Qingdao will keep you busy all day and all night if you want. A large expat community supports a surprising number of bars and nightclubs, which should help you unwind from a long day of lounging on the beach, trekking up a mountain or taking in a few museums.

Bars & Clubs

The nightlife in Qingdao can be found congregated around the "Central" part of town—the newer business district in the east. The Shangri-La Lobby Lounge and Corner Jazz Club have live music and curiosity might force you to check out the Beatles-themed Lennon Club, pasted with paraphernalia. The best place to find out about Qingdao's daytime and nocturnal happenings is to pick up a copy of the English-language city-mag My Red Star (also on the web: myredstar.com).

Museums & Galleries

The sea itself is a kind of museum (and art gallery for that matter), but to see the ocean bottled up and on display you can head to the Museum of Marine Products (it sounds like a seafood restaurant and it kind of looks like one, too, with tanks full of edible exhibits) or Qingdao Underwater World. The Navy Museum features some rusty boats with some interesting history and the Tsingtao Brewery Museum has free beer and a commemorative mug (if you pay the RMB 50 entrance fee).

Festivals

The Beer Festival (usually held in August) is one of Qingdao's claims to fame. It's usually two weeks long and features lots of drinking in tents and musical performances (by you if you're into KTV). Tsingtao flows freely, but international beers are represented as well. Sampling and drinking competitions are highlights, but the whole thing is really your chance to see China's beer-drinking culture at its best/worst. The festival attracts visitors from all over China and beyond, so book accommodations in advance.