Current Time in Qingdao
About Qingdao
Qingdao is located in China, in the Northern Hemisphere, and is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of around 7,172,451. It runs on Asia/Shanghai time, currently UTC+8:00 relative to UTC. Qingdao does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so this offset stays fixed year-round.
- CountryChina
- Population7,172,451
- Latitude36.0649°
- Longitude120.3804°
- Time zoneAsia/Shanghai
- Current UTC offsetUTC+8:00
- Daylight Saving TimeNot observed
Sunrise & Sunset in Qingdao Today
For Sunday, October 11, 2026, calculated from Qingdao's own coordinates.
Sunrise
Sunset
Daylight
Seasons in Qingdao
Approximate dates — the exact moment a season begins shifts by about a day from year to year.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Top Places to Visit in Qingdao
Zhanqiao Pier
Zhanqiao Pier, built in 1891 as a military wharf and later converted into a public promenade, is Qingdao's oldest and most recognized landmark, a 440-meter walkway stretching out into Qingdao Bay toward the small octagonal Huilan Pavilion at its far end. The pavilion's silhouette is instantly familiar in China as part of the logo for Tsingtao Beer, brewed in the city since 1903 under the German colonial administration. Large flocks of seagulls gather around the pier, particularly in winter, and vendors selling bird feed do steady business with visitors wanting to feed them by hand. The pier sits close to Qingdao's historic railway station and the start of the city's old German concession district, making it a natural starting point for exploring the surrounding waterfront on foot.
From Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, take Metro Line 8 to a connecting interchange, transfer toward Line 3, and ride to Qingdao Railway Station, a short walk from the pier.
Qingdao Railway Station sits on Metro Line 3; from there, it's a short walk to Zhanqiao Pier.
From Qingdao's long-distance bus stations, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer to Line 3 toward Qingdao Railway Station.
May Fourth Square
May Fourth Square, in Qingdao's central business district along the eastern waterfront, was built to commemorate the 1919 May Fourth Movement, a wave of nationwide protests sparked partly by the transfer of German colonial rights in Qingdao to Japan after World War I. Its centerpiece, a large red spiral sculpture known as the May Wind, symbolizes flame and wind and has become one of the most photographed modern landmarks in the city, particularly when illuminated at night. The square sits directly on Fushan Bay, offering open sea views and easy access to the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics' sailing events, a short walk further along the waterfront. Evening light shows along this stretch of promenade, running for a set window most nights, draw substantial crowds, particularly in summer.
From Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, take Metro Line 8 to a connecting interchange, transfer toward Line 3, and ride toward the square's nearest station in the central business district.
Qingdao Railway Station connects via Metro Line 3, transferring toward the central business district area near May Fourth Square.
From Qingdao's long-distance bus stations, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer toward the central business district.
St. Michael's Cathedral
St. Michael's Cathedral, completed in 1934, is Qingdao's largest Catholic church and one of the most visible legacies of the city's period as a German colonial concession, built in a neo-Romanesque style with twin bell towers rising above the surrounding old town. Its granite facade and stained-glass windows survived the Cultural Revolution relatively intact compared to many other religious buildings in China from the period, and it remains an active parish church today alongside its role as a heritage site. The cathedral sits within Qingdao's old town, a neighborhood of cobblestone streets and European-style buildings from the German and subsequent Japanese colonial periods, making it a natural anchor for exploring the surrounding historic district on foot. Its twin spires are visible from various points along the waterfront and provide one of the clearest visual reminders of the city's unusual colonial-era architectural mix.
From Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, take Metro Line 8 to a connecting interchange, transfer toward Line 3, and ride to Qingdao Railway Station, then a short walk into the old town to the cathedral.
Qingdao Railway Station sits on Metro Line 3; from there, it's a short walk into the old town to the cathedral.
From Qingdao's long-distance bus stations, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer toward Qingdao Railway Station.
