The 30-day celebration of the 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival has come to an end, but its spirit will live on. The festival featured three main venues — in the Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA), Laoshan district, and the historic old town — with other districts hosting special beer-themed events.

The 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival at the Qingdao WCNA venue welcomes 7.18 million visitors, showcasing global brews, cultural performances, and innovative event formats across the city. [Photo/WeChat account: qdxihaianfabu]

The Qingdao WCNA venue welcomed 7.18 million visitors, who consumed over 3,040 metric tons of beer. It showcased 2,342 craft beer varieties from 430 brands across nearly 50 countries and regions, alongside 11 sports events and more than 850 cultural performances.

The Laoshan venue focused on "beer, fashion, and romance", offering tailored experiences to help young people socialize, let families enjoy some quality time together, and facilitate multi-generational gatherings. The old town venues hosted about 3.98 million visitors and generated over 100 million yuan ($14.83 million) in retail, dining, and tourism spending. This year also saw the debut of the country's first cruise beer festival aboard the Dream cruise ship.

From VR adventures to robot-guided shopping, the Laoshan venue offers a futuristic beer festival experience for visitors of all ages. [Photo/WeChat account: qdweilaoshan]

As the festival transitions to year-round operations, Golden Beach Beer City in Qingdao WCNA will continue to offer beer, dining, shopping, leisure, and sports experiences. Plans are underway to create seasonal event brands for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The old town venues will further integrate beer with culture, tourism, technology, and community life, ensuring the "never-ending beer festival" remains a vibrant part of Qingdao's urban fabric.