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Qijiang

Qijiang (綦江) is a district in the Chongqing municipality of South West China. It is a mostly rural district south of urban Chongqing.

Cities

 * Qijiang urban area, including Gunan Subdistrict and Wenlong Subdistrict - Qijiang's administrative center and largest urban area
 * Wansheng urban area, including Wansheng Subdistrict, Donglin Subdistrict and Wandong Town - gateway to Black Mountain Valley

Understand
Qijiang District is a new district that was created in 2011 through the merger of Qijiang County and Wansheng District.

Despite the merger, Wansheng District did not disappear. It was renamed the Wansheng Economic and Technological Development Zone and retains its own local government. Hence for example, public buses in Wansheng use a separate numbering system from the rest of Qijiang District.

By plane
A new airport, to be known as Chongqing Jiangnan Airport, is under construction near the town of Jinqiao, about 40 km from the Qijiang urban area and 20 km from the Wansheng urban area. The airport is expected to open in the first half of 2020.

Travellers arriving at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Yubei District have several options for getting to Qijiang:
 * Eight buses to Qijiang depart daily from the coach station located between Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B.
 * Chongqing Metro Line 3 connects the airport to Chongqing North Station, where you can catch bus no. g02 to Chongqing West Station and then take a high speed train to Qijiang East Station.
 * A taxi to Qijiang would probably cost at least ¥200.

By train
There are two major train stations in Qijiang:

Get around
Most places in Qijiang District can be reached by either local bus or long-distance bus. Taxis are also available.

Buses between the Qijiang and Wansheng urban areas operate from 06:30 to 20:00 and depart every 20 minutes in each direction. The fare is ¥5 and the journey time is approximately 40 minutes.

See
With a couple of exceptions, most of Qijiang's attractions are to be found in the rural areas.

Go next

 * Chongqing
 * Guiyang

title: Qijiang


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Qingchengshan-Dujiangyan National Park

Qingchengshan-Dujiangyan National Park (青城山-都江堰国家公园) is park near Dujiangyan in Sichuan province, China. The national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
Qingchengshan is one of the ancient cradles of Taoism in China. The mountain complex is home to many Taoist and Buddhist temples, and to sites along the paths that wind up to its peaks. The area is snow-free all year round and is known for its peaceful quiet (this of course excludes the Chinese tourists that flock there on major holidays and the incessantly loud blasts of bus horns along major roadsides). The back entrance to the mountain is much less touristy and much more quiet and should be visited first by those who have hiking as their priority. It contains many links to over 80 km worth of very green and lush hiking paths including a few small chairlifts.

Landscape
Wonderful midrange mist covered foothills including lots of bamboo.

Climate
Influenced more by the surrounding mountains than the Sichuan Basin, the area is subject to frequent rain and fog. Bring rain-gear! Wear layers.

Get in

 * By bus: 1-1½ hours by bus from Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu. The bus drops you off at the front gate, which is not the start of the trails.
 * By train: An express train service runs from Chengdu's North Train Station to Qingchengshan station, taking about 45 minutes. However, it only runs a handful of times per day. A taxi from this train station to the Qingchengshan parking lot will cost around ¥20. You can also take a train to Dujiangyan, which runs about once an hour, and take the local 101 bus from there. Buy train tickets the day before you depart, as they often sell out ahead of time, even on weekdays. Costs around ¥20.

Fees and permits
The entrance fee is ¥90 (2018).

In addition, the cable car up is ¥35 one way or ¥60 round trip. There is a boat one can take to cross a lake for ¥5.

Get around
You can either climb to the top which takes around 3 hours or take a boat across the lake (¥5) to a ropeway (¥35 one way ¥60 round trip) which will get you there sooner depending on the queue time (which during a holiday could approach and 1½ hours or more). A sedan chair can also be hired for ¥100 or more in which two men carry you up the mountain.

See
Qingcheng Mountain is known for its Taoist temples.

If you are looking for more natural beauty then Qingcheng Hou Mountain is where you should head. There are still several trails closed due to landslides caused by the earthquake (6 October 2009).

Do
There are shrines for many Daoist masters and Chinese Medicine doctors including Lao Zi and Sun Simiao. If you are expecting a spiritual experience do not come on a Chinese holiday or the only quiet time you will have to enjoy it will be if you are lucky enough to find a bed in the monastery and wake up at sunrise before the tours get there.

Sleep
You can stay at many of the monasteries on the mountain. Some of them have been upgraded to 3-star status and accommodation can be in bunk style for around ¥40 to twin private rooms at ¥180. During the Chinese holidays you may not find a bed or might be stuck with one of the higher priced choices.

Go next

 * Pick up the bus back to Chengdu a little bit downhill of the tourist center in parking lot. "Chengdu" will probably not be written in pinyin so you will have to ask the driver.  The Chengdu bus is usually closest to the top of the parking lot though and does not leave until it is full.  Cost back is ¥20 and may not bring you to the bus station you want to be at in Chengdu.
 * Take the 101 bus to Dujiangyan, which has several attractions of its own.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Qingchengshan-Dujiangyan National Park


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Qingdao

Qingdao (青岛; Qīngdǎo; also known as Tsingtao), is regarded by some Chinese as one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities in China. With a population of around 7.2 million, it is one of the largest cities in Shandong Province. The name Qingdao means The Blue/Green Island. In 2011, the China Institute of City Competitiveness named Qingdao China's most livable city.

Districts
Qingdao City lies on the east shore of Jiaozhou Bay (胶州湾 Jiāozhōuwān) and comprises three districts from south to north:
 * Shinan District (市南区 Shìnánqū) — the downtown core that runs along the sea with most of the city's major hotels, attractions and beaches.
 * Shibei District (市北区 Shìběiqū) — sits directly north of Shinan District and contains many new major commercial and residential developments as well as the oldest parts of Qingdao in the west.
 * Licang District (李沧区 Lǐcāngqū) — north of Shibei and home to Peach Blossom Tourism Spot and to more industry.

Four suburban districts comprise primarily coastal areas close to the city proper:
 * Laoshan District (崂山区 Láoshānqū) — southeast of downtown and home to Laoshan Mountain and some of the best beaches in the city.
 * Chengyang District (城阳区 Chéngyángqū) — north of Licang on the north shore of Jiaozhou Bay and mostly new industrial areas, but also contains a large Korean expat community, and hence many authentic Korean restaurants. The Qingdao Liuting airport is located here.
 * Huangdao District (黄岛区 Huángdǎoqū) — on the southwest shore of Jiaozhou Bay and home to huge wharfs, the port area and other industry. There are also some nice beaches here.
 * Jimo District (即墨区 Jímòqū) — north of downtown including the coast north of Laoshan District.

Three rural areas administratively part of Qingdao:
 * Jiaozhou City (胶州市 Jiāozhōushì) — west of downtown.
 * Pingdu City (平度市 Píngdùshì) — far northwest.
 * Laixi City (莱西市 Láixīshì) — far northeast.

Understand
Qingdao is a city steeped in China's 20th century history. It was taken as part of the Imperial German Concession of Jiaozhou Bay. Despite ongoing discussions with Chinese authorities about giving the Germans a territory, on 7 November 1897, they landed troops. Their pretext was the murder of two missionaries on 1 November of that year. A concession treaty was signed in 1898, for a 99-year lease. At the time, it was a relatively unimportant town of about 1,000 inhabitants. Yet by 1902, it had grown to 668 Caucasians and 15,000 Chinese.

During the colonial period, the Germans left a distinct mark on Qingdao's architecture that can still be seen in its historic center and train station. The train station has undergone an overhaul that has tried to strike a balance between maintaining its colonial heritage while modernizing to be the terminus of the high speed rail line to Beijing. Many German-period buildings have been preserved as heritage monuments. It is a kind of Bavaria-on-the-East-China-Sea, where they even sell bratwurst on the street. In 1903, China's most well-known beer maker, Tsingtao Brewery, was established by the new occupants homesick for Germany.

Japan occupied Qingdao on 7 November 1914, as part of World War I, and remained until 1922. They took the city because they were allied with the British against the Germans during World War I. After the war, the Japanese wanted to continue to hold the city for the remainder of the German lease, which the Western Allies agreed to despite having promised to return it to China. With the Chinese government powerless to do anything, this led to protests by students in Beijing during the May 4th Movement of 1919, eventually forcing the Japanese to return the city to Chinese sovereignty. In 1938, the Japanese again took Qingdao and remained until the end of World War II in 1945. Between 1945 and 1949 the American 7th Fleet was based in Qingdao as it assisted the Kuomintang in fighting the Communist Party; the Communists took the city in 1949.

While Qingdao has a long history, the eastern half of the city has been built since 1993, and there is no sign of it slowing down. In 2008, it hosted the sailing events of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Qingdao's early summer is quite an enjoyable season, although it can be humid near the sea shore. Late summer can become hot, while other places of Northern China start to feel cooler. The climate in late fall and winter can be harsh but snow patches can generally last no longer than a few days. Qingdao is an ideal destination if you want to combine sea-side fun with your trip to China.

If you are looking for the typical congested Chinese scenario with swarming markets, unpredictable traffic and intense street commerce, Qingdao has little to offer. For instance, bicycling is actually forbidden. The city is relatively clean and orderly and might give the impression of an upcoming wanna-be Singapore.

By plane

The airport is from the city proper, about half an hour taxi ride. Prices for a taxi ride from the airport to the Hong Kong Middle Road area should be between ¥120-140 depending on the route taken (National Highway 308 is slower but cheaper, the toll expressway is faster and more expensive) and time of day (more expensive at night).

There is an Airport Shuttle Bus. Unfortunately, you need to make it clear where should you get on.

By train

Trains from major cities not too far away include:
 * Beijing — The high-speed train has 10 trains per day and takes 4h20m–5h26m, a second class seat for ¥252–303. The high-speed line runs down from Beijing South station, not the Beijing station.
 * Shanghai — There are four direct high-speed trains between Shanghai and Qingdao, takes 6h25m–6h57m, a second class seat for ¥550.
 * Tianjin — For normal trains, four per day, 10 hours, ¥103 for a seat or ¥179–286 for a sleeper; For high-speed trains, seven per day, Tianjin South Station is very far away from the urban area, better choose train D345 or D347 which departs from Tianjin West Station, 4–5 hours, starting from ¥220.
 * Jinan — 21 direct high speed trains (2hr 30min, ¥122–146), and there are twenty-one slower and cheaper trains taking 4–5 hours (¥49-162).
 * Taishan — No high-speed trains. Many normal trains, 5–7 hours, air-conditioned seat ¥62 or ¥70, sleeper ¥116–195.
 * Nanjing — There is four high-speed train taking 5hr 9min–5hr 35min, starting from ¥400.

