Raising a toast to Qingdao

It's not that I wasn't attracted by the prospect of another boozy weekend in Beijing, just that my time in China was limited to a fortnight, and I felt the urge to explore a little further afield. Enlisting a feckless wingman, we set about perusing a map of China to seek out a suitable weekend retreat. After a brief deliberation we settled upon Qingdao, home of the nation's favorite beer: Tsingtao.

But Qingdao is a popular destination - all they could offer at short notice were tickets for the slow train. Not keen on starting our break with a 12-hour journey, we splashed out on flights (China Eastern Airlines, 800 yuan per person, one way).

There is accommodation in Qingdao to suit all budgets, but we ended up checking into a splendid little hostel in the old town called the Qingdao Kaiyue International. The accommodation is set into a converted church and boasts a beautifully decorated living area with a well-stocked bar. At 100 kuai a night for a twin room with en-suite bathroom, it was also exceptional value for money.