"Qingdao is a beautiful and romantic city, living up to its reputation of 'red tiles, green trees, blue seas, and clear skies,'" said Ms. Li, a tourist from Shanghai, who chose to travel during off-peak times, arriving in Qingdao on the afternoon of Jan 1 and heading straight to Zhanqiao Pier. When looking afar at the long-stretching century-old Zhanqiao Pier and fluttering sea gulls, she was immediately captivated by the healing scenery in Qingdao.

Cultural tourism spots, blocks, and cultural venues and museums in Qingdao welcomed a continuous stream of visitors in the 2025 New Year’s Day holiday. Qingdao’s vigor and vitality was once again proved.

Qingdao Mingyue Shanhaijian New Year’s Eve Celebration welcomed 88,000 tourists. Citizens and tourists flooded into Cangmashan Ski Resort, the sole ski resort in Qingdao that opens at night, and danced to the music to their heart’s content. Amid mountains in A’duo town, tourists found it delightful to pick strawberries. A SCO-featured New Year celebration program was launched in the Qingdao SCO Pearl International Expo Center, where foreign tourists learned to play Guzheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, from scratch, obtained a knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and tried firsthand rubbing, an interesting folk skill.

On the first day of 2025, the “happiness for all” DIY experience in the Museum of the Former German Governor’s House in Qingdao immersed participants into New Year blessings. Tourists heard traditional Chinese music and tried to make handicrafts in Qingdao Tianhou Temple. Visitors to the Former Residence of Kang Youwei in Qingdao scrambled to write down their New Year resolutions on the wall. Tolling bells in Kuiming Building, dragon dance and Jimo yangko performances were staged in the ancient city of Jimo as New Year gifts for tourists. An exhibition of modern claborate-style paintings in Chengyang District Citizen Center appealed to many art enthusiasts, where 303 paintings provided a grand feast to the eyes of visitors.

(Ma Xiaoting)

Zhanqiao Pier in Qingdao was packed with tourists on the first day of the New Year. By Wang Lei