Welcome to International House Qingdao , and we wish you a pleasant stay with us. We hope the following helps to make your orientation in Qingdao as smooth as possible.

The city

Qingdao (meaning Green Island ) is a picturesque town on the east coast of China between Beijing and Shanghai . Qingdao , which only 20 years ago was like a village (by Chinese standards that is!), has grown rapidly in recent years. As the site for the water sports in the 2008 Olympics, the city is being transformed daily!

It is the holiday destination for many Chinese, who are attracted to its mild climate, cool sea breezes, clean air, balmy evenings (in summer) and its excellent seafood. The city is famous for its beer - one of the legacies left over from the years of German administration along with the Bavarian appearance of the city's architecture. Tsingtao beer has apparently gained a worldwide following. You can visit the brewery as part of a tour. In August there is the beer festival, which attempts to rival the German Oktoberfest!!

Qingdao is famous for its 6 beaches, which are sheltered and equipped with changing sheds, shark nets, lifeboat patrols and lifeguards.

The city is now the fourth largest port in China and the second largest city in Shandong (after Jinan ). Booming industry and an entrepreneurial spirit have successfully carried the city over to the 21 ST century.

It has a relaxed, laid-back feel and the local people are very friendly.

Our School

IH Qingdao now has two campuses – the east campus and the west campus.

East campus

The East Campus is located in a stand-alone seaside building in Laoshan D istrict of Qingdao, 15 minutes from the city centre. The Laoshan district is home to the most famous of the beaches in Qingdao , Old Man's Beach, renowned for its fine, white sand and clear water ; while our school is only 5 minutes far from the beach. School facilities of East campus include:

• clean, airy air-conditioned classrooms equipped with data projector technology
• broadband internet access in each room
• self-service kitchen
• onsite student accommodation
• a cosy lounge with a sea view
• city-school shuttle bus service

West campus

Our West Campus is inside the main campus of Qingdao University which is only 5 minutes from the city centre. You can share all the school facilities with the students in the university include:

 

• large c lassrooms
• all-plastic playground
• basketball court and tennis court
• special restaurant for overseas students
• independent dormitory building
• broadband internet access in the dormitory
• beautiful garden passes
• city-school shuttle bus service

Hospitals

For medical emergencies, you can go to the International Clinic on the 4 th floor of Qingdao Municipal Hospital at 5 Donghai zhong lu. There is also a private dental hospital called ‘Ying Hao Kou Qiang YiYuan' located on Hong Kong Lu.

Where to buy food / eat out

Eating out is a great way to discover more about Chinese culture, as most Chinese people socialise in restaurants rather than bars. The restaurant food is delicious – healthy, tasty, varied and generally well prepared.

Yunxiao lu is a road full of great reasonably priced restaurants, known to the locals as Meishi jie – which translates as great food street. Here you can find cuisine ranging from Peking duck, Szechwan & Cantonese to Korean.

In Qingdao , you will find many restaurants offering hot pot. A pot is brought to your table alongside fresh vegetables, seafood and slices of meat, which you then cook in your pot and enjoy with a variety of condiments.

Qingdao natives also love barbeque restaurants, where skewers of meat, seafood and vegetables are brought to your table and consumed alongside jugs of Tsingtao beer.

You can also find restaurants serving French, Italian, Russian, Brazilian, Japanese, German & Indian food. Qingdao also has fast food chains such as McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Starbucks scattered at intervals around the city.

Department Store Shopping

There are several large department stores in Qingdao ;

Jusco, Marina , Mykal, Carrefour & Sunshine Plaza in the city centre

Leader in Laoshan District (near our east campus)

Walmart in Taidong

Parksons in Badaguan district (Zhong Shan Lu)

Jusco, Marina , Mykal, Parksons & Sunshine Plaza are quite upmarket and somewhat pricey.

Leader, Walmart and Carrefour are cheaper alternatives.

Grocery Shopping

Jusco, Carrefour & MyKal have supermarkets on their ground floors.

Closer to the school, there are also many supermarkets in the Licang district; Wei Ke, Bei Fang Guo Mao & Li Ke Lai. They are located near Licun Square .

Clothes Shopping

For young people, the two best areas for shopping are Licang District & Taidong District, although neither is in the city center.