Trains from major cities further away include:
 * Harbin — one direct train per day, 28 hours, ¥231-642.
 * Xian — three direct trains per day, 21–23 hours, ¥165-529.
 * Guangzhou — one direct train per day, 29 hours, ¥266-738.
 * Guilin — one direct train per day, 39 hours, ¥271-754
 * Nanning — one direct train per day, 46 hours, ¥302-841.
 * Chengdu — one direct train per day, 40.5 hours, ¥281-783

By boat
Qingdao has international ferry connections. It is also a port of call for cruise ships.

South Korea
From Incheon, South Korea there are ferries three times a week by Weidong Ferries.

Japan
There are also twice-weekly connections from Shimonoseki, Japan on Orient Ferries . The trip takes over 24 hours and 2nd class one-way costs ¥12,000. The voyage is one night from Shimonoseki to Qingdao, but two nights from Qingdao to Shimonoseki. The ferry also serves as a cargo vessel and after boarding in Qingdao, it will often take several hours to finish being loaded with cargo before it departs.

The restaurant food and drinks, snacks and souvenirs from the shop are all priced in Japanese yen, so make sure to get some/have some left over before boarding. The cost of most food and drink is reasonable considering you're stuck on the boat with nowhere else to buy things, but the pennywise traveler will definitely bring their own alcohol, cigarettes, and snacks. (Mind that there might be duties when crossing into Japan or China).

There are electrical outlets in the lounge area, but if those are taken, there are also some up in the gym/fitness area, where no one goes. After boarding from China, the ship operates under Japanese time, so change your watches and pay attention to announcements for when dinner will be served, as food is only served at certain times of the day. There are Japanese-style shower/bath rooms on the upper level where the first class rooms are.

By bus
If you are travelling from within Shandong Province, going by bus is probably the easiest way. Especially now with the new excellent and fast expressways linking Qingdao with other cities in the province. There are several buses per day from Jinan, Taian, Qufu, as well as Yantai and Rizhao on the coast. They leave from and arrive to the bus station just outside the train station, but also from the new bus station north of town, which can be reached by local trolleybus number 5 in 20 minutes.

By taxi
As of November 2017, the meter rate for normal taxis starts at ¥10 while the larger cabs start at ¥12. The meter is based on both distance traveled and time taken. If you take a taxi to or from the airport, and use the Qingyin expressway there will be a ¥10 rate added to whatever the meter price is.

During the summer months that are the peak tourist season, taxis may be hard to flag down. If ever you get one of the larger taxis, the drivers will usually be delighted to give you their business card, so that in the case of planned travel to somewhere like the airport or train station, you can avoid the hassle of trying to flag down a cab.

If you have a SIM card and internet on your phone, you can order taxis using an app (for example Didi), and the rates might even be lower.

By metro
Qingdao's metro system opened in 2015. As of 2024, there are 8 lines with more under construction.

M1 runs directly north to south, connecting North urban area Chengyang district with the West Cost Area(Huangdao District). The 60km-line cross the Jiaozhou Bay with the 5.5km tunnel to make a connection of East-Coast urban area and West-Coast urban area, making it the most crowded metro line in Qingdao, even Shandong Province.

M2 runs east–west near Qingdao's south shore, then turns north. It serve as a addition of metro line 3, connect several tourist attractions and the Laoshan Jinjialing Financial Area. By the way, you can transfer to line 3 at the May 4th Square station and Licun station.

M3 runs approximately north–south, connecting the main train station (火车站 huǒchē zhàn) to the north rail station (青岛北站). Along the way it passes May 4th Square, where Qingdao Government is located. As the relatively oldest line, it may be the noisiest subway line. Totally, the areas covered by line 3 is conferted by residents and workers, so it is also hard to find a seat during the peak period.

By bus
The bus and trolleybus network is quite well put together and useful once you figure out the routes. Buses 11, 26, 228, and 501 run from the railway station (Shinan District) along the coast via Donghai Xi Lu to all the beaches in the modern eastern part of town (Middle Hong Kong Road), where pubs and cafes are located. Many major routes have dedicated bus lanes, that can make taking the bus faster than taking a car during rush hour. Buses 316 and 231 will bring you to the center of the town from the newly renovated station. Regular buses cost ¥1 and the air conditioned ones are ¥2. If you get on a bus that goes really far (out to the suburbs) you need to tell the ticket person on the bus where you are going and it will cost up to ¥6.

By cycling
Very few locals in Qingdao cycle because it is illegal on streets and sidewalks. When renting a bike make sure that it is legal to ride your planned route. There are more than 40 km of waterfront trails. If you really want a workout, try hiking Fushan or the TV Tower hills as there are some decent mountain bike trails.

Beaches
Qingdao has some wonderful beaches worthy of visiting. Unfortunately, litter is a problem at all of them, ranging from the occasional cigarette butt to having to wade through a flotsam of trash just to get into the ocean itself. Your experience will vary depending on the tides and the time of year you visit. During summer weekends, Qingdao city beaches are very crowded (sometimes upwards of 100,000 people), and slightly less crowded on summer weekdays. Again, these can be packed full of people during the weekends. Bring sunscreen, while you can buy beach toys, food, drinks, and knick-knacks at any of Qingdao's beaches, surprisingly no-one sells sunscreen at the beach. You can find bathing beaches all along the seaside from the Zhanqiao Pier to the Shilaoren Beach in the eastern suburbs.

International Beer Festival
Qingdao International Beer Festival, held at the end of August every year, is a celebration of Qingdao's brewing heritage. During the daytime, there are official ceremonies that celebrate Qingdao's heritage as well as carnival type rides, food and games. In the evening, the event really picks up as crowds flock to huge tents set up by each beer company with a presence in China.

You can sit down and order beer or snacks. The price of food at night during the festival may be beyond budgets of some. You can also watch (or participate in) various performances such as karaoke, concerts, auctions, or comedy. The entertainment, however, is tame and bland.

The International Beer Festival, unfortunately, no longer seems to have much of an international presence save the beer. Much of what you see now can be found at any Chinese carnival, park or civic celebration.

Other

 * Huangdao District (黄岛) — Providing there isn't persistent fog as is often in the area, one can take a ferry from Qingdao port to the neighbouring district of Huangdao. The city has mostly been built in the last 10-15 years and thus is completely devoid of character. That said, there are plenty of Japanese hostess bars, and a few Western drinking holes too, if you get tired of Qingdao's fare. The ferry prices generally range from ¥15-30 one way, but if the ferries aren't running the taxi fare is more than ¥200 back to Qingdao.

Eat
Head to Yunxiao Road west of Fuzhou South Road for a large selection of restaurants of all Chinese varieties ranging from the local Shandong style, to Cantonese and Sichuan. Yunxiao Road is recognized as Qingdao's restaurant street, and serves up a wide variety of mouth watering dishes. Minjiang Road, near Fushou South Road (bordering on Qingdao's restaurant district), has several outstanding restaurants. The area is booming with foods from around the world.

Budget
Small cheap restaurants are found around the city, especially away from the main streets. Basic meals for less than ¥10.

Dumplings
Also, dumpling restaurants tend to be cheap, some options are:

Other
If you want something a bit more comfortable than the most basic restaurants, you can try one of the restaurants below where you can expect to pay around ¥20-40 each person:

Drink
Being Qingdao, you can expect to find, well, copious amounts of fresh Tsingtao. The brewery was founded by Germans during colonial times. Every August there is a beer festival (check the listing in the "Do" section). Many European breweries participate. One of the neatest things about Qingdao is the ability to purchase fresh from the factory draft beer almost anywhere. You will often see kegs sitting outside most restaurants and snack stores. The beer is sold by weight (asking for "yi jin" gives you 500 g, or half a litre), this will be served to you in a plastic bag! There are also numerous beer gardens where you can sit and drink from glasses, one glass of fresh beer ("san pi") only costs about ¥10. The Tsingtao "san pi" is some of the best Chinese beer you can get. Don't worry, it's served cold.

Qingdao's nightlife scene continues to evolve. The Jiangxi Rd. strip located downtown near Hong Kong Middle Rd. continues to have more and more bars. There is also a new development called Zhonglian Plaza (中联广场) located at Nanjing Rd and Ningxia Rd, that offers many large Chinese-style clubs. Karaoke (KTV) is very popular activity amongst the locals. There are a few western style club/discos in the Hong Kong Road area close to the Jusco. Thanks to the very large Korean expat population, there are many Korean style bars. Most of these bars can be found in the Hong Kong Gardens area.

Stay safe
Generally, Qingdao is a very safe city although the general travel advisories such as keeping your bag close, not flashing large amounts of money and using common sense are always advised. Violent crime or serious thievery is not a common problem.

Also, be wary about buying Xinjiang nut loaves from vendors along the boardwalk near the Zhan Bridge unless you don't mind paying ¥200 for 2 kg of the loaves when all you wanted was a small piece to try. If you must buy them, make sure you agree on the price for each liang (the unit of measurement) of the loaf before you get the vendor to slice it. Also, tell him exactly how many liangs you want, although some tourists have commented that the vendors will still cut a much bigger slice than what you asked for. Sinkiang nut loaves are notorious for their ridiculous price throughout China.

Visa information
Qingdao officials have been known to sweep bars. To avoid troubles, you should keep your passport and visa with you at all times. It is advisable to keep copies of your passport information page and visa in a safe place at your hotel or hostel.

Connect
There is a small tourist information kiosk located close to the main rail station. Whilst exiting, turn right and walk through the plaza, crossing the street, then turn left to the corner where you will see a small kiosk. It's near KFC. There is a tourist complaint hotline, which is 8591–2000.

The main post office is located at 8 Anhui Lu, and branches can be found throughout the city. Opening hours at the main post office is 8AM to 6PM.

Emergency numbers: 110 - Police, 119 - Fire, 120 - First aid, 122 - Traffic accidents

Relevant numbers: Qingdao Railway Station: 8601–1111, Qingdao Railway Station Ticket Reservations: 9510–5105, Qingdao Sifang Bus Station: 8371–8060, Qingdao Liuting International Airport: 96567, Taxi Reservations: 9600-9797

Laoshan
Located a 30-min bus ride east of downtown, Laoshan (Mount Lao) boasts a 2100-year-old Dao temple and is a must see for the Qingdao area. Often credited with being one of the temples that gave birth to the Dao way of thought, the Laoshan temple is tucked just between the mountains and beach. You can wander the temples or take one of the many paths winding up and around the mountains to enjoy the view, see waterfalls or listen to the tales of the ancient snake and other phenomena that haunt the Laoshan area. The mountain offers both regular hiking from the main entrance, as well as a stone-paved trail to Chao Yin waterfall and tea house from the north entrance

Bus 304 can be used when travel to Laoshan from Qingdao. The bus can be boarded at the train station close to the west side of beach no. 6.

