Qingdao is world-renowned for its beer, specifically Qingdao Beer, which has significantly shaped the city’s unique streetscape culture. Qingdao Beer Street (青岛啤酒街) is a vibrant celebration of this beer culture, showcasing various creative elements that reflect the love for this iconic beverage.
As you stroll down the street, you’ll encounter colorful arches made from beer foam, manhole covers featuring mascots from past beer festivals, street seating designed like beer bottles, and road signs styled as beer barrels. Every aspect of the street vividly and dynamically expresses the beer culture that is so integral to Qingdao’s identity.
The street is paved with a distinctive stone path known as “Ma Ya Lu,” which is unlike the usual gray and white tones found in most urban areas. Instead, it features eight vibrant colors, predominantly green, complemented by red and white borders. Made from prefabricated marble from Laiyang, the design exudes both elegance and warmth, creating a charming and inviting atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. This street is not only a tribute to Qingdao’s brewing legacy but also a lively gathering place for beer enthusiasts and tourists to enjoy the city’s rich culture.
Travel Information about Qingdao Beer Street
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Prices: The Qingdao Beer Museum charges 60 RMB during peak season and 50 RMB during the off-season.
Opening Hours: From July to September, the museum is open from 08:00 to 18:00; from October to June of the following year, it operates from 08:30 to 17:30.
Getting to the Attraction
Location: The museum is situated on Dengzhou Road in the Shibei District of Qingdao.
Transportation: You can take bus routes 1, 3, 4, 11, 15, or 25 and get off at Taidong Station, or take buses 205, 217, 221, or 604 to Qingdao Beer Museum Station.
Attraction Ratings
- Leisure: ★★★★★
- Special Features: ★★★★
- Excitement: ★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Cultural Significance: ★★
- Scenic Beauty: ★
Highlights of Qingdao Beer Street
Central Square
The Central Square of Qingdao Beer Street is truly “full of beer flavor.” This unique open-air beer lounge features several impressive installations, including the largest beer display case in the country, a giant beer can, and a striking sculpture shaped like the number “九,” constructed from 1,903 beer bottles.
The largest beer display case stands 13 meters high and 24 meters wide, showcasing over 2,700 bottles of beer from 70 different Qingdao beer manufacturers from across the nation. This vibrant atmosphere makes it a must-visit spot for beer enthusiasts and anyone looking to immerse themselves in the local beer culture.
“九” Sculpture
The “九” sculpture is an artistic creation made from 1,903 beer bottles, symbolizing the year 1903 when the original brewery was established. The shape of the “九” phonetically resembles the word for “beer” in Chinese, making it a fitting tribute to Qingdao’s beer culture.
Designed specifically for Beer Street, the sculpture depicts a lively figure with a protruding beer belly, celebrating the joy of beer. Behind the sculpture, two elegantly shaped trees enhance the scene, collectively known as “Moon Drop,” “Slanted Star,” and “Drunken Man,” adding to the artistic charm of this lively space.
Qingdao Beer Museum
With over a century of beer production history, the Qingdao Beer Museum is China’s first beer museum, showcasing the rich history, cultural significance, and advanced brewing processes of Qingdao Beer. The museum offers a unique blend of education and entertainment, allowing visitors to explore the development of this iconic beverage.
Upon entry, guests receive a complimentary pint of draft beer, a packet of beer nuts, and a glass of unfiltered beer with their ticket. The museum also features a bar that specializes in beer banquets, offering beer snacks like beer nuts and hops. Visitors can enjoy promotional videos about Qingdao Beer while sampling freshly produced unfiltered beer and draft beer on-site.
Additionally, the museum hosts a “Drink Beer” competition during the Golden Week holiday each year, with certificates awarded to participants, making it a fun and engaging experience for beer enthusiasts.
Tianmu City
Tianmu City is an indoor pedestrian shopping street creatively transformed from the old Qingdao Silk Factory and Qingdao Dyeing Factory. This unique space emphasizes landscape, gastronomy, entertainment, fitness, and architecture. It features miniature representations of over 20 iconic historical buildings, such as the Governor’s Office, Prince Heinrich Hotel, Qingdao People’s Hall, German Imperial Court, Flower Rock Building, and D港 Railway Station, creating a distinctive visual experience.
As a hub for high-end dining in China, Tianmu City incorporates international culinary styles, attracting renowned restaurants, chefs, and signature dishes from both domestic and global cuisines. Visitors can savor a variety of traditional meals, including dishes from the Eight Major Cuisines of China, as well as European fare. The venue offers a mix of Hong Kong-style tea restaurants, ethnic cuisine from West Asia, and celebrated Huaiyang cuisine, known for its reputation as “the best taste in Southeast China.” Additionally, there are healthy dining options like medicinal cuisine from Xiao Weiyang, alongside popular seasonal snacks that cater to a wide range of palates.
Visitor Guide for Qingdao Beer Street
Entertainment at Tianmu City
One of the main attractions of Tianmu City is its spectacular sky screen, water curtain, and sky movies. The “Sky Screen” utilizes sound, light, and electrical effects to create an outdoor ambiance within the indoor space, simulating blue skies, white clouds, and a starry night. The experience features four magnificent natural scenes: “Rising Sun,” “Noon Sunshine,” “Sunset Glow,” and “Midnight Stars,” allowing visitors to enjoy a captivating stroll under the sky.
At Gate 6 of Tianmu City, you’ll find a massive 600-square-meter projection screen, the largest of its kind in China. This screen showcases a variety of exciting programs daily.
In addition to the stunning visual displays, Tianmu City hosts numerous performance venues, including the Sky Flying Performance Workshop, Hongye Red Performance Company, and Xinda Cheng Nightclub. These venues offer a diverse range of shows featuring singing, dancing, modeling, skits, acrobatics, and unique performances. After indulging in delicious cuisine, visitors can enjoy an array of entertaining performances, making for a memorable experience at Tianmu City.
Culinary Delights
In the summer, barbecue and beer make the perfect culinary duo, and Qingdao Beer Street is renowned for its local barbecue, especially seafood. Here, visitors can easily find a variety of local specialties and regional snacks, ensuring a feast for the senses.
One unique feature of Tianmu City is its “skewered dishes” system, allowing diners to experience a wide range of flavors in one visit. With the concept of “entering one restaurant to taste the entire city,” guests can enjoy a menu that showcases signature dishes from various establishments. This means that by stepping into one eatery, you can savor the best offerings from multiple kitchens, achieving the delightful experience of “walking through one door and tasting a hundred feasts.”