Tsingtao Brewery Museum

The brewery was founded in 1903 by German and British investors during Qingdao's German concession period, using Bavarian equipment, Czech-style brewing and spring water from Laoshan, and Tsingtao became China's best-known beer internationally. The museum occupies the original brewhouse: the 1903 copper kettles, the old bottling line, machinery, advertising material and a walk-through of the modern production floor visible through glass. The ticket includes a glass of unfiltered raw beer drawn at the plant, which is not sold elsewhere, and a packet of the salted peanuts traditionally eaten with it. Qingdao's beer festival each August is among the largest in Asia.

What to look for

• The 1903 brewhouse - the original German equipment and copper kettles.
• The modern line - current production seen through glass.
• The raw beer tasting - unfiltered beer available only at the plant.
• The advertising history - a century of packaging and posters.

When to go

Year-round; the August beer festival fills the city and the museum. Weekends and holidays bring queues. The tasting is included and served at the end of the route.

Practical notes

The museum is a corporate showcase and priced accordingly. Queues at peak times are long. The plastic-bag beer sold on Qingdao streets is a local custom worth trying separately from the museum.

Nearby

Badaguan lies southeast; Laoshan is east of the city.

Key facts