Qingdao in East China's Shandong province makes great strides in promoting the high-quality development of marine cultural tourism. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

Qingdao in East China's Shandong province has made great strides in promoting the high-quality development of marine cultural tourism. During the recent Sailing Capital Maritime Cruise Carnival event, Qingdao residents along with tourists from all over the country had a one-of-a-kind sightseeing experience.

"We are focusing on creating the brand 'Sailing Qingdao' and planning 12 maritime routes, with nine already opened, including the round trip to Fushan Bay, and from the Olympic Sailing Center to Taiqing Wharf in Laoshan Mountain," said Wang Qingyun, an official at the city's bureau of culture and tourism. The routes cover multiple coastal attractions, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the unique scenery, which includes mountains, seas, bays, and cities.

Qingdao is a thriving coastal city, with a winding coastline, numerous harbors, and a rich maritime cultural heritage. Locals have a strong connection with the sea, with traditions including eating clams, drinking beer, and taking baths in the sea. Since the beginning of this year, local maritime cultural tourism has been continuously improved, with new experiences and forms of tourism emerging.

The local cultural and tourism department has reorganized the coastal tour routes, nurturing and developing fashionable cultural tourism brands such as citywalk and cityride, including a 13-kilometer scenic road at Laoshan Mountain scenic area. Qingdao's various seaside bathing beaches are continuously incorporating new cultural and tourism elements to make them more appealing. The Third Seaside Bathing Beach, for example, has set up a sea-view leisure area, while the Old Stone Man Beach has created a beautiful bookstore and sea-view cafe, greatly enriching the visitor experience.

In the future, Qingdao will continue striving to make better use of marine resources and seek to create a new series of marine tourism offerings such as skydiving, diving, sailing, and seaplanes.