Qingdao Hotels and Accommodation

(Qingdao, Shandong, China)

Hotels in Qingdao are at their busiest and most expensive during the summer season, when available accommodation can become rather scarce. Outside of this season and during the peaceful winter months, some hotels in Qingdao actually close down completely. As this low season is so quiet in Qingdao, it is often possible to negotiate particularly favourable rates if you manage to pick the right hotels.

Qingdao's beachfront hotels are hard to beat and the views can be outstanding, so do be sure to insist that you face the seafront and not the buildings behind. It is always sensible to book accommodation in advance during the summer season, particularly those hotels fronting the coastline and at the time of the hugely popular Qingdao Beer Festival, which takes place at the end of August each year. Also, the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival fall at the beginning of the year and can also be busy times.

Where to Stay

One of the cheapest accommodation options in Qingdao is the rather basic Dawei Guesthouse, which lies along Mengyin Lu and is close to the train station. Whilst rooms here are not the most appealing, with no air conditioning and in some cases no windows, they are extremely cheap and suit those travelling on a particularly tight budget. Nearby and along on the Mengyin Lu, the guest rooms at the Zhanying Hotel are of a higher standard and offer en-suite bathrooms, with room rates dropping to half price between January and March.

Several good mid-range hotels line the Tai'an Lu, being especially close to the train station and include both the Jinliju Hotel and the Railway Hotel. At the top end of the accommodation market, the Crowne Plaza Hotel is hard to beat and stands on the Xianggang Zhonglu in the heart of the bustling commercial district. This outstanding five-star hotel leaves you wanting for little, while the nearby Shangri-La Hotel is equally impressive. Another popular option for those not afraid to fork out on good accommodation is the Oceanwide Elite Hotel, which is situated along the Taiping Lu and boasts superb views across Qingdao Bay and beyond.

Further hotels in the Qingdao area include the Surf Plaza Resort Hotel, which can be found in the Old Stone Man National Park and contains its very own golf course and features a private beach. Also popular is the Zijinyuan Hotel, with good access to the airport and also Luxun Park, and the Zhanqiao Hotel, located along Taiping Lu and featuring large seaview guest rooms with smaller rooms to the rear.