First held in 1991, the Qingdao International Beer Festival has grown into Asia’s largest beer event. Every August, starting on the second Sunday of the month, the festival kicks off and runs for 16 days in the city’s Shilaoren National Tourism Resort. This sprawling 35-hectare 'Beer City' is built specifically for the occasion, where beer lovers from all over the world come together. While you can always grab a Tsingtao Beer in Qingdao, nothing compares to the carnival buzz of the festival. Expect a fun mix of live music, international brews, and plenty of opportunities to sample the local favourite—Tsingtao Beer, of course. One quirky Qingdao tradition to note: fresh beer is often sold in plastic bags. So, don’t be surprised when you see people strolling the streets with a bag of beer in hand. It's all part of the fun.

Experience the history and adventures of the Swedish ship Götheborg, the world's largest ocean-going wooden sailing ship, which sailed three times to Asia and sank outside of Gothenburg in 1745. Come on board this replica of the original Götheborg, where guides, dressed in 18th-century costumes, tell the story of the harsh life on board the ship, the expeditions of today, and the tremendous art of shipbuilding.

Get a taste of local life at the city's most popular gathering venue, and take a stroll along the narrow alleyways lined with myriad cafés and restaurants. The fountain in the middle of the square was designed by Friedrich Joachim Stengel, and together with Ludwig's Church and the Castle, it forms what is called the Stengel triangle. You'll also find Fröschengasse here, formerly a workers' district with Baroque-style houses.