Bus 304 will not take you all the way to Laoshan's main entrance. The bus trip from the train station to the terminal bus stop will cost about ¥10. A taxi from the terminal bus stop to Laoshan costs about ¥20. Unfortunately it's not easy to find an available taxi at the terminal bus stop. A good piece of advice is to start walking towards Laoshan and grab an empty taxi on the way. The actual distance from the end stop to Laoshan is too far to walk. The entrance fee for Laoshan is ¥70. It's also a good idea to book a taxi before hand for the return journey.

Weifang
Weifang is a city in Shandong province that is the home of China's International Kite Festival. Visitors can visit the Kite Museum where artists produce not only kites, but also New Year's Paintings, carvings, and other forms of art. The Museum also houses a Ming dynasty era home of a young family of historical interest. Visitors may also visit the historical home of a local landlord from the Ming Dynasty on Weifang's oldest street. The city is approximately 2 hours by car from Qingdao on the way to the coastal city of Yantai.

title: Qingdao


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Qinghai

Qinghai (青海 Qīnghǎi) is a province in Northwest China. It is located south of the Republic of Mongolia, east of Xinjiang, and north of Tibet. It is one of China's least populous and least densely populated provinces with under six million people in an area somewhat larger than France.

Geographically Qinghai is on the Tibetan Plateau and is the source of several of China's major rivers. The Yellow River (Huang He) starts in central Qinghai and flows north and east through much of North China. The Yangtze and the Mekong both start near the southern edge of Qinghai and flow across Tibet into Yunnan where they are two of the Three parallel rivers, then diverge to flow into different oceans.

Historically, what is now Qinghai was one of the three provinces of the old Tibetan Empire and was called Amdo. It has its own dialect, Amdo Tibetan. Tibetans are still the main ethnic and cultural group, but Mongols, Hui (Chinese Muslims) and Han (ethnic Chinese) have been present for centuries and more Han have been moving in over the last few decades, albeit largely concentrated in a small area around the capital Xining. The current Dalai Lama was born here in 1935.

Cities

 * - the capital city, on the Qinghai-Tibetan Railway
 * - second largest city in Qinghai, start of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
 * - home of the famous Kumbum Monastery
 * - known as Rebkong in Tibetan.
 * - a small predominantly Tibetan city near the start of the Yellow River. Featuring hot springs, unrestored Qing dynasty walls and lovely scenery.
 * - known as Jyekundo in Tibetan
 * - known as Jyekundo in Tibetan

Other destinations

 * Henan Mongol Autonomous County (Mongolian: Sogwo) - These nomadic horse riders are different from Tibetan nomads in culture and dress, and their Mongolian-style tents, or 'Pao', are to be seen all across the grassy plains of the area
 * (青海湖 - also called Lake Koko Nor in Mongolian and Tso Ngonpo in Tibetan) - this 5,694 sq km lake is the largest lake in China, and is located between Hainan and Haibei
 * (སྟག་འཚེར། Dagcêr in Tibetan; 红崖 Hóngyá in Mandarin) — birthplace of the current Dalai Lama.

Understand
Qinghai, owing to its location in the heart of China, close to Mongolia and near the Silk Road, is ethnically mixed - Han, Hui, Kazakh, Mongolian, Tibetans, Tu and Salar inhabit the province. Han Chinese are largely concentrated in the eastern part of the province, near the capital Xining, while the rest of the province is sparsely populated and predominantly Tibetan. Most of Qinghai forms the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo. Yushu prefecture, in far southern Qinghai, is a part of the traditional Tibetan province of Kham. Outside the two main cities - Golmud and Xining -- population centers are tiny villages and towns, scattered along the desolate Tibetan Plateau.

Qinghai is perhaps China's most sparsely populated province. There are only 5.2 million people in an area bigger than France. Labor camps, prisons and nuclear testing sites are scattered among the ice-capped mountains. The extreme eastern part of the province is less harsh, with two major Tibetan monasteries and the charming capital of Xining. The southern regions of Qinghai sit at an average elevation of over 4000 m (13,120 ft) while the northern regions sit between 2500 m and 3500 m (8200 to 11,500 ft). Qinghai has some of the largest pasturelands in China. Many yaks and sheep are herded by Tibetan and Mongolian nomads. The prefectures of Haidong and Huangnan consist mostly of farming communities. The far northwest region of Qinghai is home to the Chaidam Basin which is one of the largest deserts in China.

Talk

 * While most inhabitants understand and speak Mandarin, Tibetans take pride in their culture and often prefer to speak Tibetan. Any effort you can make will be appreciated.
 * Local Han speak a regional variant of Chinese called Qinghaihua. The province's many ethnic groups all have their own languages, including Dongxiang, Mongolian, Salar, Tibetan and Tu. At any travel agency, big restaurant or hotel, standard Mandarin works fine.
 * The Amdo Tibetan dialect is spoken widely by Tibetans in the prefectures of northern and eastern Qinghai, while Kham Tibetan is spoken by Tibetans in Yushu prefecture in southern Qinghai.

Get in

 * Xining is connected by plane to China's main urban centers, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an and Guangzhou. There are less frequent flights to Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing.
 * Golmud has an airport, but the only regularly scheduled flights run to Xining and Chengdu.
 * Xining is connected with daily trains to many cities across China including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu and Lhasa, as well as an airport.
 * Yushu has an airport with regular flights to Xining and Lhasa.

Get around

 * There's only one rail line, the long, isolated Lhasa Express. In Qinghai the train stops at Xining and Golmud.
 * To go to most places within Qinghai you can use the province's extensive bus service. The hub is definitely Xining. From here it's possible to catch buses to most places in the province.
 * Xining has extensive buses connecting all parts of the city. The city buses usually cost ¥1 per person. Taxis start at ¥8 and are an additional ¥1.6 after the first 3km. After 9PM taxis are ¥1.9 per km after the first 3 km.

See

 * Jyekundo (Yushu) Horse Festival- This is one of the largest and most exciting horse festivals in the Greater Tibet area. It begins each year on July 25th.
 * Amnye Machen- This is one of the holiest mountains in Tibet rising to 6282 m (20,605 feet). This is one of the best places in Qinghai to go trekking.
 * Mengda Lake- An alpine lake in Xunhua county surrounded by forests.
 * The Gyanak Mani Temple, just outside of Jyekundo, has the largest collection of carved prayer stones anywhere in Tibet. There are over 2 billion prayer stones stacked neatly in a 1 square kilometer area.
 * Mt. Bukadaban- The highest mountain in Qinghai at 6860 m (22,500 ft).
 * Nomad Grasslands- Much of Qinghai is covered in high altitude grasslands which are home to Tibetan and Mongolian nomads. These grasslands are full of yaks and sheep.
 * Ngoring and Kyaring Lakes- These two beautiful lakes west of Maduo are the main sources of the Yellow River. These huge lakes sit at 4400 m (14,435 ft).
 * Kumbum Monastery (known as Ta'er Si in Chinese)- This famous Tibetan monastery was the birthplace of the famous Buddhist reformer Tsongkhapa. There are over 650 monks at Kumbum.
 * The 14th Dalai Lama's Birthplace- The current Dalai Lama was born in Qinghai, close to Xining. His birthplace is considered a holy site to Tibetan people.
 * The sources of the Mekong, Yellow and Yangtze Rivers - All three of these rivers have their starting points in Qinghai.
 * Bei Shan Park in Huzhu county- This large park is surrounded by forests and rivers and is a great place to go hiking or camping.
 * Kanbula Forest Park, about a 2-to-3-hour bus ride from Xining. 240 kuai admission includes bus rides throughout the park and a boat ride across the stunning Lijia reservoir. Also known as Zhakanbula or Khambra.
 * Qinghai Hoh Xil, the high plateau in northwestern Qinghai is the largest in the world and a natural world heritage site

Itineraries

 * With a week to 10 days, it's possible to make a loop from Xining or Lanzhou that hits several important sites. Start in Xining. Take a minibus outside of town to the Ta'er Si Monastery, a Yellow Hat Tibetan temple where that celebrates the first Dalai Lama. Head back to Xining and catch one of the hourly buses to a small town Tongren (a 4-hour trip), where Tus have painted elaborate Thangka paintings for several centuries. From there head on to Xiahe, just over the border in Gansu province. The three-hour drive passes 4000 m peaks and small Tibetan settlements. Xiahe's Labrang Monastery is the Yellow Hat's most important outside of Lhasa. Plan to spend a couple of days wandering through the temple and surrounding hills before taking the 6:30AM bus to Lanzhou with a large Hui population and cool scenery along the Yellow River. More than a dozen buses make the three-hour trip back to Xining every day, along with about a half dozen trains.
 * If your focus is more on natural scenery, with a lesser interest in temples and no desire to spend every night in Xining, it is possible to hit virtually every major scenic area short of Dunhuang in 5 days. Charter a private car and driver out of Xining (¥550/day is a fair rate as of July 2013), and your driver can make a grand loop of the Gansu-Qinghai area. First, stay a night at Zhangye's Danxia mountains--on the way, there are at least three scenic overlooks that provide sweeping views of Qinghai's verdant valleys. Then, head toward Ox-Heart Mountain (dubbed "the Chinese mini-Alps", and rightly so). On the way, you'll pass several ancient temples, and scenery that would not look out of place on the Scottish highlands. Then, spend a few hours driving through alpine, permafrost scenery as you wind your way above . Then, you'll wind your way to lower altitudes, heading towards Qinghai Lakes. Along the way, you'll pass through the massive Qinghai grasslands, which will take half a day (especially when you stop for scenic photo ops). Dominated by Tibetan yak and sheep herders, the grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see (and then some), encompassing lush rolling hills, winding tributaries, and probably the occasional burst of rainfall. At Qinghai Lake, stay the night on the west side of the lake, and at dawn, watch the sun rise directly from the lake itself. Bicycles are available for rent essentially everywhere on the lake. Then, drive a few hours to Gui De, which is at the origin of the Yellow River. Here, the Yellow River is a turquoise-green hue, and the geology is much like that along the US's Colorado River. Heading out from Gui De, take the rear entrance into Kambula National Geopark, and enjoy the spectacular scenery. On your way back to Xining, stop at Ta'ersi Monastery, and walk through a practicing Tibetan temple that dates back 600 years. Finally, arrive back at Xining, and enjoy a couple of bowls of niangpi from a tiny mom-and-pop noodle shop. Add a day to the itinerary if you want to visit Chaka Lake.

