48 Hours in Qingdao (Part 1)

Here are some photos I took from the plane as it flew over Qingdao on the morning of 3 Dec.

It's hard to believe that much of what is seen was built within the last 15 years or so. And as a city, Qingdao is only about a hundred or so years old. It was a sleepy fishing village until it was ceded to the Germans in 1898, (not something the Chinese would like to be reminded of) and then its importance grew. Tsing Tao Brewery was opened in 1903 and has since become a world-wide brand. Today, Qingtao's population is 7.5 million, and this is after its administration was enlarged to take in the surrounding satellite cities. Its zone is over 900 sq km, about 1.5 times the land mass of Singapore. I asked my host, who was sitting beside me, whether the "Qing" in "Qingdao" means "clear" or "green". "Clear", he said. (I was later to learn that it actually means "Green". Thanks, KC.) We were flying in from Beijing where we had spend the previous night. He had invited me to look at some aspects of design for his factory being built in the satellite town around the airport. I had been unable to take any leave, so it will have to be an intensive, work-filled weekend. As the plane descended, the pilot announce that the day will be -1 to 5 deg C. The previous night, Beijing has been blanketted with snow, and the temp had been -2 deg C. Winter has arrived early, but looking down from the plane, the city looks energetic and inviting...

Chup, recovering from a 38.4 deg C fever.