Becky Wildkid

In the last article, I had told you about my experience in the Munich International Beer Festival, here I am shedding light on the one occured in Qingdao, China. In Qingdao, we can see a lot of German style architecture, buildings… those were the “gifts” from German when it took over of Qingdao apart of that, Germans also brought the beer to Qingdao. Now-a-days, all the architecture buildings already became history; but the beer, it walked into the daily lives of Qing Dao people and it became the special culture of Qingdao.

Because of the famous Qingdao beer, Qingdao people love to drink beer. Qingdao International Beer Festival has developed very fast. The first Qingdao International Beer Festival originated in 1991, till date it has now held 14 sessions.

That was the last day of the Qingdao beer festival, the venue crowded, as we did not have any guide. We decied to eat first, we found the direction on the south side of the food park and went there straight away. Slightly disappointing is that all of China’s “Food City”, “Food Festival” is similar, and no more than Sichuan spicy string, Lanzhou noodles, Northeast bacon pie, Shanghai City God Temple snack, stinky tofu, fried quail and cross the bridge noodle, Sichuan dan dan noodles or something.

Anyway, we weren’t picky, in 3 mins time, some of us already have 3 deep-fried sparrows in left hand, right hand with a piece of cake and mouth with a bacon. However, we didn’t have any soup, just in case we will have some space and strength for beer!

When we were in the “Tsingtao Beer World”, we were completely stunned by the huge crowd inside of the shed which was jam-packed. Luckily some visitors offered us seats beside them to share the drinks together “酒逢知己千杯少, So we bought them a few pint good draft beer as a gesture. We also viewed a wonderful beauty show on stage which was the 44th Miss World final contest show. It was a nightmare for all the local men around.

For the night of the carnival, the organizers invited a professional stylist, to give free make-up to the public. It also distributed more than 2,000 color mask which were made uo of feathers. They were trying to make this closing party into a big Halloween party, hoho. As we had the Olympic Games going on, so me and one of my friend, painted the Chinese flag in our face.

We all were having fun and a blast at the party. Most of the people were dancing, spinning, singing and screaming. Exactly at the center of the shed, the fireworks started to play, everyone felt so high and a little crazy. We even did not realised that we are dancing with some strangers. All were holding hands and drinking together, it was too good of a life time experience. Qingdao Beer Festival is just like the Spring Festival for the local people, if you miss this festival, you will feel that life is missing something. I think the festival which is only for 16 days is just too short to enjoy.

To show the friendship with German Beer Festival, Qingdao Beer built an Asia’s largest beer drinking big tent – and also “German beer village”, brought German top ten beer brands best beer to the show as support, German officials even sent a prestigious Brass Band to perform to public as well !

After all, if you want to ask me, which place I prefer to go again, I would say BOTH !

BECKS