Red roofs
And blue sea.
Windmemories — CC BY-SA 4.0 · StefanTsingtauer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ---=XEON=--- — CC BY 3.0 · Sprt98 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sprt98 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · originally taken by Kobe Bryn, extracted by StefanTsingtauer — CC BY 3.0 · Sprt98 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sprt98 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A green hill 98 metres high at the heart of old Qingdao and the best place to see the city's famous view of red roofs among green trees, blue sea and clear sky, taking in St. Michael's Cathedral, Zhanqiao Pier and the whole bay. The Germans named it Signal Hill when they leased the area, since it held a signal station for ships; it became a public park in 1984, and three red, torch-like domed buildings on its summit have become landmarks of the city. Above them rises a six-storey revolving tower built in 1989, whose deck turns slowly so visitors see the city and sea on every side, and at the foot of the hill stands the old German governors' residence, known today as the Guest House. Tickets are about CNY 15 including the revolving tower, per visitor guides. The best time is just before sunset on a clear day; the climb is short but involves some tiring steps.
And blue sea.
All-round views.
On the summit.
17 Longshan Road, Shinan District, Qingdao
Governor's Residence (Qingdao Guest House)The grandest building of Qingdao's German era, a mansion built between 1903 and 2 minutes walk4.2
Xiaoyushan Park (Little Fish Hill)A small hill 60 metres high near the sea in old Qingdao, whose name means «Littl11 minutes walk4.5
St. Michael's Cathedral, QingdaoThe best-known building of old Qingdao, a Catholic cathedral built by a German m13 minutes walk4.6
Zhanqiao Pier and Huilan PavilionQingdao's best-known symbol, a long pier reaching into the sea from Taiping Road16 minutes walk4.3
Xiaoqingdao Island and LighthouseA small green island in Qingdao Bay southeast of Zhanqiao Pier, whose name means20 minutes walk4.1From Signal Hill Park and its revolving tower, which take in the red roofs, the cathedral and the bay; tickets are about CNY 15, per visitor guides.