Holiday at the Beach in Qingdao
Jerry and Fei will spend their holiday in Qindao, Shandong Province.
Fei: Hey Jerry, wake up. I think we're almost there! I can smell the sea.
Jerry: Great! I'm thrilled to finally be in Qingdao. I can almost smell the beer!
Fei: You know Jerry, Qingdao has much more than beer. There are exotic temples, spacious parks and fascinating architecture.
Jerry: And don't forget about the beach! I can't wait to jump into the sea. Swimming is such good exercise. Do you think we'll be able to play some beach volleyball too?
Fei: I don't see why not. There will probably be a lot of people who are thinking the same thing you are.
Jerry: Excellent! That means we might be able to drink some beer after playing!
Fei: You have a one-track mind, Jerry.
Jerry: Not really, Fei. I can appreciate other things about Qingdao. Tell me more about the temple, parks and architecture we're going to see in Qingdao.
Fei: First let me give you a little history lesson. Qingdao was developed into a modern city about 100 years ago by the Germans. That's how the city became famous for its beer. You may have heard of Qingdao beer before you came to China.
Jerry: Yes, I did. I even drank some Qingdao beer in my hometown. So will we see some European buildings while we're here?
Fei: Yes, we will. There's a famous church built with European architecture. It's quite impressive.
Jerry: I'm looking forward to seeing it. Did the Germans make any other contributions while they were in Qingdao?
Fei: Well, there are many old German-style houses along the waterfront and there is also the symbol of Qingdao, the Zhanqiao Pier. It was built in 1891 and is nicknamed "Rainbow Over the Waves".
Jerry: That's fascinating, but I didn't come all the way to China to see German things. Is there anything Chinese here?
Fei: Of course there is! If you spend too much time drinking beer and want to pray, we can visit Haiyunan Temple, which was built more than 500 years ago.
Jerry: I just might need to do some praying! But actually, I'm not a Buddhist.
Fei: We can also see some wonderful examples of Taoist architecture on Laoshan, 30 kilometers east of Qingdao.
Jerry: Oh, is that where Laoshan mineral water comes from?
Fei: That's right! You see, there are lots of great places to visit.
Jerry: I see what you mean. There really is more than beer in Qingdao - the beautiful sea, ancient culture, and a variety of exotic architecture. I think this is going to be a very interesting trip.
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