With the yearning for mountains and seas, Eton employees visited Qingdao in this year's Dragon Boat Festival.  

Day 1: 8:30 May 28, 2009, depart from South Beijing Station  

We took a CRH high-speed train to Qingdao. After above six hours'journey, we arrived at Qingdao Station. Ten minutes later, a bus carried us to Zhanqiao Prince Hotel. After a short rest, we started the visit of Qingdao.

Stop 1: Sightseeing on the sea. 

  Stop 2: Navy Museum. 

(Mighty artillery woman)	(No. 9232 IL-14 aircraft)
(No. 3218 torpedo boat in the weaponry display area)	(The warship we boarded)
	(Captain? Admiral? What is up in the distance?)
(Touch it with curiosity)

　                     (Picturesque Little Qingdao)

(Play with water on the shore of Little Qingdao)	(An intimate contact)

Stop 4: Climb Xinghao Mountain and overlook Qingdao.

Xinghao Mountain is 98m above the sea level. It is not high, but is a test to our physical strength. In the half way up the mountain, we had a break and appreciated the red tiles, green trees, white clouds and blue sea and sky of Qingdao. It is a great enjoyment to us who have stayed in inland a long time. 

Overlook of the Governor Mansion

The Governor Mansion surrounded by luxuriant trees was designed by German Architect Lazarowicz according to the artistic form of European public buildings in the 19th century. The roof is covered with red cylindrical tiles. The whole building is solemn, elegant, artistic and sturdy. 

                      (Governor Mansion)

Overlook of Badaguan

Badaguan (Eight Great Passes) is in the shade of green trees. It is a collection of the architectural styles from more than 20 countries including Russia, Britain, France, Germany, America, Denmark, Greece, Span, Switzerland and Japan, so it enjoys the name of "World Architecture Expo". Some of the buildings have become private villas at present. The tour guide said the most famous ones are Princess Building and Huashi Building.

(Huashi Building)	(Wedding setting at Huashi Building)

Day 2: May 29, 2009, an unusual day!

Stop 1: Laoshan Mountain

Laoshan Mountain is in the east of Qingdao. Its highest peak "Laoding" at 1133m above the sea level erects on the shore of the Yellow Sea. As an old saying goes: "High though Mount Tai is, it is inferior to Laoshan Mountain on the shore of the East China Sea."

　                        (Group photo at the foot of Laoshan Mountain)    

(What are the mysterious Taoists doing?)	(Experience the "magic of piercing through walls")

At the foot of Laoshan Mountain, again we experienced the connection of mountain and sea. Here the sea is not choppy and looks quiet. Likewise, we didn't let the chance of playing with water go this time.
When we were leaving Laoshan, we saw newly-weds attending a group wedding. Wish them happy forever! 

(Photo of a couple)	(Group wedding)

Stop 2: Qingdao Ocean Polar World. 

	(Dolphin performance)
(Entrance of Ocean Polar World)
(Hello! White whale)	(Children's simplicity)

Stop 3: Taste wine.

During the visit to Tsingtao Beer Museum, we knew the long history of Tsingtao Beer. Qingdao Brewery cherishes old fermenting vats, the replica of the old laboratory, the old motors which still can work and the century-old shining copper beer cans. They show us a complete picture of the production history of Tsingtao Beer.

(Tsingtao 100 years sculpture inside Tsingtao Brewery)	(Brewing equipment)
(Colorful packages of Tsingtao Beer in the past)	(World Beer Expo)

At last, in the multifunctional zone, we tasted a small glass of beer leaving the production line just a half hour before in the first time in our life. We, the addicts of Yanjing Beer, had to praise its freshness and mellowness. In the beer bar, we drank Tsingtao draught beer together with beer bean. The feeling was terrific. 

 (Cheers! Qingdao Trip)

 

Day 3: May 30, 2009, somehow we missed Beijing……

Stop 1: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. 

Stop 2: "Look on" May Fourth Square

Stop 3: Qingdao Railway Station.

After lunch, we bid farewell to Qingdao with reluctance and set out on the return trip. See you "Oriental Switzerland"! See you "Asia's Geneva"! See you Qingdao!