Recently, overseas media representatives and foreign expats visited the 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival's Old Town Branch Venue at Dabaodao Historical Block in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, during the "Opportunities in China, Innovative Qingdao" Overseas Media's Tour. They gained an immersive taste of how the city's centuries-old cultural heritage blends seamlessly with its iconic beer culture. As Qingdao's most representative cultural signature, the Beer Festival has extended its reach into the historic city center—a living archive of the city's memory—transforming century-old buildings into unique backdrops for festive celebration.

Qingdao Guangxing Tavern

Photo by Wang Xianxin

During this year's Beer Festival, the Dabaodao Historical Block has adopted a “north-south connection, citywide synergy” strategy to create a multi-layered business ecosystem. The northern section features beer gardens and traditional local cuisine, while the southern section highlights the distinctive courtyard architecture and creative cultural products. Public spaces along Boyuan Road and Yizhou Road serve as welcome areas, rest stops, and exhibition zones. A vintage tram night tour further links the old town with the coastal areas, offering visitors a seamless journey through Qingdao's diverse urban landscape.

Moving beyond enclosed festival grounds and into open streets, and shifting the focus from pure revelry to cultural immersion, the Old Town Branch Venue of the Beer Festival uses beer as a bridge connecting historical heritage, vibrant neighborhood life, trendy creative offerings, and leisure experiences. The result is a centuries-old neighborhood that feels both warmly alive and richly layered in culture—showing the world the boundless energy of this coastal city.