The 34th Qingdao International Beer Festival kicks off on July 19 evening at the Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The annual Qingdao International Beer Festival, renowned as Asia's largest outdoor celebration, began on July 19 evening with great enthusiasm, transforming the Shandong coastal city into a vibrant summer carnival.

This year marks the 34th edition of the festival, themed "Qingdao, Ganbei (Cheers) with the World." It features two main venues — the Qingdao West Coast New Area and the Laoshan district.

The Golden Beach Beer City at the West Coast New Area, deemed as the world's largest beer-themed square, spans 80 hectares. It boasts nine beer tents, 30 distinctive beer houses, and offers over 2,200 varieties of beer from around the globe. Among the international brews are China's Tsingtao, the Netherlands' Heineken, Denmark's Carlsberg, Germany's Warsteiner, and Portugal's Super Bock, according to Ma Jinhua, executive chief of the festival's organizing committee.

"We're hosting more than 2,000 events, ranging from arts performances and sports to beer-drinking competitions, light shows, and international cooperation activities," said Ma, who is also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Qingdao West Coast New Area Work Committee and District Committee.

The 34th Qingdao International Beer Festival kicks off on July 19 evening at the Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tsingtao Brewery, a local favorite, offers two beer tents and a beer garden at the festival. The 1903 Beer Tent, designed with two stages, aims to enhance visitor interaction and offer diverse drinking experiences, according to company executives.

On July 20, a seminar brought together representatives from countries and regions including China, Germany, Belgium, South Korea, and Japan. They shared insights on hosting world-famous beer festivals under the International Beer Festival Alliance Cooperative Mechanism, established in Qingdao in 2019.

Participants agreed that beer festivals are irreplaceable in promoting a city's image, marking a significant step from festival events to city branding.

"Beer unites and connects people across the world," said Rita Maria Roider, director of the China Office of the Department of Labor and Economic Development of Munich, adding that beer festivals create a friendly and open-minded atmosphere for international exchanges.

Roider noted that the Qingdao International Beer Festival significantly contributes to the city's image as an open-minded and vibrant city, boosting its economic strength and cultural activities.

Inaugurated in 1991, Qingdao's beer festival has grown into the largest and most influential beer event in China. It is now one of the four major beer festivals in the world.

The 34th Qingdao International Beer Festival kicks off on July 19 evening at the Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Tsingtao 1903 beer tent located at the Golden Beach Beer City at the Qingdao West Coast New Area updates facilities to enhance visitor interaction and offer diverse drinking experiences. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]