The Qingdao International Beer Festival made its first appearance in Berlin on July 5, hosting a special event at the German capital's World Park. Held within the park's Chinese Garden, Europe's largest classical Chinese garden, the event blended beer tasting with immersive Chinese cultural experiences.

Visitors enjoyed Tsingtao beer tasting zones alongside interactive cultural activities including paper-cutting, calligraphy, and Chinese language learning. The event attracted about 10,000 visitors, many of whom gathered at photo spots to shout "Cheers! Qingdao" in Chinese.

"We have Oktoberfest in Germany and Qingdao International Beer Festival in China," said one visitor to Berlin. "I must visit this beautiful seaside city."

The festival, first launched in 1991, has grown into one of China's most internationally influential beer celebrations. The Berlin event, organized by the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism with support from the China Culture Center in Berlin, leveraged China's visa-free policy to tap into the European market and boost the "Friendly Shandong" brand.

By showcasing Shandong cuisine and local culture through "beer + food" and "beer + music" experiences, the event aimed to leverage the charm of Chinese culture into tourism growth. As Qingdao continues to optimize its inbound travel services, the city extends an invitation to visitors worldwide: come to Qingdao this summer and join its seaside beer carnival.

Visitors gather at Berlin's World Park to enjoy Tsingtao beer and traditional Chinese cultural experiences. [Photo/Guanhai News]

A girl tries the art of Chinese paper-cutting at the Qingdao International Beer Festival in Berlin. [Photo/Guanhai News]

The European debut of the Qingdao International Beer Festival attracts crowds in a Chinese Garden setting. [Photo/Guanhai News]