Qingdao, located in the southeast part of Shandong Province, is a beautiful seaside city, bordered on either side by the Yellow Sea. Qingdao is a major seaport and industrial centre. To the east, a short distance across the Yellow Sea, lie Korea and Japan, making Qingdao an important port for international trade. In 1984, Qingdao was among 14 coastal cities which China opened to the outside world. [China.org.cn]