Qingdao is one of the China's first batch of best tourist cities. In 2008, it received 34.7 million domestic and foreign tourists, of which 800,000 are from overseas. The total tourism revenue reached 42.03 billion yuan.
Surrounded by sea and mountains, Qingdao is noted for beautiful sceneries. Added with special historical heritages, Qingdao became China's famous tourist resort in the early 20th century. The magnificent coastline, the rolling fairyland Laoshan Mountain, the urban landscape dotted with red roofs and green trees against the blue sea and sky, the diverse architectures predominantly in a European continental style, the former residences of famous historical and contemporary personages, and the modern facilities for vacation, convention and exhibition have made Qingdao a unique city, which blends Chinese and foreign tastes and integrates mountain and sea views with city landscape. It has the most beautiful seaside and is an ideal destination for vacation, recreation, sightseeing, business activities, conferences and exhibitions. In 2007, Qingdao became the only one Chinese city selected as one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

Historical Culture & European Taste Conservation Area
The numerous cultural heritages nestling in charming natural scenery are a testimony to Qingdao's century-old evolution and the integration of western and oriental cultures. The diverse historical and cultural heritages, the well-preserved century-old streets and European villas, and the romantic bays and beaches form a unique area of European continental taste.
Qingdao boasts of architectures with different styles and has been called a "world expo on architectures". The most representative architectures include the lighthouse of little Qingdao, the landing stage, the former residence of the German governor, the building of the provincial military commander in imperial China, the Catholic church, the Christian church and the Badaguan villa district. Each architecture represents a history and tells a story. Many Chinese and foreign films are shot here. The Bandaguan architectural cluster was cited the "most beautiful urban district in China" in 2005. During the summer and autumn period of each year, many newly wedded pairs in wedding gowns and suits stroll along Qingdao's seaside promenade, taking pictures, exchanging pledges or recording their honeymoon romance.

Fast-changing Eastern Urban Sightseeing Destination
The new town in the east is Qingdao's political, economic and cultural center. The building housing the municipal Party committee and government, the new town's landmark architecture May Wind, and the sailing venue for the 2008 Olympic Games are all in this area. The east-west seaside sightseeing path, Donghai Road, Hongkong Road and Macao Road, which run through a series of scenic spots such as the Huiquan Square, the China Civilization Sculpture Street, the May 4th Square, the Music Square, the Seaside Sculpture Park, Qingdao Grand Theater, and Polar Ocean World, constitute a fascinating seaside landscape.

Shilaoren National Tourist and Recreation Zone
This tourist and recreation zone combines sightseeing and vacation with festivals and sport events. It boasts of elegantly arranged holiday villas, soft beaches, the Seaside Sculpture Park, the Polar Ocean World, the Dolphinarium, the International Beer City, the Golf Course, the Yacht Club, the International Convention Center, the Cultural Center, the Century Square, the Sports Center and a host of other modern amenities. In addition, the city also has the Qingdao Modern Art Center and other projects under construction.

Laoshan National Scenic Resort
This scenic resort comprises three parts: nine scenic spots, five scenic restoration spots, and extended land and sea views. The main peak Jufeng Peak is 1,133 meters above the sea level. Being the highest peak along China's 18,000-kilometer continental coastline, Jufeng Peak is famed as China's No. 1 seaside mountain and a famous Taoist mountain. It was designated by the State Council as a key national scenic resort. At the same time, it is also a national civilized scenic resort, a 4A national tourist zone and a national demonstration place for civilized scenic tourism.
The climate at Laoshan Mountain is mild and humid, neither so cold in winter nor so hot in summer. With a long history and many places of historical interest, Laoshan Mountain has been a famous Taoist mountain in China for 1,000 years. For this reason, it is called the "No. 2 forest under Heaven for Quanzhen Sect of Taoism". With eccentric rock formations, it is also famed as a "park of natural geological sculptures". Laoshan Mountain is also noted for lush forests and lots of famous trees and flowers. Mineral resources are also rich. The spring water, seabed stone, crystal stone and a great variety of precious herbs produced here are famous both at home and abroad.

Qingdao Suburban Tourism Resources
Qingdao's suburban areas also have rich natural and cultural landscapes and places of historical interest. Langya Terrace has been a famous place through the ages for admiring the moon from the terrace and hearing the waves in Longwan Curve. The First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty visited the place three times, unwilling to return to the capital. King Gou Jian of the Yue State set up an altar to form an alliance of kings, and Xu Fu sailed eastward to Japan from here. Tian Heng Island is the place where 500 chivalrous persons refused to surrender to the emperor and died a heroic death. Other famous historical sites include the Tianzhu Mountain cliffside carvings of Wei, the Mashan Mountain stone forest which is a national nature reserve, the remains of the great wall of the Qi State during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and the Mahao Canal excavated during the Yuan Dynasty.
Qingdao is rich in rural tourism resources. Some resources including tea, flower, fruit and fish etc. have been fully utilized for the development of some rural tourist products such as sightseeing, sports, leisure, entertainment, catering, accommodation and shopping etc. The number of the rural tourist demonstration spots totals 33, including Shilaoren Tourist Park, Qingdao Vegetable Sci-Tech Demonstration Park, and Baiguoshan Recreational Resort etc, of which 18 are at the national level. The tourism products of tea-series represented by the "Laoshan Tea Garden" and other agricultural tourism demonstration spots, of the flower-series represented by the Kutao Flowers and Chengyang Peony Park etc, of the fruit-series represented by the Dazeshan Grape Festival, Beizhai Cherry Festival, Heshan Persimmon Festival and Chengyang Yanyu Cherry Festival, of the fish-series represented by the Huichag Fishing Village, Hongdao Clam and Chanzhi Reservoir Freshwater Fish, of the vegetable-series represented by the Qingdao Vegetable Sci-Tech Park, and of the rural folk-custom experience tour series represented by the Shanhai Farm and Shanli Farm etc. have formed a rural tourism product system characteristic of tea, flower, fruit, fish and vegetable.