Do

 * Rafting the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers - Both rivers have sections perfect for whitewater and float rafting trips
 * Mountaineering - 16 mountains are open for climbing by non-Chinese
 * Singing Festival on 6th of 6th Lunar Month - Various locations throughout Qinghai, singing contests by Tu, Hui, Sala and Han folk singers

Buy
Qinghai is known for its Tibetan carpets, with numerous carpet factories located in the capital Xining.

Stay safe

 * Qinghai's climate in winter is harsh. Vast parts of the province are high, treeless steppe. Don't go off the beaten track on your own. Bring warm clothes and extra food supplies. It can snow year-round, and even in July temperatures regularly dip below freezing at night in regions above 4000m. Winters are brutally cold in much of Qinghai with temperatures at night between -20C and -30C.
 * Sunlight is intense here. The province receives very little rain, so those cloudless days and lack of shade mean it's very easy to get burned here. Bring plenty of sunblock. A hat is also a good idea.
 * When trekking through nomadic areas be careful around the dogs. Tibetan dogs in Qinghai are used as guard dogs and will attack anyone they are unfamiliar with. These dogs are quite large and often can weigh 60 kg or more.
 * Altitude sickness is a reality in Qinghai with much of the province being over 3000m. Give yourself plenty of time to acclimatize before going to high altitude regions. Try to ascend as slowly as possible.

Go next
The Qinghai–Tibet railway was inaugurated in July 2006. All of the trains to Lhasa pass through Xining, making the city the gateway to Lhasa. Getting train tickets from Xining to Lhasa is easier than in the larger cities of Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The train from Xining to Lhasa takes a little over 24 hours.

All foreigners who travel to Tibet must have a Tibet Travel Permit. Permits to go to Lhasa can be easily arranged at travel agencies in big cities e.g. Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and in Qinghai province in Xining or Golmud. In Golmud it is reported that travel agencies there charge a higher price for the permit.

title: Qinghai


text:
Qinghaihu National Park

Qinghaihu National Park (青海湖 国家公园, Mongolian: Kokonor, Tibetan: Tso Ngonbo) is in Qinghai province.

Understand
Qinghai Lake, in the northeast part of the province, is the largest inland saltwater lake in China. Both the Mongolian name and the Tibetan name mean 'Blue Lake'. The 0.8-km2 Bird Island, on the western edge of the lake, is a paradise for more than 100,000 migratory birds, including bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, swans, and wild ducks. May through October is the best time for bird-watching.

Flora and fauna
May to June is peak season for bird watching at Bird Island.

See our article on travel photography, especially the section on telephoto lenses, for advice on photographing birds.

Get in
In Qinghai's capital, Xining, it's hard not to wind up at the lake. Touts shout "Qinghai Hu! Qinghai Hu!" at both the bus and train stations, while it seems that every taxi driver in town will try to turn a three-kilometer journey into an overnight excursion to the lake. Be careful, and bargain hard.

There are three main ways to get to the lake:

By car
These can be hired from a travel agent for ¥400. Or try approaching any taxi driver, as they or someone they know can take you to the lake for cheaper.

By bus
Most westbound buses from Xining pass by the lake. Just buy a ticket and tell the driver you want to get off at the lake. You will be dropped off at either Heimahe (黑马河) on the southern shore or Gangcha (刚察) on the northern shore. A ferry service operates between the piers of both locations.

As of October 2016 the government runs direct buses which stop at Qinghai lake as well as Kumbum Monastery and Kubula Forest Park. ¥100 per ticket. See the Xining page for more information.

By tour
A number of companies in town offer trips to the lake. The standard run stops at Bird Island, the lake, a former nuclear testing site and several jade stores in a long day trip from Xining. Prices start at around ¥100, which doesn't include entrance fees that more than double the price. Once there, note that the designated Qinghai Lake scenic spots (青海湖风景区) require an entrance ticket. As of October 2016 this was ¥100 for entrance onto the pier and surrounds. The ferry service between the stops - Gancha (刚察) and Heimahe  (黑马河) starts at ¥110 return.

Fees and permits

 * Bird Island is developed as a park, and can only be entered on a bus tour. Tours take 1-2 hours and cost ¥100.
 * Most of the lakeshore is owned by individual families, who will charge visitors ¥2-10 to visit.

Get around
There are a few buses a day from Heimahe to Qinghaihu Binguan where you would get off for Bird Island and then it is a 2-hour walk from there to the site. Might be able to arrange ride at Binguan.

See

 * Bird Island (Niaodao) - breeding ground for migratory birds on western shore of lake.
 * Shaobei Hu - lake northeast of Qinghai Hu that might be more beautiful, tent camping is offered

Do
Biking around Qinghai Lake is one of the more popular rides in China. The 360-km loop can be done in 3 days if you're adventurous, or 4 days at a more comfortable pace. Mountain bikes are available to rent at most towns around the lake, with xihai on the east side being the typical starting point for visitors from Xining. The road is generally quite good, but there are sections where wider tires are necessary.

Sleep
Accommodation is available at Heimahe and Hudong Muchang (Pastures)

Lodging

 * Qinghaihu Binguan, located east of Fuaicheng Shinaihai village on the road to Bird Island

Kokonor Lake International Youth Hostel (青海湖牧民之家国际青年旅舍) , south of lake; the only youth hostel around the lake. tel:0974-8519511 address:2103 km,109 state-way, Qinghai Province E-mail:muminzhijiahostel@163.com

Stay safe
Wild birds may carry bird flu; avoid contact with the birds themselves and their excrement.

title: Qinghaihu National Park


text:
Qingtongxia

Qingtongxia (青铜峡; Qīngtóngxiá) is a city in Ningxia Autonomous Region in China.

Get in
Qingtongxia is 80km south of Yinchuan and can be reached by bus.

title: Qingtongxia


text:
Qingyuan

Qingyuan (清远; Chīngyúhn in Cantonese, Qīngyuǎn in Mandarin) is a city in Guangdong Province in China.

Districts
Qingyuan Prefecture consists of the following districts:
 * Qingcheng District (清城区; Qīngchéngqū) - centre of the city
 * Yingde City (英德市; Yīngdéshì) - 50 km northeast of the city centre, home to Baojing Palace
 * Lianzhou City (连州市; Liánzhōushì) - 150 km north of the city centre, home to the Underground River
 * Fogang County (佛冈县; Fógāngxiàn) - 40 km northeast of the city centre, home to Huanghua Lake
 * Yangshan County (阳山县; Yángshānxiàn) - 100 km north of the city centre, home to Shikengkong Mountain
 * Qingxin County (清新县; Qīngxīnxiàn) - home to caves and hot springs, just north of the city centre
 * Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County (连山壮族瑶族自治县; Liánshān Zhuàngzú Yáozúzìzhìxiàn)
 * Liannan Yao Autonomous County (连南瑶族自治县; Liánnán Yáozúzìzhìxiàn)

Understand
The area has been inhabited for thousands of years by both Han Chinese and ethnic minorities. The present city of Qingyuan was established as a prefecture level city in 1988.

Qingyuan is just north of the Pearl River Delta in a diverse landscape with both plains and mountains. The climate is subtropical monsoon with plenty of rain in the summer half and not too cold winters. The city can be visited all year but is most pleasant during April to October.

Talk
Cantonese is the main language spoken in Qingyuan, albeit with a distinctive accent. Although there are noticeable pronunciation differences between the local dialect and standard Cantonese, if you are fluent in standard Cantonese, this should not pose too much of a challenge. Most younger locals are bilingual in Mandarin and Cantonese.

By plane
Qingyuan does not have its own airport but Guangzhou Airport is only 30 km away.

By train
Arriving by train will take you to Qingyuan Station some 15 km east of the city centre. Trains include from
 * Guangzhou - less than one hour, ¥10-17
 * Shaoguan - 1½-2 hours, ¥21-34

By bus
There are plenty of buses to the city arriving including from
 * Guangzhou - 1½ hours
 * Shenzhen - 2½ hours
 * Hong Kong - 4½ hours

Old bus station: 3306600 New bus station: 3368565

Water-rafting
Not white-water rafting as we know it but a man-made cement slide on a mountain where two people sit in a small dinghy and hang on for dear life. No guide and no rowing required. Going with a tour agency can get you better prices as they often tie in the tour with shopping visits in which you listen to a lecture on a variety of products. Whilst it may seem boring, the entire tour including lunch can end up being cheaper than the entrance fee at the rafting site. There are several canyons to choose from.

Buy
There are several local herbal and medicinal products on sale, such as deer wine and lingzhi, an expensive medicinal fungus.

Eat
Qingyuan is known for its chickens (清远鸡), and naturally, this makes it an excellent place to try chicken dishes.

Qingcheng District: knife cut glutinous rice, white cut Qingyuan chicken, Chau heart big congee

Qingnew District: Shantang preserved meat, Shuangtan tofu, Shuangtan Shankeng snail, Shitan soy sauce chicken

Fogang County: Shuitou pork, Gaogang sour tofu, taro black goose, Minan white cut chicken

Yingde City: Kowloon tofu, Lei Cha congee, Big Bay cabbage bun, yellow flower meat, Yingde black tea

Yangshan County: Yangshan chicken, wheat soup, Taiping Shui soup, Huangben autumn cake, Libu red yeast meat

Yao Autonomous County, Liannan: Yaoshan tea oil, Yao cell rice wine, big glutinous rice cake, big leaf tea, Handzhashan fern bundle meat

Lianzhou: Lianzhou Crystal pear, beef mixed, Steamed cut powder, star steamed pork Pork Lianshan Zhuang Yao Autonomous County: Rice fish, smoked bacon, Glutinous rice cake

Drink
Qingyuan Tie Guan Yin（清远铁观音）: Clearwater Tie Guan Yin is a type of oolong tea, renowned for its unique floral and fruity fragrance. Its leaves are shaped like iron blocks, hence the name "Tie Guan Yin."

Qingyuan Biluochun（清远碧螺春）: Biluochun is a green tea, and the tea leaves from the Clearwater region may have a distinctive flavor influenced by the local climate and soil conditions, characterized by freshness and a crisp taste.

Qingyuan White Hair Silver Needle（清远白毫银针）: This is a type of white tea, known for its tender buds and prominent white hairs. White tea is crafted with a simple process that emphasizes preserving the natural flavors of the tea leaves.

Qingyuan Puerh Tea（清远普洱茶）: The Clearwater region may also produce Puerh tea, a fermented tea with a unique aged flavor.

title: Qingyuan


text:
Qingzhou

Qingzhou (青州, Qīngzhōu) is a city in Shandong Province in Eastern China.

Understand
Qingzhou is a developing and rarely visited (by foreigners) city of nearly a million people. The number of cranes outnumber foreign tourists hundredfold.

