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Qingdao (Ch'ing-tao), well-known to the West
by its Postal System Pinyin transliteration Tsingtao, is a sub-provincial city in
eastern Shandong province, People's Republic
of China. It borders Yantai to the
northeast, Weifang to the west and Rizhao to
the southwest. Lying across the Shandong
Peninsula while looking out to the Yellow
Sea, Qingdao today is a major seaport, naval
base, and industrial center. It also the
site of the Tsingtao Brewery which produces
the world renowned Tsingtao beer.
By the end of 2002, Qingdao is estimated to
be the home for more than 7 million
inhabitants, of which around 2.6 million is
residing in the Qingdao urban area. Another
estimated 2.3 million reside in other cities
under Qingdao's jurisdiction. Living
standards are among the leading Chinese
cities, with relatively high incomes for
families.
Qingdao is home to 38 ethnic minorities,
albeit very insignificantly, with minority
population only totalling around 10 thousand
by 2000, 0.14% of the city's total
population. Qingdao boasts a vibrant
expatriate community. The largest group of
foreign residents is Koreans, amounting to
over 60,000 individuals in 2005.
Qingdao is perhaps most famously known for
the Tsingtao Brewery, which German settlers
founded in 1903, and which produces Tsingtao
beer, now the most famous beer in China and
known worldwide.
In 1984 the Chinese government named a
district of Qingdao a Special Economic and
Technology Development Zone (SETDZ). Along
with this district, the entire city had gone
through amazing development of secondary and
tertiary industries. As an important trading
port in the province, Qingdao flourishes
with foreign investment and international
trade. South Korea and Japan in particular
made extensive investment in the city. At
least 30,000 South Korean nationals reside
there.
In terms of primary industry, Qingdao has an
estimated 50,000 acres (200 kmē) of arable
land. Qingdao has a zig-zagging pattern
coastline, and thus possesses an invaluable
stock of fish, shrimp, and other sea
resources. Qingdao is also home to a variety
of mineral resources. Up to thirty different
kinds have been mined. Qingdao's wind power
electricity generation performs at among the
best levels in the region.
Through the unique architecture in some
parts of Qingdao, one can draw the inference
that the city is a cultural combination of
east and west. Most people who reside in the
Qingdao urban area speak Mandarin Chinese
with a special local accent known as "Qingdao
Hua" (Qingdao Dialect, not to be confused
with "Shandong Hua" which is spoken more
widely across the Shandong Province. Cuisine
is predominantly Lu Cai (the Shandong
regional dishes.) The area's most famous
festival is the Qingdao International Beer
Festival, held annually since 1991. |
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© 2005 City of Miami
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