In Taidong (on the other side of the city), you will find a large range of shops to cater for all price ranges.

In Licang District (near the school), the two main shopping streets are near Licun Square - the prices are even lower than in Taidong.

You can also find a range of shops in the old city / Badaguan district.

Tailors are also cheap and can be found around the city. A tailored suit can be bought for around 500RMB.

Souvenirs

The best souvenirs can be bought at Jimo Lu (road) market, Rongbaozhai in Jiangxi lu (road) and Zhongshan lu (road).

Transport

Taxis

Taxis are priced at 9 Yuan for the first 3 km and then the price goes up accordingly.

This price increases to 12 RMB at night.

Be careful to make sure that taxi drivers switch on the meter when you get in

A taxi from the school to the city centre should cost app. 20RMB.

If you think that you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt.

The receipt should have the taxi number on it so that the company can be contacted and your money reimbursed.

Buses

Buses in Qingdao are very cheap: 1 - 2 Yuan is the normal charge.

To go from the school to the city centre, you can catch the 125. The bus stop is on Haier Lu (walk out of the school turn right and then right at the main road. The bus stop is the first that you come to).

To return to the school from the city centre, you can catch 125 from outside Carrefour in Hong Kong Road . Alternatively, you can take 104,304, 321 or 301 from the city centre (Jusco, Carrefour, opposite Mykal) to Haier Road station. Then you can change buses to 102 or 125 to Yizhong Stadium station (which is close to school).

Public phones

To use a public phone you need to buy an IC or IP card from a shop or kiosk. You will find many kiosks that sell phone cards, in the city centre.

Post Office

Sending and receiving parcels can be complicated. There is a post office opposite the main Bank of China on Hong Kong Road . You may need to take a good Chinese speaker or phrase book.

The school address is:

East campus

International House Qingdao

No. 254 Hong Kong East Road , Building D1

Laoshan District

Qingdao

Shandong Province 266061

PRC

Phone: 00 86 532 8891 7 120

Fax: 00 86 532 8891 7620

Email: admin@ihqd.com

Your family can send mail and faxes here.

West campus

International House Qingdao

Qingdao University

No. 308 Ningxia Road , Hongyuan Building 1

Qingdao

Shandong Province 2660 71

PRC

Phone: 00 86 532 8 595 1712
Email: admin@ihqd.com

 

Banks

The main Bank of China is opposite the post office and deals with most foreign currency exchange.
You can use ATMS at the Bank of China, HSBC & Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Sightseeing

There are many interesting things to see in town which are not necessarily listed in your favoured guide book.

Here is small selection:

• The street markets selling meat and vegetables
• People doing Tai Chi outside in the morning, older people having a dusk dance together, or others singing opera in the park
• The pavement restaurants found in the old city
• The cheap music shops
• Dolphin Park and Ocean Amusement Park
• Lao shan Mountain
• Pool halls
• Beauty and Health Clubs for women on Yanerdao lu Bowling is a popular past time
• Karaoke (labeled as KTV on street signs).
• Lu xun Park 5 Yuan for a lovely stroll towards beach no 1 and 2
• Zhan qiao Pier and the eight-sided pavilion, Huilan ge
• Beaches No 1,2,3 and 6
• Qingdao Yi lang Water World and Polar Ocean World
• Shi Lao Ren- a very good swimming beach and you can go on boat trips to the sitting old man rock.
• Zhongshan Park and the TV tower
• Badaguan and the old German architecture
• The old campus of Ocean University

Visas

You will have to register as a temporary resident with the police. The Chinese staff will direct you and assist you in what you have to do.

Social life

Much social life revolves around eating out. There are a number of restaurants serving foreign food. Look out for Redstar, a magazine containing a timetable of events happening in town. There are plenty of bars and nightclubs.

Sports

Unlike most Chinese cities, commuting by bicycle is not as popular here. However, the city area is generally flat and cheap bicycles can be purchased from the department stores.

Volleyball, tennis, basketball and badminton are popular sports you may like to get involved in. Golf is also a regular pastime for the well-heeled. Next to the school is the sports stadium and a private gym with swimming pool facilities. There is also the opportunity to go sailing and windsurfing as well.