In China, this city is mostly famous for being surrounded by beautiful (and typically "Chinese-looking") mountains, including Tou Shan (Camel Mountain) and Yunmen Shan (Cloud Gate Mountain), which includes an ancient collection of Buddhist grottoes under national protection. They are located approximately 4 kilometers southwest of the city center.

The most bustling part of the city is around the People's Market in the crossing of Yao Wang Shan West Rd and Yunmen Shan North Road with a high number of shopping malls centered in this area (pictured Wang Fu Xi Jie Street is a parallel to Yao Wang Shan West Rd). There is also some action on Yunmen Shan South Rd just south of the river, which is lined with nice pathways for easy strolling.

Just north of the same river crossing is a newly built coulisse area meant for tourism. The architecture is supposed to look traditional Chinese and the locals talk it about as the Song Cheng Rd. It offers more upscale restaurants and a clean and proper environment.

The city has a well built road infrastructure with wide and long boulevards so there is not much road congestion.

Get in
Qingzhou is a stop on the Beijing-Qingtao express train route. The railway station however is, for some reason the Chinese government will most likely explain in the coming 15 years, located 4-5 kilometers outside the city in no man's land. Taxis with meters are easy to find, but a taxi is likely the only help a lost traveler will get at this remote railway station.

Do
Hiking in the mountains with beautiful views of Chinese looking mountains. Hiking up the Yunmen Shan can be a problem since it is fenced in, but most of the other peaks seem to be accessible.

Eat
Menus are generally not in English though some restaurants have picture menus or food displayed in the entrance.

Brazilian BBQ Restaurant. Why not open a Brazilian restaurant in Qingzhou...? It is located on Hai Dai Zhong Lu just east of the river. It's the first restaurant to the south after crossing the river eastwards. It has an excellent meat buffet for ¥78 with an impressive variety - cow, pig, chicken, goose, lamb, prawn, fish, duck, ox heart, ox tongue, and of course as always - the obligatory oddity... here, a grilled tiny baby sparrow.

For some local exoticism, walk down Qianyinzi Rd westwards from Days Hotel & Suites on the north side. Go into the alleys 200-300 meters down (lights will show the way) and invite yourself to one of the restaurants that look more like you have entered someone's living room. Sit on chairs, smaller than a 6-pack, and order the surprisingly delicious goose feet.

Safer options can be found in the more upscale Song Cheng Rd area, including the well known hot pot restaurant Liu Yi Guo.

Several fast food joints are present in the area around People's market on Yao Wang Shan West Rd, including Dicos's, There is a KFC just south of the river on Yunmen Shan South Rd, but no McDonalds.

Drink
Apart from the typical KTVs (karaoke) there seem to be very few Western style bars.

Outside Bar. Facing the bridge and river in the touristy Song Cheng Rd area. This large bar/club has fancy (kitschy?) decor, professional staff, Western drink menu and would be successful in any modern European city if it wouldn't play "Hotel California" as gearing-up-the-party music and have one waiter per customer.

There is one rather empty bar across the street, northwards, of Days Hotel with an unused drum set and large beer for ¥12. It has two large pictures of a Western looking "laowai" (foreigner) on the wall so its intention is probably to cater to the Western bar crowd.

Sleep
Qingzhou has several hotels in many different price ranges, though few of them are accessible through English web sites. The general rule, as in many parts of China, seems to be that booking through the web gives much better price than showing up at the door.

None of the places mentioned have staff who speak good English though they try hard and are friendly.

title: Qingzhou


text:
Qinhuangdao

Qinhuangdao (秦皇岛 Qínhuángdǎo) is a city of 1.9 million people (2020) in the urban area in Hebei province. Qinhuangdao Port is the largest coal shipping port in the country. The Qinhuangdao Wildlife Park and is China's second largest wildlife park.

Understand
Qinhuangdao has three urban areas:
 * Beidaihe: a seaside resort.
 * Haigang: the harbor area and considered Qinhuangdao proper.
 * Shanhaiguan: the eastern end of the Great Wall.

By plane

Other airports close by are Tianjin or Beijing Capital Airport  where you can take Inter-Provincial Bus. Take note of the timetable. Or you can take the train from those cities, see below.

By train
There are multiple train options when traveling to Qinhuangdao. Most visitors to Qinhuangdao are coming from either Beijing or Tianjin. Both cities are a two-hour ride on one of CRC's (China Railway Corp.) 'D' or 'Dong' trains. A ticket for a fast train to or from Beijing is ¥93, but expect to pay a ¥5 ticketing fee if not purchased directly at the departure train station. 'T', 'K', and 'numbered' trains also make daily journeys through Qinhuangdao, but they are much slower (4-6 hours from Beijing) and rarely worth the savings for western travelers who value time over cost.

By bus
Long distance buses are common in China, and Qinhuangdao is no exception. Buses depart from a central station near to the central train station in the Haiguan area of the city. Bus tickets from Beijing will often cost as much as train tickets, but the departures are more frequent. There is a direct bus from Beijing Capital International Airport direct to Qinhuangdao. Travel time is roughly 4 hours (depending on traffic), and tickets can be purchased directly at the bus station at the airport for ¥150.

Get around
Qinhuangdao is a relatively small city by China standards. However, due to its location on the water, the city tends to sprawl in a linear fashion along the coast from Shanhaiguan to Beidaihe, thus making buses and taxis necessary means for getting around.

By taxi
Taxis are inexpensive and abundant, thus making them the preferred means of transport for travelers. Be sure you can confidently communicate where you want to go before you get into a cab as most of the drivers in Qinhuangdao can not speak English, but many of them can read Chinese. You can ask somebody to write down the place where you want go in Chinese on a card, and show this card to taxi driver. The best approach is to have a valid phone number for where you are going, or a phone number for a contact who can communicate with the driver in Chinese, should there be a problem.

While most taxi drivers are honest and use meters, the ones around railway stations tend to refuse to use meters. The prices they ask are usually a rip off. Be prepared.

By bus
Buses are also a good option for getting around the city. City maps, which contain bus routes on them, can be obtained from kiosks near to the central bus and train stations. Buses cost ¥1-2 for a single ticket ride. However, the low cost means that buses are always overcrowded, and occasional pickpockets make it essential to protect your personal belongings.

See
Many of Qinhuangdao's attractions have been extensively restored or rebuilt in the 1980s. This includes most of the city wall as well as the Great Wall going towards the sea. The other side of the wall, going up the mountains, has been partly restored but some parts remain in their original, crumbling state.

Much of the "old" town, especially along the main north-south road, was completely reconstructed in 2008/09. Several city blocks were remade into a faux-old Chinese city that, despite the lack of history, is quite pleasant to walk through. Most of it, however, is still largely uninhabited and quite like a ghost town. Especially in the evening after sunset, with the tourists gone, you will find even the main streets almost deserted.

 * If you're content with seeing the wall hit the sea from the other side, turn left outside the entrance and follow the road making a right turn, going through the wall and to the beach. Walk about 200 m along the beach to get to the end of the wall. A fence has been put up preventing you to get closer than about 50 m to the wall, however, it may be possible to go through a hole in or under the fence. Judging by its appearance, several such holes have been patched in the past, but in Sep 2010, there is still one there. Passing the fence will not lead you to the paid area as the wall blocks you off from that.
 * At low tide it is allegedly possible to walk around the end of the wall and enter the paid area without a ticket. If you want to do this, make sure you understand the risk - if you get caught, you can be fined several times the admission fee.
 * At low tide it is allegedly possible to walk around the end of the wall and enter the paid area without a ticket. If you want to do this, make sure you understand the risk - if you get caught, you can be fined several times the admission fee.

Do
The city has a wide selection of entertainment options, but mostly are dedicated to nightlife and dining. The main attraction of the area is the sea and the relatively clean beaches. Day trips to Shanhaiguan and Beidaihe are hassle free and worth doing.

Buy
Qinhuangdao, like every city in China has its share of shopping. The downtown area is comprised of many shops all selling different goods at prices that are usually less than in Beijing. The styles however, tend to be out dated and nearly everything available is knock off versions of the 'real' products sold elsewhere in China. There is a great DVD store on the second floor of the 'Blog Theme Hotel' near to 'Qinhuangdao Number 2 Middle School'. There are also large electronic stores in the same vicinity. Most items are priced competitively and can be bargained for with some success.

Drink

 * Bar lotus' drink.jpg

Sleep
Qinhuangdao has lots of hotels in all price categories, but unfortunately, most of them are not allowed to take foreigners. If you are Chinese, you can get economy rooms (no bathroom) in the train station area for ¥40-50, or regular rooms starting at about ¥80.

There are several hotels that have permission to take foreigners. One is listed below; another is a smaller and cheaper place just south of the old town (if anyone stays there, please fill in the details). To find it, ask around at the train station (e.g. other hotels, taxi drivers). Taking a taxi to either of the two hotels should cost ¥5.

There are two more hotels that allow foreigners to stay:

Xiyuan Inn, 17th Building, Taiyang City, Xihou Street, Haigang District (锡源宾馆, 海港区太阳城17号楼 西后街, 海港区).

GreenTree Inn Hebei Qinhuangdao Sun City Express Hotel, 5-8F Building B No.9 Xinhua Street, Haigang District (格林豪泰河北省秦皇岛市太阳城快捷酒店, 海港区新华街9号B座5-8楼, 海港区).

Go next
On the southwest of Qinhuangdao there are Tianjin and Beijing. On the northeast there are Huludao, Panjin, Shenyang. On the north there is Chifeng, if you enjoy seeing grasslands.

Jiumenkou Great Wall 九门口长城 can be combined into a day trip with Qinhuangdao. It is in Liaoning Province but close enough to Qinhuangdao. One-way taxi from Qinhuangdao to Jiumenkou Great Wall is ¥40-50. Jiumenkou Great Wall is the solely Great Wall section that is built above a river. There is also the only existing Great Wall tunnel. Prepare at least 3 hours for a trip to Jiumenkou Great Wall from Qinhuangdao.

title: Qinhuangdao


text:
Qiqihar

Qiqihar is a city in Heilongjiang Province.

Understand
Qiqihar was founded as a walled city in 1691, and for a period the military government of Heilongjiang was based here. For many years, only Manchus were allowed to live in the city, but gradually it transformed to be dominated by Hans. Establishment of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1903 and later other lines made the city a transportation hub. During 1931-1945 it was an important military base for the Japanese occupation, which helped the city grow in size and importance.

The population of the city is 1.5 million and of the prefecture 6.1 million. The city consists of Longsha District (龙沙区), Tiefeng District (铁锋区) and Jianhua District (建华区), whereas the prefecture further includes 4 districts, 8 counties and 1 city.

