Visiting Qingdao China for a Few Days

ukulele on 21/03/2024 - 17:06

Heading to Qingdao over easter for a few days. Going to check out some machinery we might buy for our business.

Haven't been to China before and have no idea what to expect. Has anyone got any tips for newcomers to China? Also, specifically, is there anything to do in Qingdao. Thinking of taking the bullet train to Beijing to visit the great wall on one of our days.

What's the best thing to do with phone, buy a local sim or just use roaming? I've heard cash and credit card is kind of rare there and everyone uses alipay or something? I used to be a fairly seasoned traveller but alas have not really travelled in the last 10 years.

thanks!

Travel Asia China

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 21/03/2024 - 17:24
    +7

    Qingdao is the home of the Tsingtao brewery. Drink beer, eat clams & swim in the sea. Definitely visit Beijing and the wall, but also try to do Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors.

    • rumblytangara on 21/03/2024 - 17:35

      All good, as long as you keep very low expectations for the beer.

      • ukulele on 21/03/2024 - 17:38
        +2

        tsingtao is fine, i'm not that picky

      • sumyungguy on 21/03/2024 - 17:50
        +2

        Street vendors dispense from kegs into plastic bags, drink with a straw.

        • ukulele on 21/03/2024 - 17:58

          philippines does that with soft drink

      • tebbybabes on 22/03/2024 - 18:29

        Honestly, we quite enjoy the lager that they make. We find it quite pleasant.

    • c64 on 21/03/2024 - 20:53
      +4

      tsingtao's unique flavour is due to a secret ingredient

      • batfastard on 22/03/2024 - 07:47
        +1

        Hahaha was wondering how long it would take.

        Tsingtao is always good for an epic pissup.

      • ukulele on 22/03/2024 - 11:11

        for some reason that doesn't annoy me. There are acceptable levels for fecal matter in food as well.

    • Dslrfirst on 22/03/2024 - 10:07

      Second all of that except swimming in the sea. Pearls can also be bought there & can be stringed on the spot.

      • kiitos on 22/03/2024 - 10:59

        Is that because of water quality?

  • omguleh on 21/03/2024 - 17:31

    But a sim when you land at the airport.
    Download Alipay and set it up with your credit card. If they accept WeChat pay then they will also take Alipay.
    Bring a bit of cash as a backup.

    Skip Beijing and go Xi’an/Shan. Can still see the Great Wall and see the Terracotta warriors and tombs. Can also visit Xianglu temple and you get an awesome view of the Yellow River as well.

    Try to organise a private car, makes life so much easier.

    • ozbargainsam on 21/03/2024 - 18:17
      +2

      Just on the SIMs part: if you have an eSIM phone, I find it's far far more convenient to use a service like Airalo or Nomad to pay before you leave and when you land you immediately have data. No need to find the best priced vendor, or to haggle, or ensure you're not ripped off. And you can top up in the app if you're out of data. Plus you can also keep your normal phone number with data off to receive calls. Plus no faffing about with the physical SIM, and making sure you don't lose it. And needing to find a SIM tool or paper clip.

      I usually just buy the eSIM at the airport before I leave. Attempt to activate it (it won't work) but…as soon as the plane touches foreign ground, I turn off airplane mode and I'm immediately online.

      • omguleh on 21/03/2024 - 19:18
        +1

        Quite expensive with that app. Local sims is much cheaper. There is free wifi in the airports as well.

        If you’re not streaming TV the app should be ok for a few days.

      • GOCAT9 on 24/03/2024 - 02:20

        I’m using a global eSIM in my phone in South America. One advantage of eSIMs that nobody seems to mention is that they will jump between mobile carriers to use the fastest and/or strongest signal carrier. My physical sim only seems to want to talk to a much smaller set of carriers. I can monitor both on my phone. Often my physical (Australian) sim is using a carrier that is much weaker than my global eSIM. Both sims are set to auto carriers. Just me experience!

    • md333 on 22/03/2024 - 12:35
      +1

      I haven't been for a long time, but last time I was in China, roaming on a foriegn SIM bypassed a lot of the chinese firewall issues, ie allows you to use google services without needing a VPN.
      Not sure if that is still the case.
      If you have esim check ozbargain for free offers. I did my last overseas trip of 3 weeks entirely on free trials.

  • ukulele on 21/03/2024 - 17:36
    +1

    Thanks guys, beijing is a bit closer on the bullet train, it can be done in a day. I am not spending much time in china. Arrive thursday arvo (rest/eat). Friday is business, possibly arvo free. Saturday Sunday only. Monday we fly at 2pm so can't really do anything that morning.

    • sumyungguy on 21/03/2024 - 17:39

      If I had to choose, it would be Xi'an. I did it as a day trip from Beijing… flew over in the morning, used public transit to visit the warriors, back to Beijing late in the arvo.

      • ukulele on 21/03/2024 - 17:40
        +1

        our base is qingdao, xi an is quite a bit further from qindao to beijing.

        • sumyungguy on 21/03/2024 - 17:42

          Qingdao (TAO) → Xi An (XIY) is 2h5m direct. I've day-tripped BNE/MEL return more times than I care to remember.

  • star-ggg on 21/03/2024 - 20:07
    +3

    Qingdao is great. There's a whole neighborhood of old German style buildings that you could self- explore in half a day. I found the juxtaposition of everyday Chinese homes and businesses within the German architecture a really unique experience. Maybe do that then take that a late afternoon train to Beijing. Sort out your transport to/from great wall that evening through your hotel. Next day take a evening train back to Qingdao.

    I wouldn't bother rushing to Xi'an. Those terracotta warriors aren't going anywhere. Save that for the next trip.

    • sumyungguy on 21/03/2024 - 21:14
      +1

      Just for context: Terracotta Army 210–209 BCE, best known sections of the Great Wall 1368–1644.

      • star-ggg on 22/03/2024 - 08:12

        And the Terracotta Warriors will last a lot longer cause they're sheltered and protected from people and the elements:

        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/29/china-great-wa…

        • ukulele on 22/03/2024 - 11:10
          +1

          it's more, i cbf flying internally for them. I saw some of them when they went to sydney already. The train to beijing and back is doable, but long day.

          • star-ggg on 22/03/2024 - 11:48

            @ukulele: The great wall is also quite a distance from Beijing (1.5-2hrs+ one way) depending on which section you go so I'd suggest you book a private car for that.

  • CaptainHoltisDad on 21/03/2024 - 22:49

    Setup Alipay/Wechat Pay in advance. When I used it I required passport ID verification and this takes several business days to turnaround.

    • MisplacedGaijin on 22/03/2024 - 08:07

      Agreed.

      Also, try and get a burner / 2nd hand / old phone for your sim/esim.
      Hardcopy diary for important phone nos.
      Since you haven't traveled for a few years, you'll sleep easier knowing there's a lot less info on it if it gets lost / damaged / compromised.

    • ukulele on 22/03/2024 - 11:12

      setting up alipay now

  • Darayus on 22/03/2024 - 10:29

    Insurance

  • jv on 22/03/2024 - 13:15

    Haven't been to China before and have no idea what to expect.

    Chinese food.

  • fixtechstuff on 22/03/2024 - 16:33

    If you only have a few days might be worth spending all of your time in Qingdao rather than racing to a different city and not enjoying it like you would if you had more time. There is a lot to see and do in every city in China.

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