Qingdao Travel Guide
7/15/2008 at 5:35 PM
Tags: Olympics, Beijing Olympics, Beijing Olympics 2008, Sailing, Boats, Environment, Beaches (all tags)
That didn't take long. Just a couple weeks ago, Olympics officials and sailing enthusiasts were panicking about an algal attack off the coast of Qingdao.
But thanks to 20,000 "volunteers," the Yellow Sea is all cleaned up--at least so says the country's state-run media outlet. Officials also say that three sea barriers designed to hold back any further algal outbreaks have been set up around the waters designated for competition.
Related Stories:
· Qingdao Confident of Sailing Success [Xinhua]
· Algae Plaguing Olympic Sailing Venue [AFP, via Google]
· China Says Algae Cleared for Sailing [NYT]
· China Says Olympics Sailing Site is Algae-Free [AP, via Google]
· Scary China Travel: Algae Attack! [Jaunted]
[Photo: Xinhua]
by pbb
6/30/2008 at 1:35 PM
Tags: Olympics, Beijing Olympics, Beijing Olympics 2008, Sailing, Boats, Environment, Beaches (all tags)
Sound the alarms! The Chinese city of Qingdao has come under algal attack--and the Olympics could be at risk! More than 30 percent of the waters designated for sailing contests off the coast of the city are inundated with thick enteromorpha prolifera. But the Chinese authorities have a way with getting people to "volunteer," and a reported 20,000 citizens have pitched in to clean up the Yellow Sea.
Agricultural run off is often the culprit when it comes to algal blooms, but Chinese officials told the state news agency that isn't the case this time. And they may not be lying! Blooms fueled by nitrates from fertilizers are usually red, and the stuff on the shores of Qingdao is bright green.
As the clean-up continues, the local Olympics Sailing Committee is planning a 30-mile-long fence to help keep the bloom at bay. The group says everything should be sorted by July 15; the games start on August 8.
Related Stories:
· Algae Threatens Olympic Sailing [NYT]
· Qingdao Vows to Clean Algae Invading Olympic Venue [Xinhua]
· Beijing Olympics coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Guardian]
by pbb
2/06/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: 2008 Olympics, Beijing Olympics, Beijing Olympics 2008 (all tags)
In Beijing, the National Aquatics Centre is ready for the pool-based Olympic events in August. But on the coast in Qingdao, they're already holding the Olympics--underwater.
In a joint celebration for Chinese New Year and the Olympics year, Underwater World in Qingdao are staging the Underwater Olympics for two weeks, finishing up on February 12. Qingdao is, in fact, where the official Olympic sailing events will take place, so Underwater World is trying to help out by raising the profile of this city.
The Underwater Olympics competitors are all professional scuba divers, although they're now involved in activities they probably hadn't imagined before. There's underwater fencing, shooting, gymnastics and even cycling. It's enough to make you think it's the year of the fish, not the year of the rat.
Related Stories:
· Underwater Olympics [Ananova]
· Olympics Travel: Lights on at the Water Cube [Jaunted]
· 2008 Olympics Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Ananova]
by amandak
8/08/2006 at 10:10 AM
Tags: alcohol, China, festivals (all tags)
Can you imagine crossing Oktoberfest with China? If this appeals directly to you, book your flight soon for this coastal Chinese city to celebrate the
Qingdao International Beer Festival, being held for the 16th time this year, from 11-27 August. Not only is it the biggest beer festival in Asia, the organizer's blurb also makes it sound particularly amusing, because this time round:
This Festival will keep the basic functions, enrich and dig its connotation, will bring stronger dynamic experience and denser festive atmosphere to the tourists
So, we hear you wonder, what will be going on at this dynamic festival? No fear, there's an answer to every question:
The festival is composed of opening ceremony, beer degustation and drinking, literary evening, literary patrol, amusement, beer-drinking competition, tourism entertainment, economy and trade exhibition, and closure evening.
Exactly what the literary patrol hopes to find isn't clear (just don't take any anti-communist beer-drinking literature with you), but what we're really waiting for is the beer degustation. Cheers and
gan bei!
[Image via .alton/Flickr]
Related stories:
Festival Honoring Nectar of Gods [That's Qingdao]
by amandak
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