By plane
Flights are available from Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai (Pudong).

By train

 * Bei'an - takes about 3-4 hours
 * Beijing - takes about 16 hours
 * Hailar - takes about 10 hours
 * Harbin - takes about 3-4 hours

By bus
Qiqihar has a bus network 齐齐哈尔公交网 (Chinese)

By taxi
Fares start at ¥6, for ¥20 you can cross the city.

Do
Not much. But here you can have easier access to train tickets for nicer places in northeastern China because the Qiqihar station is a large transfer hub.

 * Look at cranes

There is a national park located in the suburbs of Qiqihar. It is a beautiful grassland with marshes here and there. Qiqihar is famous for its cranes. At a specific time each morning, the park authorities let cranes out of their cages to fly and roam around the park. It's a beautiful sight, make sure you get there early enough to be there when they open the gates.

 * Listen to bird songs in the morning

At the coordinates: 47.308044,123.949783 in the morning around sunrise, a group of gentlemen get together and hang bird cages from trees. The birds sing back and forth to each other, it's truly a beautiful experience. There's a roundabout with a park of sorts in the center of it. There's a large statue in the middle - the guys meet around the statue and hang the cages from the trees inside this roundabout.

Drink
Harbin beer and peach juice!! Both are very tasty and refreshing!

title: Qiqihar


text:
Galilee Panhandle

The Galilee Panhandle (Hebrew: אצבע הגליל, Finger of Galilee) is the northernmost part of Israel (not including the Golan Heights), a narrow strip of land running north-south.

Cities

 * (Hebrew: קרית שמונה) – Israel's northernmost city and the only city in this region, with a population of 22,000.
 * – Israel's northernmost town.

Understand
It borders Lebanon to the west and north, the Golan Heights to the east, and the rest of the Galilee region to the south. It is a rural area mostly known for its natural beauty.

Geographically, the Finger of Galilee mainly consists of two parts: the Hula Valley, a very flat region known for agricultural kibbutzim and as a focus of bird migration, and the Naftali Mountains, a steep hilly region along the Lebanese border. Route 90, the main road in the area, runs north-south on the boundary between these areas.

Kiryat Shmona is the urban center of the region. It has facilities like stores and restaurants that will be of use to travelers, and it's the destination for all the area's buses. However, it is not very interesting.

By road
From the south, one drives into Kiryat Shmona on Route 90 from the direction of the Sea of Galilee.

There is frequent bus service from Haifa (routes 500, 505), Tel Aviv (840, 845), Safed (511), and Tiberias (541, 840). The bus from Tel Aviv takes 3 to 4 hours; the one from Haifa two hours. Buses from Jerusalem (963) are infrequent. Buses terminate at the.

By air
Ayit Airways has two daily flights between Tel Aviv (Sde Dov Airport) and the just to the south of the Finger of Galilee. Cost is ₪260 per person (₪185 for residents of the north). Sundays-Thursdays, no weekend service.

Get around
The fastest way is by private car. Infrequent buses run from Kiryat Shmona to neighboring villages and to the Golan Heights. Taxis are easily obtained, they are expensive if you want to go a long distance, but sometimes you can share with other people and it will be cheaper. Hitch-hiking is also accepted and possible.

See

Nature
The ridge to the north and west of Kiryat Shmona is great for hiking, mountain biking, and free-riding. There is a spectacular panoramic view of the Hula Valley and the Golan Heights. If you are adventurous, you might try paragliding.

The northern Jordan River is a popular site for kayaking, rafting, and other water activities. The water is pleasantly cool even on the hottest days of summer. You can do this in several different places:

Buy
This region is not a shopping destination. The one thing you might want to buy here is hiking and camping gear if you forgot to bring it with you:

Eat
Eating in Kiryat Shmona is probably not at the level of gourmands. Nevertheless, there are a number of Israeli-style places to eat where you can walk away feeling satisfied and well-nourished.

At the most basic level, there are any number of falafel stands. Probably the best is Falafel Shel Aharon, across the street from the police station in the Rasko shopping center. Another good one is found in Kikar HaHistadrut, near the municipal auditorium.

More elegant dining is found in a number of places that combine Italian influence with Israeli style. These include:

Toscana - Just outside of town on Highway 99 in the direction of the Golan Heights, this place is recommended for good coffee and fine Israeli-style breakfasts.

Focaccia Bar - In a small shopping center on Highway 99 near the entrance to Kibbutz Ma'ayan Baruch, this place has outstanding wood-fired pizza.

Sleep
Kiryat Shmona has no hotels inside the city limits. So either stay at a tsimmer (what most Israelis do), or at a hotel in a nearby kibbutz.

Stay safe
Southern Lebanon, which borders the Galilee Panhandle, is controlled by the Hizbullah militia which is dedicated to destroying Israel. There have only been a handful of border incidents since the 2006 Israel-Hizbullah war. But a major war could in theory break out at any time. The regions immediately next to the border (typically 1 km away or less) are heavily militarized. If you see any military installations, or signs declaring areas to be closed military zones, stay away!

Go next

 * Golan Heights – If you've made it this far, you might as well continue a few last kilometers east. In particular, northern Golan attractions like Mount Hermon and Nimrod Castle are very close to Kiryat Shmonah, Tel Dan, and other northern Galilee Panhandle destinations.

title: Galilee Panhandle


text:
Qobustan

Qobustan is a city in Azerbaijan's Baku Region.

Get in
From Baku - from the Old Town/Maiden's Tower/sea-front road take the number 120 or 88 bus to 20-Ci saha (Field of 20) bus stop, 0.20 manat; or bus 125 from Maiden's Tower to the end. Then take the 195 bound for Alat and get off in the town of Qobustan, 0.80 manat. Stop at the center of Gobustan village, just past the overhead pass (not at the entrance to the village where the driver may drop you and there are some taxis waiting). The museum is a 3.6 km walk in the opposite direction of the sea towards the hill with many rocks on, no shade, but flat to the entrance, if taking a taxi be sure to haggle for your fare. The Roman graffiti is on a rock in the middle of a road that branches off from the road at the base of the hill with the museum on it. The area around the museum is good for hiking, there are many dormant or extinct mud volcanoes that have been heavily eroded, making for spectacular scenery. The entry price for the park (includes the museum) is: adults 4 manat; children 0.20 manat, students 1 manat, parking 1 manat (Oct 2017). Plus, if you want, 6 manat for an English-speaking guide.

See
Qobustan is best known for its rock petroglyphs (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and mud volcanoes.

title: Qobustan


text:
Qolora

The seaside village of Qolora is located in the rural former homeland of the Transkei on the Eastern Cape Wild Coast of South Africa and is about 110 km east of East London. Qolora is situated on the south bank of the Qholorha River. The subtropical climate, unpolluted beaches and warm waters of the Indian Ocean make Qolora ideal for bathers, surfers and sunbathers throughout the year.

Get in
Qolora is about 110 km (a 1½-hour drive) away from East London and is accessible by pontoon ferry via the village of Kei Mouth. Qolora is 16 km beyond Kei Mouth along a gravel road.

Get around
There are no busses or taxis in Qolora.

See
The wreck of The Jacaranda, which has been high and dry on the beach since 1971. It's about an hour's beach walk from the Trennery's Hotel, which has a map at reception for 4x4 enthusiasts, complete with GPS co-ordinates showing you how get there.

title: Qolora


text:
Qom

Qom (Persian: قم) is a holy city between Tehran and Isfahan. Qom is 120 km from Tehran.

Understand

Qom is one of the holiest cities in Iran and the Middle East, and has a very long history. A famous site is the Fatima È Massummeh Shrine, which is a highly respected shrine and a very clean place. People of different nationalities are allowed to enter the shrine, no matter what their religions are or where they come from.

Qom has for a long time been the main city for religious studies in Iran. Hozeye-Elmiye-Qom is the largest theology school in Iran. Many senior clerics of Shia Islam live in Qom.

By plane
The nearest and most easily accessible international airport is Tehran's, which is due to replace the older.

The city's own airport is under construction, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

By train
Qom is well-connected by train, there are several daily trains from the capital Tehran, slower regional trains take about 2½ hours while the high-speed trains make the journey in just 1½ hour. There are high-speed connections from Arak and Yazd as well. Overnight trains runs from Isfahan, Mashhad and several other cities.

Notice that there are two stations, trains terminating in Qom calls at the central station while most intercity trains only call at Qom-Mohammadieh railway station, about 10 km east of the city. There are connecting shuttle buses between the two stations.

By bus
There are plentiful public buses from Tehran and other cities.

By car
Qom is along the north-south Freeway 7 which is in good condition. Driving from Tehran might be a reasonable option, but expect heavy traffic. Hiring a private chauffeur with a car or minibus is also possible and could be a less stressful alternative.

Get around
There is a pretty impressive bus and taxi system, which has many bus routes to Tehran and other cities. It is very cheap to travel by local buses in Qom. Local buses cost 7,000 rial, from any where to any point on the bus' route. You can travel almost anywhere by bus from mutahhari square ('the square'). Private tour buses are generally much more expensive. Also almost all main roads have circular taxi routes to M. Amin Blvd or the Holy Shrine.

Buy

Qom has many carpet and sweet shops. Qom is famous for its "sohân" (Persian: سوهان), a flat sweet biscuit made of pistachios and saffron. "Gaz" (Persian: گز), a nougat sweet is also available. Qom is also known for its unique and beautiful silk rugs. As one of Islam's holy cities, there are numerous religious shops which sell religious books, versions of the Koran and compact discs.

Eat
There are lots of places to eat in Qom which range from old-style Persian restaurants to international restaurants. Persian restaurants offer a more authentic cultural atmosphere than international restaurants. Most of the restaurants with good quality of food and environmental conditions are in Mohamad Amin Blv. which is recognizable by its tall compact trees. Places include Alborz, Madain, Morvârid, Jam and Markazi. You can find kabâb, grilled chicken and fried fish there. Dizi Baar (serving âbgusht) and Lebanese restaurants are located on Al-Qadir Boulevard and Mohamad Amin Boulevard.

Drink
In Qom, there are various cafes and fruit juice shops. Pomegranate juice is popular and is said to heal the sick. In the winter when it snows, hot chocolate and Persian tea (châi) are available.

Respect
Qom is one of the holiest cities in Iran and the Middle East, and as such be aware that Islamic customs and values are more likely to be important here than elsewhere in Iran. Don't let this worry you at all: ensure that you are respectful of religious and cultural practices and that you are dressed appropriately and modestly.

Stay safe

 * See the warnings at Iran.

Go next
Tehran – 120 km from Qom. Capital and largest city of Iran.

