Deutsch-Chinesischer Treffpunkt Qingdao

German Imprint

Innumerable “German Memories” can be found in Qingdao. Although more than a century has passed, German-style buildings are still everywhere and the traces of German culture can be figured out ubiquitously in its economy, culture and people’s daily life.

Historical Imprint

The relationship between Qingdao and Germany dates back to the 1690s. On September 2, 1898, the Qingdao-based German Governor’s Palace rolled out The New Urban Planning for Qingdao Bay, the first urban planning of Qingdao, which formed the rudiment for the urban development of Qingdao. Thanks to this planning, Qingdao Port was constructed, Qingdao-Jinan Railway as the first railway in Shandong was completed, Deutsch Wilhelm Schule which undertook cultural exchanges and communication between the East and the West was founded, and iconic red roofs of the city and the drainage system of old towns, which are still praised by people today, were built. All of these are precious legacies left by the Germans of that age to Qingdao. More than 100 German buildings such as the German Governor’s Palace and Christian Churches, which are well-preserved, have become the most distinctive label for Qingdao. They set the tone of European style for the city and serve as witnesses to the integration of Chinese and German cultures.

Chinese culture and German culture blend in Qingdao. Their interaction has made Qingdao a window for cultural exchanges between the East and the West. “Da Man”, the dialect phrase meaning “ladies” in Qingdao, is originated in “dame” from German language, and “Gu Li”, the dialect phrase for sewers, came from the pronunciation of “gully” in German. In addition, in the 19th century, German architects created a unique architectural style of Liyuan Courtyards by combining exquisite German architecture with living habits of Chinese people. Since then, the Liyuan Courtyard has gradually become the most typical sample of local dwellings with Qingdao characteristics.

Influence on Economy and Trade

Germany’s influence on Qingdao is also reflected in enterprise development and economic exchanges. In 1903 when a German businessman set up China’s first brewery in Qingdao with his British partner, perhaps they would never picture that the Tsingtao Beer has nowadays not only taken up the whole Chinese market, being sold in over 40 countries, but also enjoyed fame even in the birthplace of beer, Germany.

Haier Electronics is a successful example of cooperation between Qingdao and German enterprises after China implemented the reform and opening-up policy. In the 1980s, a state-owned refrigerator factory facing bankruptcy in Qingdao developed technical cooperation with a German enterprise, Liebherr, which not only helped the factory out of the desperate situation, but also contributed to the creation of the so-called “Haier Legend”. Just a dozen years later, Haier ranked among the world’s top ten electric appliances manufacturers.

In recent years, China and Germany have seen their relationship furthered and cooperation enhanced. The Sino-German Eco-park jointly built by the two governments has opened a new chapter for the cooperation between Qingdao and Germany. Engaged in building a first-rate international park, the Eco-park, centering on projects and prioritizing ecological conservation, is honored by the governments of the two countries as “The beacon project of ecology between the Chinese and German governments and the model for bilateral cooperation parks”. By the end of 2018, more than 380 enterprises, including 6 Fortune Global 500 giants and over 30 hidden champions worldwide, had settled in Sino-German Eco-park. They have formed the “4+N” industrial system led by intelligent manufacturing, life health, energy conservation and environment protection, new materials and equipment and hidden champions.

On November 28, 2019, Deutsch-Chinesischer Treffpunkt(DCT) Qinggdao was launched in Sino-German Eco-park, Qingdao West Coast New Area. 10 German-invested projects with a total investment of 1.07 billion euros collectively had their contracts signed and settled. Specializing in high-end equipment, intelligent manufacturing, commodity trading, education and training and other sectors, they are new drives for high-quality development of Qingdao West Coast New Area.