As winter snowflakes mingle with Qingdao's ocean waves, the city is set to begin its first Qingdao Sweet Economy Themed Month on Dec 31, a strategic initiative to tap into romance-driven industries and unlock significant market potential through integrated cluster development.

This comprehensive event brings together wedding services, cultural tourism, consumption, manufacturing, and finance, reinforcing the city's branding as "Romantic Qingdao: Vows by the sea and mountains" and pushing Qingdao to become a leading destination wedding city in China.

Qingdao's romance is reflected in its red-roofed, tree-lined old streets, the echoing seagulls along the coastal pier, and the golden-hour glow over Xiaomai Island — scenes where nature and culture blend into ideal wedding backdrops. The idea of this themed month is to transform these scattered romantic elements into tangible, experience-driven industry resources.

A notable feature is the upcoming immersive tourism promotion, Vows by the Sea, Encounter in Qingdao, which moves beyond traditional one-way presentations. Through storytelling and scene-based engagement, landmarks like St. Michael's Cathedral and the peaks of Laoshan Mountain become stages for love stories, vividly highlighting the city's charm while offering couples ready-to-follow romantic travel itineraries.

Beyond emotional connection, the event includes 10 themed zones that create a range of consumption experiences. Special activities like the "Chasing seagulls and waves" cruise and an underwater wedding presentation use Qingdao's coastal strengths while refreshing wedding service offerings.

This approach turns Qingdao's romantic ambiance from an abstract charm into tangible, consumable experiences — making natural and cultural assets into industrial advantages.

Qingdao is set to begin its first Qingdao Sweet Economy Themed Month on Dec 31. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]