Yazd – 500 km from Qom. If you feel like visiting another quintessential Persian city, you can visit Yazd, a beautiful ancient one.

Isfahan – 300 km from Qom. Another option and a very beautiful city, considered to be one of the oldest and most historic cities in the world.

Na’in – 300 km from Qom. It's a small and quiet town at the edge of the desert to the south. You can cycle around and visit inside the Qanat or the underground man-made caves. To get there, ask for the bus to Yazd, Kerman or Zahedan and ask the driver to get you off at Na'in.

title: Qom


text:
Qom (province)

Qom is a province in Central Iran.

Cities

 * (Persian: قم) – The capital.
 * (Persian: دستجرد)
 * (Persian: قنوات)
 * (Persian: جعفريه)
 * (Persian: كهك)
 * (Persian: سلفچگان)

By air
The nearest and most easily accessible international airport is Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, which is due to replace the older Mehrabad International Airport.

By train
There are train routes which take you from Tehran and other nearby cities such as Arak, Yazd and Isfahan.

By car
Driving from Tehran might be a reasonable option, however, if you're worried about driving in Iran you can reserve a private bus to take you to Qom. After all, it is much safer to travel by private buses.

Get around
There is a pretty impressive bus and taxi system, which has many bus routes to Tehran and other cities. It is very cheap to travel by local buses in Qom. Private tour buses are generally much more expensive.

See
Qom city is a place of pilgrimage, prayer and study and the province also contains much natural beauty. Specific sights to see are covered in the article for Qom city.

Buy
Qom has many carpet and sweet (candy) shops. Qom is famous for it's "sohan," a flat sweet biscuit made of pistachios and saffron. "Gaz", a nougat candy is also available. Qom is also known for the unique and beautiful silk rugs which are famous worldwide for their unique silk and patterns. Naturally, as one of Islam's holy cities there are numerous religious shops which sell religious books, versions of the Koran and cassettes.

Eat
There are lots of places to eat in Qom which range from old-style Persian restaurants to international restaurants. Persian restaurants offer a more authentic cultural atmosphere than international restaurants.

Drink
Drinks are forbidden in Islam, thus the only types of drinks you will be experiencing there will be non-alcoholic.

title: Qom (province)


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Qomolangma

Qomolangma National Nature Reserve (Chinese: 珠穆朗玛峰国家级自然保护区) is in Tibet, covering the Tibetan or Chinese side of Mount Everest.

Understand
Qomolangma (Chomolangma/Chomolungma) is the Tibetan name for Mount Everest and translates to "Goddess Mother of Snows". It's the world's highest peak at 8,848 m. The border between Nepal and China passes through the peak of Mt. Qomolangma.

History

 * It was first climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, summitted from the Nepalese or southern side of the mountain.

Climate
The best season to visit is May to October, but the peak is often covered in clouds from July to August. Snow can be found on the Tingri Route around October.

Get in
The Everest Base Camp (EBC), elevation 5200 m, is about 800 km (500 mi) southwest of Lhasa. Due to the distance and the high elevation of EBC, it takes a few days to drive from Lhasa. There are two main trekking routes and an access road for Land Cruisers (which can be arranged in Lhasa or Shigatse).
 * Peruche Route - Shelkar - Checkpoint on Friendship Hwy - 200 m after 5145 km Marker on Friendship Hwy - Chay(Qie) Village - Pang La(Jiawu La) Pass - Peruche(Zhaxizongxiang) Village - Paksum(Basong) Village - Choesang(Quzong) Village - Rongbuk(Rongbu) Monastery - Qomolangma (Everest) Base Camp (this route mainly follows the roadway to Base Camp from the Friendship Hwy)
 * Tingri Route - Tingri - Lungjang(Longjiang) Village - Lamma La(Lamuna) Pass - Zommug(Cangpu) Village - Rongbuk(Rongbu) Monastery - Qomolangma (Everest) Base Camp (recommend a guide for this trek)

Fees and permits
Permits cost $7,000 per person from Tibet compared to $11,000 from Nepal. Note that the permit fee only gives permission to climb and does not cover insurance. As a general rule and best practice, most guide companies will require evacuation insurance and medical coverage. It is also recommended to take an insurance policy that includes trip cancellation. As Qomolangma is in Tibet, foreigners will also need to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit to visit, and you will need to book a guided tour in order to be granted one.

See
Tibet is known to offer a different and interesting view of the mountain's North Face. The view of Everest or Qomolangma, from the Tibetian side gives a clear, sweeping view of the mountain. Notable places to visit are:
 * Rongbuk Monastery (Dzarongpu Gompa) - located at the foot of the glaciers on north face of Mt Qomolangma, highest monastery in the world.
 * Qomolangma (Everest) Base Camp - start location for climbers up the north side of Mt. Qomolangma.

Eat
Food is available at Benba Guesthouse in Tashidzom and the Snowman Hotel in Pasum.

Lodging
Staying at private houses, teahouses, or lodges is the most common practice. You can also choose an agency that provides camping accommodation throughout the trek. At Rongbuk Monastery, lodging is available but you must bring your own food.

Camping
Lodging in tents is available at Jomolangma (Everest) Base Camp. Picking a good tent can sometimes be an issue. There is no problem when there is no snowfall. Some tents are not maintained well and get leaks when the snow melts.

Stay safe
Learn to recognize signs of altitude sickness before going and descend immediately if you or anyone in your party shows symptoms of this condition.

title: Qomolangma


text:
Quabbin

The Quabbin Valley is in Central Massachusetts, it consists of the Quabbin Reservoir and a number of small towns and settlements.

Towns and villages in the area inckude: Barre, Belchertown, Hardwick (Including the villages of Gilbertville, Wheelwright and Old Furnace), Hubbardston, New Braintree, New Salem, Oakham, Pelham, Petersham, Ware.

Understand
Back in the early 1920s the people from Boston, Massachusetts did not have their own water supply to satisfy their growing needs. Thirsty Bostonians looked eastward to the Swift River and the topographic design of the Pioneer valley and figured it would be a perfect fit for a reservoir. Through a series of buyouts the four towns that inhabited this area were bought and the inhabitants were forced to move. The entire landscape was torn up and recreated. Houses had to be torn down, factories demolished, millions of acres of trees were cut, and even bodies from cemeteries had to be dug up (except for some Native Americans) and moved to a new location in the near by town of Ware, MA. The actual flooding of the valley occurred in August of 1939 and in 1946 the reservoir was filled to capacity. To this day it is one beautiful sight in any season. During the Summer the water glistens, Fall brings the marvelous New England colorful foliage, and Winter in its silent white beauty descends on the area. This reservoir in the middle of Massachusetts, allows biking along its paths, hiking its countless trails, and even in the Northern section fishing is allowed in the summer. This is certainly a place for hikers, bikers and other weekend explorers. If one looks carefully, in the woods, there are countless cellar holes, stone walls, and abandoned roads reminiscent of a time past. While fishing, if one happens to look down into the water, on a sunny day, the remnants of old buildings and foundations can be seen at the bottom. This sort of eerie adventure brings many to this location during all seasons.

One of the most attractive features bringing traveler's to Petersham is it's wealth of conservation land. Bordering the Quabbin Reservoir, thousands of acres are under MDC control.

Wildlife
Many animals are active at dawn or dusk, so your chances of seeing some species are better at these times. The type of animals you are searching for will influence the habitat type you should visit. Two precautionary notes:

 * Animals are wild and should be treated as such. Do not approach animals, keep a healthy distance. Be sure to avoid any animals exhibiting odd behavior as the individual may be infected with rabies.
 * Feeding or baiting animals is strictly prohibited under MDC Rules and Regulations. When it comes to food, animals can fend for themselves just fine. Feeding them foods that are not part of their natural diet can actually be harmful to them and also make them reliant upon humans for their food.

Known animal species in the Quabbin area include the red fox, coyote, beaver, weasel, bobcat, porcupine, white-tailed deer, loons, bald eagles, black bear, and moose. There are have been confirmed sightings of mountain lions.

Get in
The Quabbin region is best accessed by car as there are no airports or train stations. Access to the northern end of the reservoir is via Massachusetts Route 2, exiting at Athol for Route 32 if coming from the east or exiting at Orange for Route 122 if coming from the west. Access to the southern end is via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), exiting at Palmer and taking Route 32 to Ware.

Get around
A car is the easiest way to get around the Quabbin region. The area is sparsely populated and public transportation is nonexistent. Route 32 running from north/south from Ware to Athol connects the communities on the east side of the reservoir. U.S. 202 running north south from Belchertown to Athol connects the communities on the west side. Route 9 connects Ware to Belchertown at the southern end of the reservoir while Route 122 skirts the northern end from Petersham to Orange.

Cycling is a popular activity in the region and most roads are quiet enough that you could use it as a mode of transportation. However, distances between attractions can be many miles.

Hiking

 * Some info from North Quabbin Woods
 * Some info from North Quabbin Woods
 * Some info from North Quabbin Woods
 * Some info from North Quabbin Woods

Fishing
All fishing must be done in the Northern Quabbin, you must have a valid fishing license, and must pay a fee before using any boat.(Kayaks and Canoes not allowed)

For a list of fishing regulations visit Massachusetts DEM Quabbin Fishing Guide

Go next

 * Worcester Hills
 * Brookfields
 * Amherst

title: Quabbin


text:
Quad Cities

The Quad Cities is a metropolitan area of five, not four, closely-entangled cities and their suburbs on either side of the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois. It is part of both the Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa regions.

Illinois

 * and East Moline

Understand
The Quad Cities has been passingly referred to as "forgottonia". Without a sizable core city, a major sports team or even formal recognition as a single urban entity from many planning commissions, it remains undetected on the national radar. As a result, it is frequently derided for its lack of stature when it achieves national attention. Such derision is more a reflection of the ignorance of those outside the area than it is legitimate fodder for amusement. Visitors are encouraged to check their biases at the door and explore everything the area has to offer.

Climate
The Quad Cities has a humid continental climate. Summers tend to be very warm to hot with high levels of humidity. Winters have cold temperatures and often high winds. Snow is likely to fall from November through February, however it has been know to snow as late as April. Average snowfall in the Quad Cities is 30.7 inches (78 cm) per year. January is on average the coldest month, while July is the warmest. Spring and Autumn can be difficult seasons to dress for as the days can be quite warm while the evenings can be quite cool.

Visitor information

There are visitor information offices in Union Station in downtown Davenport, Quad City International Airport in Moline, RiverStation/Bass Street Landing in downtown Moline, The District in Rock Island, and the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum in Walcott.

