With
its colonial, predominantly German, history Qingdao
contains the architecture of many different European
styles. Outside of the old German Concession, north
of the railway station, most of this history is displayed
in Badaguan, also known as the Huiquan area. Badaguan,
literally the Eight Passes, is so named because eight
of the roads here are named after China's most famous
passes. The area features Russian, English, French,
German, and Danish constructions which are now mostly
either large scale guesthouses or sanitariums.
Badaguan is a great area to stroll through, not only
interesting for its tree lined avenues and proximity
to the Number One Beach, but also for budding botanists;
the roads here are also known after the flowers or
trees that line them, for example, Shaoguan Lu is
also called Green Peach Road, Ningwuguan Lu is called
Crabapple Road, Zhengyangguan Lu is called Crab Myrtle
Lu.
In recent years, a peach forest, flowering in spring,
has been planted at the northeast corner of the area.
While in the southwest corner lies the "the lovers'
paradise", a place favored by lovers where the
cypresses line both sides of the road.
How to get there: Wander northwards from the Number
Two Beach or straight off the Number One Beach and
you will hit Zhengyangguan Lu. All of the roads around
here are part of the Badaguan area.