Qingdao has been imbued with a sense of modern history ever since the Germans first came here in 1895. With its deep-water port, rich mineral resources and fertile surrounding farmland, Qingdao became the German’s strategic base for their military and economic expansion in the Far East. Qingdao has been thriving ever since.

In 1898, the German imperial government promulgated a master plan for the development of Qingdao. Strict building codes were established, and the town was divided into various functional zones: residential, business, educational, and health care. Several distinct districts – a European District, a Chinese District and a Mining District – were established, and the town’s recreational facilities and infrastructure were also built with the highest standards in mind. A safe drinking water supply and sewer system was also developed, and Qingdao even more German than most German cities quickly developed into one of the most modern Chinese cities of the end early 20th Century.