Recently, overseas media representatives and foreign expats visited the historical blocks along Zhongshan Road in Shinan District, Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, during the "Opportunities in China, Innovative Qingdao" Overseas Media's Tour. The delegation explored Zhongshan Road Memory Museum, Hisense Trendy Product Experience Center, and Qingdao Robot 6S Experience Center. From immersive tech experiences, displays of century-spanning city memories to tangible futuristic lifestyle scenes, Zhongshan Road - the time-honored and historical street - is delivering a vivid city renewal practice, breathing new life into historic blocks through innovation.

Located at No.90 Huangdao Road, the Hisense Trendy Product Experience Center was originally a German‑style commercial courtyard architecture built in the early 1900s. During city renewal, while preserving its original architectural structure, the building artfully juxtaposes century‑old brick‑and‑wood frameworks and terrazzo steps with cutting‑edge technologies such as floating OLED screens and holographic images. It creates a youth‑oriented new space integrating product experience, cultural exhibition and leisurely social interaction.

The Zhongshan Road Memory Museum was renovated from the former site of the Qingdao Chamber of Commerce, which dates back to 1907. A huge digital time wall inside loops footage recording the changes of Zhongshan Road from 1898 to the present. Black-and-white film clips capture the early prosperity of the street; colored footage depicts the lively street life from the 1980s to the 1990s. Finally, the footage switches to aerial shots of today's historical blocks: courtyard compounds lined with neon lights, young people chatting in cafés, and dazzling night light shows all unfold before visitors' eyes.

Qingdao Robot 6S Experience Center

Photo by Wang Xianxin

While the Zhongshan Road Memory Museum connects visitors to the city's past, the Qingdao Robot 6S Experience Center offers a direct preview of tomorrow. As Qingdao's first full-scene robotics complex integrating exhibition, sales, hands-on experience and catering, it delights audiences in the interactive zone. Robot bands live performances, and blind box treasure hunts operated by mechanical arms draw rounds of applause. In the catering zone, robotic arms smoothly complete the full process of cup retrieval, beverage pouring and serving. By bringing cutting-edge technology to the time-honored street, this place makes innovative technology more accessible to ordinary people.