Qingdao has changed over the last decade, from a quaint local tourist destination, to an international coastal business mecca.  Although the environment as a whole is definably cleaner and more suitable to the western lifestyle similar to Beijing and Shanghai, industrialization does take its toll and can be seen in the annual green-blue alga bloom that started in 2008 prior to the Qingdao sailing events of the Olympic games; its causes include excessive raw sewage and pesticide/fertilizer run off.
The city has grown rapidly in recent years, the small town …

A brilliant new Chinese train innovation – get on & off the bullet train without the train stopping. No time is wasted.  The high speed train is moving all the time. If there are 30 stations between Qingdao, Beijing and Guangzhou, just stopping and accelerating again at each station will waste both energy and time.  A mere 5 minute stop per station (elderly passengers cannot be hurried) will result in a total loss of 5 minutes x 30 stations or 2.5 hours of train journey time!
Useful Links:
Qingdao …

China International Consumer Electronics Show,  July 8th – 11th 2010

Qingdao SINOCES, second only to Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show (CES),  is steadily becoming one of the world’s largest global consumer electronics (CE) marketplaces.  As one of the globe’s most influential CE fairs, SINOCES has become an ideal platform for CE companies to unveil their new products.  The theme of this year’s show is “Convergence & Innovation”.
Thousands of global CE companies which includes chip manufacturers, software/content manufacturers, composite consumer electronic fabricators, IT hardware manufacturers, operators, communication service providers and circulation carriers …

Qingdao SY Experimental Theater opened last year with government support to help promote and give Qingdao residents an opportunity to participate in local drama and musical performances.
Recent performances have included:  Runaway Bride, Complicity with Cupid, Dogs Life, and Under The Banyan Tree.
对于青岛本土热爱话剧表演的人士，实验剧场将提供舞台，给予登台表演的机会. 实验剧场还计划全方位包装话剧作品，打造本土话剧明星. 9月16日揭牌仪式当天，实验剧场将启动“首席剧星”评选活动，热爱戏剧的青岛话剧迷都可以报名，寻找成为下一个舞台明星的机会.

Qingdao International Sailing Week 2010:  August 21st – 29th, 2010

Qingdao International Marina:
21st August: Qingdao International Sailing Week 2010 Opening Ceremony.
13th-23rd August: International OP Class Sailing Camp / International Optimist Sailing Regatta.
18th-25th August: “Lu Shang Cup” Qingdao International Sailing Regatta (Flying Tiger Sailboats)
22nd-29th August: The 2nd Mayor’s Cup International Sailing Regatta (Dalian to Qingdao)
21st August: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Museum offers free admission after 12:00 noon.
Source: www.qdsailing.org
Qingdao Tour Guides, Translators, & Interpreters