To truly understand a city, follow your taste buds. In Qingdao, the essence of the city is in its bustling lanes and vibrant markets, where the flavors of the ocean and the local culture converge into an experience that is uniquely fresh and crisp.

Qingdao's freshness is best tasted in its steamed seafood. Scallops, clams, oysters, prawns, and sea snails in steaming baskets offer a pure, unadulterated taste of the sea with every bite.

Seafood dumplings are a local hallmark. These dumplings, filled with mackerel, cuttlefish, sea urchin, shrimp, or yellow croaker and wrapped in thin skins, burst with rich, savory broth when bitten. The fillings range from tender mackerel to springy shrimp — each a gift from the sea.

Don't miss the aromatic stir-fried Urechis unicinctus with rice, where crispy sea intestines in a savory sauce are stirred into soft rice, coating every grain with umami. Another classic is stir-fried cabbage with prawns — a Shandong specialty that combines sweet local cabbage with briny Bohai shrimp for a clean, satisfying taste.

And what better pair for seafood than Qingdao beer? Its crisp, refreshing taste is woven into the fabric of the city's lively, everyday streets.

Qingdao's freshness reveals itself through its steam-rich seafood feasts. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]