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Qingdao Tour of Guest House
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Qingdao is remarkable
for its charming seashore scenery and unique western-style
buildings, with the Qingdao Guest House truly deserving a prominent
position among the various buildings. Situated at No.26, Longshan
Road, Shinan District, on the southern slope of the picturesque
Signal Hill, the splendid Qingdao Guest House (now a museum) is a
German style castle with European regal features.
Built in 1905, the luxurious Guest House once served as
the residence of a Germany governor. This extraordinary structure,
with extensive features of that period, is now rare in Germany; it
is considered a valuable example of this architectural style. Many
overseas architects come to see and marvel at this masterpiece.
The design of the building is rather unique, with the
adoption of a rough granite exterior, steep roofs, thick walls and
narrow windows reflecting the distinctive style of such German
buildings. The majestic Guest House is more than 30 meters (98 feet)
high with a wall thickness of over 60 centimeters (24 inches). The
yellow exterior walls are decorated with rough granite. Balanced by
bright red pantiles and blue fish-scale tiles, the asymmetrical
roofs with protruding turrets and acute slopes together contain a
sumptuous palace. Inside the perimeter walls, which were built in
1957, is a vast courtyard covered with fruit trees and ornamental
plants.
The four-storey Guest House contains 30 rooms of
various sizes, including 13 main rooms each of which had different
functions. The servants lived in the rooms on the first floor, and
the main hall, meeting hall, living room and ballroom were on the
second floor. The governor lived and worked on the third floor,
while some bedrooms and rooms for other purposes were on the fourth
floor. The interior decoration is extremely luxurious and elegant.
The paneling and ceilings are engraved with elaborate embossments
which remain in excellent condition. Glittering jade stones are
inlayed in the motley pendant lights, wall lamps and fireplaces.
Germany furniture, furniture from the Chinese Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911), curios, calligraphies and paintings are also kept in
their original locality. All of the fireplaces and heating radiators
are of different styles, and some of the original German products
are in good working order even now.
The 9-meter (30 feet) high hall has a Germany floor
clock in one corner. Designed by a celebrated Germany clock maker,
this particular clock signals the quarters by music and strikes the
hours with a pleasant sound. In the ballroom, there is a Germany
piano, manufactured in 1876, and with the keys made of ivory. It is
invaluable since it has excellent timbre while its manufacturer was
destroyed during the World War. A copper crystalline chandelier
weighing 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) and resembling a grand
flower just ready to burst hangs in the ballroom. There is also a
room and study where Chairman Mao once lived and worked.
The guesthouse has passed through a number of owners,
and is deeply linked with many domestic and foreign political
celebrities. During the past century, it has hosted Chairman Mao,
Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, Albanian leader Shehu, Australian
Minister Hill, Cambodian Sihanouk and other Chinese dignitaries.
Tour Qingdao with Great Wall
Adventure Club, the best Qingdao tour agent to help you with
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