Jiaozhou Bay

Why go

The narrow opening between Tuandao and Xuejiadao leads into a much wider, fan-shaped bay. That sheltered geography helps explain the ports and settlements around its shores. Hongdao Dongdayang Pier provides a named northern-shore anchor when planning an outing around the water.

What to look for

• The narrow bay mouth between Tuandao and Xuejiadao.
• The broad northern shore around Hongdao.

The full story

The name Jiaozhou Bay also appears in accounts of the former German leased territory, but the water and the territory are different things. In 1898, Germany obtained a lease from the Qing government and developed Qingdao, then commonly called Tsingtau, as a commercial centre and naval base. The bay’s sheltered waters were central to that role. Japanese and British forces captured the German-held area during the First World War. The postwar decision to transfer German rights in Shandong to Japan, rather than return them to China, helped provoke the May Fourth protests of 1919. This history connects the bay to events far beyond Qingdao. When you encounter the historical name Kiautschou, it refers to the colonial territory associated with these shores, rather than a different modern bay.

Useful to know

• Search for a named shore or Hongdao Dongdayang Pier, rather than navigating to the middle of the bay.
• Check departures directly before planning a boat trip from Hongdao Dongdayang Pier.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.