Badaguan Scenic Area
Badaguan, meaning Eight Passes, is a historic residential district in Qingdao named for its eight streets, each named after a different pass along the Great Wall, lined with more than 200 villas built between the 1920s and 1940s in a wide range of European architectural styles, from Russian to British to Danish. Each street is also planted with a different single species of tree or flowering shrub, meaning the district's character shifts noticeably depending on the season, particularly striking when the crabapple and other flowering trees bloom in spring. Many of the villas remain private residences or have been converted into small hotels, so most of the experience is architectural viewing from the street rather than interior visits, though a handful of buildings are open as small museums. Its quiet, tree-lined streets offer one of Qingdao's more relaxed walking experiences, a contrast to the busier waterfront squares and piers elsewhere in the city.
From Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, take Metro Line 8 to a connecting interchange, transfer toward Line 3, and ride toward the Badaguan area, then a short walk.
Qingdao Railway Station connects via Metro Line 3, transferring toward the Badaguan area.
From Qingdao's long-distance bus stations, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer toward the Badaguan area.
Tsingtao Beer Museum
The Tsingtao Beer Museum occupies part of the original Tsingtao Brewery complex, founded in 1903 by German settlers and still one of China's best-known beer brands, exported globally under the name that reflects the old Wade-Giles spelling of Qingdao. Exhibits trace the brewery's history from its German colonial origins through Japanese occupation and eventual full Chinese ownership, alongside displays of historic brewing equipment and advertising material spanning more than a century. A working section of the original production line remains visible to visitors, and the museum concludes with a tasting area serving fresh, unfiltered draft beer straight from the brewery, often cited as one of the highlights of the visit. Its combination of industrial history and hands-on tasting makes it one of the more distinctive museum experiences in China, and it draws large numbers of both domestic and international visitors given the brand's national recognition.
From Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, take Metro Line 8 to a connecting interchange, transfer toward Line 3, and ride toward the Tsingtao Beer Museum's nearest station in the old brewery district.
Qingdao Railway Station connects via Metro Line 3, transferring toward the Tsingtao Beer Museum area.
From Qingdao's long-distance bus stations, take the metro to a connecting interchange and transfer toward the Tsingtao Beer Museum area.
China National Holidays
2026
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Tue, Feb 17 |
| Qingming Festival | Sat, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Fri, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Fri, Jun 19 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Fri, Sep 25 |
| National Day | Thu, Oct 1 |
2027
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Sat, Feb 6 |
| Qingming Festival | Sun, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Sat, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Wed, Jun 9 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Wed, Sep 15 |
| National Day | Fri, Oct 1 |
2028
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Sat, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Wed, Jan 26 |
| Qingming Festival | Tue, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Mon, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Sun, May 28 |
| National Day | Sun, Oct 1 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Tue, Oct 3 |
2029
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Mon, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Tue, Feb 13 |
| Qingming Festival | Wed, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Tue, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Sat, Jun 16 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Sat, Sep 22 |
| National Day | Mon, Oct 1 |
2030
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Tue, Jan 1 |
| Spring Festival | Sun, Feb 3 |
| Qingming Festival | Thu, Apr 4 |
| Labour Day | Wed, May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Wed, Jun 5 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Thu, Sep 12 |
| National Day | Tue, Oct 1 |
Daylight Saving Time
Qingdao does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The UTC offset stays fixed at UTC+8:00 year-round.
Time Difference from Top 10 US Cities
Time Difference from Top 10 Cities Worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions About Time in Qingdao
What time zone is Qingdao in?
Qingdao, China uses the Asia/Shanghai time zone. It is currently on CST (UTC+8:00). The live local time is shown at the top of this page.
Does Qingdao observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Qingdao does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so it stays on UTC+8:00 all year round and never changes its clocks.
What time is sunrise and sunset in Qingdao today?
The sun rises at 6:00 AM and sets at 5:30 PM in Qingdao today, giving 11h 29m of daylight.
What is the time difference between Qingdao and New York City?
New York City is 12 hours behind Qingdao right now. The full comparison against other major cities is in the tables above.
What is the UTC offset for Qingdao?
Qingdao is currently UTC+8:00. This offset is fixed and does not change during the year.