By plane

 * Quad City International Airport in Moline has non-stop flights from major markets primarily in the Midwest, the South and Southwest United States.
 * Davenport Municipal Airport serves private planes and small private jets.

By car
The Quad Cities are accessible from the east by Interstates 80 and 88, from the west by Interstate 80, and from the south by Interstate 74. US Route 61, a highway that runs alongside the Mississippi, also leads into the area. Interstates 80 and 280 form a beltway which is bisected by Interstate 74, making the entire area easily accessible by freeway. The area is also served by several bus stations.

By train
Amtrak plans to provide one train each day with direct service between Chicago and Moline. No start date has been announced as of Dec 2021.

Galesburg, Illinois, about 50 minutes south of Moline on Interstate 74, is served by four routes: California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Illinois Zephyr, and Carl Sandburg, all of which originate in Chicago.

Get around
Despite its relatively small size, the politically fractured nature of the area has eliminated central planning for the most part, making the area unusually difficult to get around in. For the public benefit, most gas stations post large, comprehensive free maps near their restrooms.

To aid the process of navigating the Quad Cities, a wayfinding color code system has been established for signs that direct people to various venues and attractions in the area. The area is divided into quadrants with their own colors and identifying headers on direction signs have the appropriate color for each quadrant so that travelers know, by color, which quadrant you are in and to which color you will have to travel to reach other attractions. The northwest quadrant (Davenport) use the green color in the header, the northeast quadrant (Bettendorf) is yellow, the southeast quadrant (Moline-East Moline) is blue and the southwest quadrant (Rock Island) is red.

By bus
Public transportation via city buses is available, but not widely used. The Illinois side of the metro area is served by MetroLINK buses. The Iowa side is served by two separate bus systems. Davenport is served by CitiBus and Bettendorf is served by Bettendorf Transit. MetroLINK Route 20 connects Quad City International Airport with downtown Moline.

There are several connection points between the three systems:

 * CitiBus Route 7 connects with MetroLINK in downtown Rock Island.
 * CitiBus Route 10 connects with Bettendorf Transit at Duck Creek Plaza and downtown Bettendorf.
 * Bettendorf Transit Route 5 connects with CitiBus at the North Ridge Shopping Center in northeast Davenport.
 * Bettendorf Transit Route 1 connects with MetroLINK in downtown Moline.

By water taxi
A unique way to see the Quad Cities is from the Channel Cat Water Taxi, an open air boat that transports people and bicycles to the Iowa and Illinois shorelines. There are four stops at the Celebration Belle and at John Deere Commons in Moline, the Isle of Capri in Bettendorf and the Village of East Davenport.

See
Though not officially named, the Quad Cities could well be another city called "The City of Bridges". Several pedestrian-friendly bridges span the Mississippi River, providing breathtaking views of several downtowns. Additionally, the "Skybridge" in downtown Davenport provides a bird's-eye view of that city's immaculate core while treating street-level pedestrians to an ever-changing array of colors from light-emitting diodes embedded in the bridge's structure. The area lies in a steep valley, allowing those approaching the Mississippi an astonishing view of the surrounding area.

Do
Any visitor to the Quad Cities should know that the world headquarters for the familiar yellow on green John Deere farm equipment is in Moline. A visit to the John Deere Pavilion is a must - you can view the history of John Deere plows and tractors in one big room. This is also a fantastic gift shop with everything from t-shirts to golf balls to paper plates for your next John Deere party!

The downtown Moline area includes the original 1908 Lagomarcinos, a confectionery shop with delicious homemade candies and chocolates.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to explore the Village of East Davenport, a converted residential neighborhood that now houses a thriving arts community. Isabel Bloom Studios, where world famous sculptures are created, is here with another location by the John Deere Pavilion in Moline.

Another notable shopping experience is the District of Rock Island, a pedestrian mall which hosts several exotic bars and coffee shops, and maintains a near continuous series of music and ethnic festivals throughout the summer.

Arsenal Island is a federally owned 900-acre island in the Mississippi River. The dreaded Civil War era Rock Island Prison (to which Ashley Wilkes is sent in the novel Gone With the Wind) was located here, and a cemetery of nearly 2,000 Confederate soldiers and a National Cemetery reside on the island.Other island attractions include the Colonel Davenport house, huge limestone buildings over 100 years old, and a lock and dam system that includes a swing-span on the iron Government Bridge. Public entrance is from Moline only, and visitors must register at the gate.

A visit to Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island brings you to an area that served for millennia as a location for Native American villages, particularly Sauk and Mesquakie.

The area was in the forefront of the riverboat casino movement in the 1990s. It now supports two casinos in Iowa and one in Illinois. The Isle of Capri is located in downtown Bettendorf and the Rhythm City Casino is located in downtown Davenport. Jumer's Casino Rock Island is at the intersection of Interstate 280 and Illinois 92 in southwest Rock Island.

For those interested in a more engaging experience, the Quad Cities plays host to the world-class Bix 7 road race, Sturgis on the River motorcycle rally, and the chance to use those golf balls at TPC Deere Run, home of the PGA John Deere Classic (held each July).

Moline's Vibrant Arena at the MARK (formerly the Mark of the Quad Cities, iWireless Center, and TaxSlayer Center) is the main concert and event venue, with concerts played year-round, and the Quad City Mallards hockey team. It also hosts the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament (marketed as Hoops in the Heartland) each March.

At Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium), spectators can watch the Quad City River Bandits baseball team (formerly the Swing of the Quad Cities) devour their opponents. It is near the north end of the Centennial Bridge, along the Mississippi River in Davenport.

An article in the popular satirical newspaper The Onion once questioned where the gay district of Moline could be found. Moline's gay district is a few minutes away, in nearby Davenport.

Observe the bald eagles feeding along the Mississippi River in the wintertime. The most opportune locations are locks and dams.

Eat
The Quad Cities is home to two unique styles of pizza. The first type is found at a number of restaurants, but the best example is Frank's Pizza in Silvis, Illinois (a small town abutting East Moline.) Founded in 1949, Frank's was one of the first (if not the first) pizza parlor in the Quad Cities. It serves a fantastic pizza, with a crispy-chewy crust and a great tomato sauce. The iconic version is the sausage, but you can get other toppings as well. It really is a unique style of pizza (it is even cut a different way -- in long thin strips) and is a treasure of the region. In addition to Franks, other local restaurants such as Harris Pizza serve a similar style pizza.

The second unique style of pizza can be found at Happy Joe's pizza. This small chain offers a well-loved taco pizza (not traditional, but still tasty) and a pizza topped with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut. You can get more typical toppings at Happy Joe's too. It also doubles as an ice cream parlor, and is very family-friendly.

Speaking of ice cream, Whitey's Ice Cream provides numerous flavors of delicious premium grade hard-pack ice cream and should not be missed. An excellent alternative is the less expensive local soft-serve ice cream shop Country Style which offers a variety of fresh ingredients. Both establishments can be found throughout the area, and any local would be happy to direct visitors to the nearest one.

The Iowa Machine Shed celebrates the American farmer, cooking from scratch right down to peeling the potatoes.

Tappa's Steak House west of downtown Davenport has been a family-owned and -operated steakhouse since the late 20th century.

The Quad Cities is host to a variety of Thai restaurants, including Soi, Lemongrass Cafe, or Miss Phey's Cafe.

For those seeking something with a more unique flavor, The Filling Station provides delicious American fare at low prices. Visitors are strongly encouraged to pay it a visit.

The Blue Cat Brew Pub serves very good fare ranging from burgers to seafood. Be sure to check out a few of the beers brewed at in the in-house microbrewery.

Those seeking a more upscale experience can visit the Woodfire Grill (previously called Centro), in downtown Davenport. John Deere Commons in Moline also hosts an upscale dining establishment, Johnny's Steakhouse.

Moline Centre (which is next to the John Deere Pavilion) is a host to a wide range of food, from pizza to Thai.

A traditional spread native to the Quad Cities region is the space jam, which is named as such due to its galaxy-esque coloring thanks to the mixture of milk and blackberries that goes into the production of it.

For coffee, the Quad Cities region has a variety of independent coffee shops. Cool Beanz and Redband offer a wide range of espresso drinks. 392caffe in Davenport is a modern, urban coffeehouse with upbeat music and a kitchen offering sandwiches and a bakery. Atomic is popular among the college students in the Quad Cities, offering energy drinks and coffee. Coffee House in East Davenport (frequently referred to as the East Village) is a quiet environment with bagel sandwiches and a wide range of drinks. At night on Thursdays, the shop hosts a trivia night and offers alcoholic beverages to adult guests.

Blue Spruce Bakery is in downtown Davenport, and offers fresh baked bread, pastries, sandwiches, and a selection of groceries.

Drink
The District of Rock Island, known locally as The District is a pedestrian mall which serves as home to numerous bars, and should not be missed. It also plays hosts to local several local festivals.

Davenport's downtown plays host to several large upscale nightclubs. Visitors need only park their car and follow the crowds.

Davenport's Rainbow District is a (very) small gay village located on the outskirts of the city's downtown. It consists of a handful of gay-oriented bars, nightclubs and restaurants, and is known for its popular drag shows. As with many areas in questionable parts of town, visitors are advised to proceed with caution when visiting the area at night.

As with many other working class cities, Davenport has a number of small neighborhood pubs among its residential developments.

The Moline Centre is a good place to park and walk. There are several bars including Bent River Brewery, try out their house beers. Also, there is Bierstube in the Moline Centre and in the Village of East Davenport. Looking for outdoor music: go to the River House.

Stay safe
Like larger cities, visitors to the Quad Cities should make an effort to avoid traveling on foot when alone at night, especially in the west ends of Davenport and Rock Island. That said, the area's greatest dangers tend to be experienced on the road; in the summertime deer make unfortunate moving roadblocks, and most locals know of someone who has demolished their car against one. The winter months proudly represent the Midwest's unpredictable weather and leave much of the area icy and unnavigable with little notice.

Telephones
The Quad City region is covered by two area codes. 563 covers the Iowa side of the river and 309 covers the Illinois communities. The Quad Cities has a special exemption when making local telephone calls. When using a land-line in the Quad Cities it is not necessary to dial the area code for telephone numbers within the greater Quad City area; simply dial the seven digit telephone number. If using a mobile phone, however, one does dial 1+ the area code as usual.

Newpapers

 * Dispatch & Argus - Moline-based newspapers.
 * Quad-City Times - Davenport-based newspaper.
 * River Cities' Reader - independently owned alternative newspaper

Consulates

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium

Go next
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Peoria and Rockford in Illinois are all nearby. The Quad Cities are a couple hours west of Chicago, connected by Interstates 80 and 88 and a couple hours east of Des Moines via Interstate 80.

title: Quad Cities