The 35th Qingdao International Beer Festival ends on Aug 16 after 30 days of summer celebration. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

The 35th Qingdao International Beer Festival ended on Aug 16 after 30 days of summer celebration. This year's event boosted its international feel, fun activities, and cultural appeal, growing its brand and making visitors happy.

The festival had nine international beer tents, like German Wostan and Canadian Rossel, with over 2,300 beer brands from almost 50 countries. The 2025 Golden Flower Award for Craft Beer drew 417 global brands with 2,017 entries. Cultural performances from Argentina, Russia, and other nations entertained over 70,000 international visitors.

Fun experiences included better drone shows, fireworks, and themed lanterns. The 6th Qingdao Fashion Sports Festival had 13 events with 8,078 athletes in 1,331 matches. New attractions like the Sky Mirror water slide and Tipsy Bus were big hits.

Cultural activities were strong, with 950 performances by 650 artists. Intangible cultural heritage displays, such as paper-cutting and stone carving, showed local traditions. International events, like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Art Festival, boosted cultural connections.

The Qingdao West Coast New Area alone had 6.97 million visitors, drinking over 2,900 metric tons of beer. The Laoshan district venue generated 260 million yuan ($36.17 million), driving overall spending to 7.58 billion yuan.

The annual beer festival is more than just a citywide celebration — it's a strong force driving high-quality urban development, creating new opportunities and possibilities for the city.

The upgraded drone shows and firework displays at the Golden Beach Beer City in Qingdao give visitors a stunning visual and high-tech experience. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

The festival's venue in Qingdao's Laoshan district hosts over 700 themed events on technology, finance, and talent, showing the city's innovation and energy. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]