5 things not to miss
Take in the towers from the plaza, then go inside (if it is not mass time) — plan for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
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The defining image of the cathedral is its pair of yellow granite bell towers, about 56 metres tall, each topped with a 4.5-metre cross. The building runs nearly 66 metres long and is so symmetrical it photographs well from any angle. Stand on the plaza and look up to see the carved stonework, arched windows and the clock on the tower. Late-morning light hits the front of the building and makes the yellow stone glow.
The paved stone plaza in front of the cathedral is one of the most famous photo spots in Qingdao. Almost any day you will see couples in wedding outfits shooting pre-wedding photos against the towers, especially at weekends and in the morning when the light is good and the crowds are thin. The stone streets and little lanes around the side are European-looking corners that travellers love to wander and photograph too.
If you come outside of services, a ticket of about ¥10 lets you in. The interior is a tall, airy European-style nave with a vaulted ceiling, stone columns down each side, the altar at the front, and stained-glass windows that throw soft coloured light into the hall. It is calm and quiet, a contrast to the bustle outside. Walk gently, keep your voice low, and check the signs for where photography is allowed.
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This photo shows the old-town quarter that wraps around the cathedral — sloping stone streets, German-era stone buildings and rows of red tiled roofs that are pure Qingdao. Walk out of the plaza for a few minutes and you hit cafes, antique shops and street corners that photograph beautifully. It is a quarter for strolling slowly, easily a whole afternoon. See our full Qingdao old-town guide to plan a route.
Down the slope from the cathedral you reach Zhongshan Road (中山路), Qingdao's oldest commercial street, and Pichaiyuan (劈柴院), the legendary food alley selling Qingdao-style seafood, snacks and fresh draught beer poured into plastic cups. It is the perfect place to eat and wander right after the church, just in time for lunch. To know what to order, read our Qingdao food guide.
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This photo shows Zhanqiao Pier, the 440-metre stone pier reaching into the sea and ending in the red-roofed Huilan Pavilion — the emblem of the city that appears on the Tsingtao beer label. From the cathedral it is a 10 to 15 minute walk downhill towards the water, so you can pair the church with the pier in the same morning or afternoon and finish the day with the sea and the light.