer.
A constant learning.
What a coincidence on the beer!!! It's fascinating how things work out on Hive and how connected people and things can be
👌 Krakow is just around the corner. You tell me with details hahaha
I'm sure I have seen that beer in tesco or sainsburys or somewhere, shall have to give it a try.
The fountain looks clever, confused though is it big medium or small?
Yes, they sell it in the local supermarkets, but don't worry you're not missing much. It's not drank much in our household
The fountain bottle is human size, hubby is actually standing next to it but I cropped him out, don't want to scare people away from my blog!!!!
LOL. I am sure he is quite understanding!!!
Shall stick to Corona then
That's an interesting story and photos of Qingdao! I had no idea that there was a part of the land in China rented to Germans!?!
But it looks like WWI destroyed the 99-year renting contract before expiring date... 🙂
Yes, the war ended the lease prematurely apart for Hong Kong. Germany wasn't the only benefactor, I expanded it a little in this comment here if you're intrested
Thats a cool place and the buildings really do look European. I'd never heard of that city before, nor the German connection. The beer fountain is pretty cool !
!ALIVE
!PIZZA
I think history is very interesting, so many details to be learnt and things that we never thought of before
99-year lease to Germany? But why? I'm sure there's a story and I'd love to know it. Maybe you can share it with us the next time you visit. I read your post and I know you won't be visiting here soon :P
To cut a long story short, China lost a series of wars back in those days and we're forced to concede land, pay compensations, open up ports and offer favourable trade terms to various countries. UK, France, Germany, Russia, Japan were amongst those who got a cut. For example, UK got Hong Kong, Japan got Taiwan and Germany got Qingdao. The lease ended for most countries when the two world wars broke out, except for Hong Kong which lasted till its end in 1997 and it was handed back to China.
That's the background in a nutshell 😀
Wow thank you so much, that was really a nice explanation. Unfortunately war has conclusions
I mean consequences. I still need to improve my English 😂
You're English is a lot better than many people!!
Thank you so much, I'm doing my best to improve myself 😅
Wow! You really traveled a lot and visited different countries and cities. You looks so young here.
I've been fortunate to do quite a bit of traveling 😀
Glad you were able to explore the country. Right now tensions are really high and it may not be advisable to visit. Hope it all cools down and nothing major escalates.
No plans to visit in the foreseeable future...
Finally a post where you can be seen! I did not know about this European aspect of China, a country that I would love to visit!
I normally try to focus on the place rather than myself but this was an old trip and I really struggled to find many good photo of my visit
The cover photo managed to fool me I thought it was Europe, although I only knew Europe from hive's posts.
When we are young we want to be the stars of the trips 😁 and you come out very beautiful.
When I went to Mexico I got to see a Panda bear at the Mexico City zoo. It was bigger than I imagined a beauty, but it was lonely eating a lot of bamboo @livinguktaiwan 😁
Thanks!! 😊
I believe the pandas usually come in pairs, to encourage breeding. Did it not have a partner?
Believe me when I saw your first picture in this blog, I was thinking that it might be Germany but later on I got to know that it's Actually my neighboring country China. It's interesting to see that these buildings are still standing with all shine. Your blog added an important thing in my knowledge and that's about German Control over China.
Well, I think I also digged up into my gallery and today I will also post my old travel from my schooling level.
Well done on making the Germany connection!! Lots going on in the past and now in your neighbouring country that many are not aware of!!
You should take more pictures of yourself these days too. Even if it's amazing seeing the surroundings from more angles, you get a better perspective of how being there actually feels by seeing someone's face in front of the camera. I've never considered myself beautiful and for a long time I stayed behind the camera rather that in front of it, but then I noticed how many emotions and moods can be read from my face and realized the importance of these pictures especially during the travels I take :)
I get what you mean about the feel and perspective with a person in the frame. I used to didn't mind too much but with so much unknown going on on the web, sometimes I just feel safer behind the scene, plus it helps to stay focus on the place rather than me. Much better for optics!!!
That makes sense too. And most likely many people think the same around here ☺️