Qingdao History

Qingdao is a famous historical and cultural city, and a cradle of Taoism in China. As early as 6,000 years ago, humans began to settle in Qingdao. In Eastern Zhou period, the Dongyi nationality lived here and created the colorful Dawenkou, Longshan and Dongyueshi Cultures. Under the administration of Qi State, the second biggest town in Shandong was built and called Jimo (a county-level city of Qingdao now). After unifying the country, the first emperor of Qin Dynasty visited Langyatai (situating Jiaonan City of Qingdao) thrice. In Han Dynasty, the Emperor Wudi worshiped Heaven and his ancestors and built 9 imperial ritual halls on Nvgu Hill near Jiaozhou Bay. Subsequently, Qingdao developed into a bustling town called Jiaoao in the late Qing Dynasty.

In 1981, the government of Qing Dynasty set up defences, which was the beginning of the building of Qingdao. In 1897, Germany sent soldiers to capture Qingdao. After the First World War broke out, Japan captured Qingdao and began its military colonial ruling in place of Germany. The famous May Fourth Movement in 1919 started the journey of recovering Qingdao. In 1922, Qingdao was returned to China, and was under the direct control of the Beiyang Government. In 1938, Qingdao was captured by Japan again. Thereafter, in 1945, the National Government took over Qingdao. It was then liberated in 1949, and then was listed as one of the fifteen sub-provincial cities throughout the country in 1994.