At this creative "gas station", what's poured is beer. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao surprised me with how diverse and well-balanced it is. On one hand, you can explore places like the Taiqing Palace and tea plantations, which reflect the city's deep cultural heritage. On the other hand, you have a modern skyline, efficient infrastructure, and international events like the beer festival that connect Qingdao with the world.

The city has a unique vibe — lively yet relaxing, modern yet rich in tradition. It's very photogenic and full of stories waiting to be told, which makes it especially appealing to content creators like me.