With white beach, pine trees and blue sky, Shinan, a flourishing urban district in Qingdao, Shandong province, is one of most popular tourist destinations in the province.

To the west of the downtown area, many of the European-style buildings in the old town have been preserved well. Houses were constructed in a variety of architectural styles, including Greek, Gothic, Byzantine, rococo, eclecticism and pastoral.

The Badaguan area, included by the magazine Chinese National Geography in the "World's Architecture Museum", is home to more than 200 European-style villas built in the early 1900s.

Nearby, at the top of Xiaoyushan hill, a delicately painted Chinese pavilion is the best place to look down on the undulating coastline of Qingdao.

St Michael's Cathedral is the most eye catching landmark in the old town.

The church was built of yellow granite and concrete and has a large rose-shaped window.

Four large bells chime every Sunday as hundreds of Catholics attend services.

The largest example of Romanesque revival architecture in the province, it resembles a 12th-century German cathedral.

Ambling along the cobble-paved narrow lanes, one could spot the filming sites of scenes from popular Chinese movies and TV dramas, including The Floating Landscape and Romance of our Parents.

One of the most favored alleyways for artists and college students is Daxue road.

Originally named Le Pas Haus by the Germans, it is now the best place to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life, and for visitors to experience the laidback lifestyle of Qingdao.

Sipping a cup of coffee or tea as the work on their writing or painting, many young people spend much time here trying to embody the spirit of iconic cultural figures from the 1930s, such as Shen Congwen and Lu Xun.The area's atmosphere has also been embraced by John Herrington, originally from Reno, Nevada, who has a lifelong love for brewing.

Having spent almost 10 years in China, his craft beer house named Strong Ale Works at 12 Daxue road has become a popular site with both travelers and beer aficionados.

A number of museums are also situated in this area, including the Qingdao Art Museum on the site of the former International Red Cross building, and the Laoshe Museum.

Back down on the beach, there are often bridal couples posing for their wedding photos.

As children dart around and adults idle in their leisure time, some visitors build sand sculptures in the shape of castles, animals or celebrity figures. Going eastward to the city center, the Olympic Sailing Center adds more vitality to Shinan's urban life.

Looking back from a yacht or ferry off the coast, you can get a panoramic view of modern Qingdao, especially at night when neon lights gleam on the high-rises dominating the coastline. After sailing, Darling Harbor and Bar Street offer more than a dozen ocean-view restaurants and bars catering for customers of varying budget. Whether you crave lobster from Australia or local signature fare, the chefs will seek to ensure your taste buds are satisfied.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn