Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Qingdao (Shandong) — My First Historic Walk
One of three photo albums of Qingdao focusing on the area known as BaDaGuan. It continues to preserve beautiful villas, government buildings and churches from the early 1900s when Germany secured what was to have been a 99-year lease on the bay area.
My walk today (February 2011) started at St Michael’s Catholic Cathedral on Zhejiang Road. It was constructed in 1936 in what was once a German concession area.
Such sites are a favorite place for wedding photos in Qingdao.
Nearby was this lovely villa, dating also from the time of foreign occupation, but now preserved as historical monuments.
The JiaoZhou Governor’s Hall (built in 1904) was once the headquarters for the German administration. The Kiautschou Bay concession was to have been occupied from 1897 onwards for 99 years.
The German Protestant (Lutheran) Church (built 1910) on Jiangxu Rd occupies a prominent location on Signal Hill in the heart of the historical area known as BaDaGuan.
The simple interior of the church which seats about 1000 and is used with multiple services each Sunday.
Sample of the stained glass windows.
An adjacent small building houses the bookstore. This will be one of about 70 distribution points for bibles and other Christian literature in the country.
The bell tower is normally open to the public, and has access by a stairway.
The bell, still the original, can be seen from the observation platform high in the bell tower.
The workings of the clock and bell-ringing apparatus.
It’s all enclosed behind glass.
The Little Green Isle (Xiaoqing Dao) gives the name to Qingdao. The small isle with the lighthouse is now connected to the mainland with a causeway.
The waterfront, and the Little Green Isle, just down from Signal Hill and the church.
Along the waterfront we approach ZhanQiao pier with HuiLan Pavilion at its end. In the background, we can see the BaDaXia and TuanDaoWan business districts.
Many lovely buildings of European and German styling are found in this area.
This part of Qingdao is known as BaDaGuan.
The German-built post office building, on Guangxi Road, near Zhongshan Road.
More older buildings of European design facing the waterfront in the area of the ZhanQiao pier.
Closer to the pier, vendors sell their wares as local people enjoy a walk on a bright winter day.
Again, the Xiaoqing Dao (Little Green Isle) and the Huilan Pavilion at the end of the pier.
The pier was built during the Qing Dynasty as the a “landing stage.” With extensions (built 1931), it is now 440m long. In tourist season the area is totally crowded.
One of the fine modern buildings overlooking the waterfront in this area.
We make our way along beaches that make Qingdao famous. In the distance, we get our first glimpse of what appears to be a castle on the beach.
The stone villa, Hua Shi Lou, was originally built by a Russian businessman. English names for it are Stone House or Granite Castle.
Entering the main floor, we find this fireplace in a reception room, and a spiral staircase to other floors off the main entrance.
We explore the interior of this fascinating house, preserved now as a registered historic site.
The house was once occupied by Chiang Kai-shek when the Kuomintang government controlled this area. Photos depict historical events.
Views from the tower of the Granite Castle.
First view to the right.
Second view to the right, includes a view of Beach #2
Third view to the right.
First view to the left.
Further to the left along the waterfront, we see the newly developed SheBei business centre of Qingdao.
It was a bright winter day, but we needed to be dressed warmly to fully enjoy the time along the waterfront.
Nearby was this gun placement. What was its origin? German? Japanese? Chinese? All had reasons to build it.
The more rugged end to the beach.
But, soon, we find a new beach…
Just a lone retired couple out walking this bright February day, dressed to protect the wind, but enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.
And, a bit later, we arrive at the main new development district of ShiBei.
