Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence
Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence
Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
347 within 3 miles
Attractions
151 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
181 reviews
Excellent
82
Very good
69
Average
26
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Denver_Mullican
Natchez, MS310 contributions
Sep 2012 • Business
It looks like the governor just popped out to get a newspaper – the house is that intact. Period furniture, carpets and artwork create a time capsule of the period of German colonization. Unfortunately the style chosen for that period was “German Hideous”. From the overdone entrance hall to the atrium the mansion screams nouveau riche.
The neighborhood surrounding the palace should not be missed and makes for a pleasant walk. If you look down you will see the manhole covers were brought from Germany – never until Walt Disney did any organization work as hard to try to construct an authentic German village.
If you stay at the Castle Hotel, the hotel on the grounds, admission is free. However, you have to ask for the free ticket at the front desk.
Denver Mullican
The neighborhood surrounding the palace should not be missed and makes for a pleasant walk. If you look down you will see the manhole covers were brought from Germany – never until Walt Disney did any organization work as hard to try to construct an authentic German village.
If you stay at the Castle Hotel, the hotel on the grounds, admission is free. However, you have to ask for the free ticket at the front desk.
Denver Mullican
Written October 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond T
San Diego, CA34 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
This old structure has been remarkably preserved/restored. It is marked contrast to Modern Qingdao, Strolling through it and looking at all the fuirnishings and photos displayed you gain a sense of what it was like to be a German official in late 19th and early 20th century China.
Written October 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jpcanada
Toronto, Canada114 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
This museum is nice side trip in Qingdao. There is also a small german restaurant attached that serves good food for a reasonable price. Sitting on the terrace and enjoying your meal, you don't even feel like you are in China.
Written August 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Astro Chris
Guangzhou, China143 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
A beautiful & quaint old building with lots of history! Worth a look, and then walk around the streets near is a great afternoon.
Written May 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mitch1959
Southern California18 contributions
During the summer of 1957, Mr. Mao vacationed at this guest house near the sea side in Qingdao. His bedroom is maintained exactly as he left it 50 years ago. I've read that he liked a hard bed, so I tested it out... it's true... it felt like a sheet covering a piece of plywood.
The house is enormous. It is well maintained and worth the trip. During the Cultural Revolution, the inside was destroyed but they have done a good job at restoring it to its former glory.
The cost for the tour was about $2 USD.
The house is enormous. It is well maintained and worth the trip. During the Cultural Revolution, the inside was destroyed but they have done a good job at restoring it to its former glory.
The cost for the tour was about $2 USD.
Written June 6, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada8,870 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
The museum is clean and has a fairly detailed history of when it was constructed and who lived there. The Germans were very busy when they were in Qingdao and this museum touches on their impact with city design, architecture, beer and sewer systems.
In addition to the German governor's who lived here the museum goes through the history of who else has resided here including Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh and other foreign dignitaries.
You cannot take pictures of the interior and not all the signs and displays are translated to English. The key figures in photographs have English names displayed.
The closest metro is Hall of People and the entry cost is 13 RMB.
In addition to the German governor's who lived here the museum goes through the history of who else has resided here including Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh and other foreign dignitaries.
You cannot take pictures of the interior and not all the signs and displays are translated to English. The key figures in photographs have English names displayed.
The closest metro is Hall of People and the entry cost is 13 RMB.
Written March 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AllThatAsiaAfrica
502 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
For those interested in History the former German Governors Mansion is a do not miss. Unfortunately you cannot take pictures and there are video cameras monitoring every room. The large building is packed with original furniture and period pictures that really will make you wonder what it must have been like for Germans over a hundred years ago to pack up house and home and move to China to administer a far flung colony.
The German background also brings with it ideas of the double edged sword of European Colonialism. When looking at the pictures of the colonial period you get a sense of the vast economic differences between the European colonizers and the average Chinese citizen, yet at the same time you realize that the legacy of that experience would give birth to the Chinese Beer Culture and create international fame for Qingdao (Tsingtao) as the most internationally recognized Chinese Beer and host of the International Beer Festival.
There will be plenty to ponder after your visit as well as the chance to see tourists and travelers from around the world. Don't miss this wonderful exhibit of the melding of East and West!
The German background also brings with it ideas of the double edged sword of European Colonialism. When looking at the pictures of the colonial period you get a sense of the vast economic differences between the European colonizers and the average Chinese citizen, yet at the same time you realize that the legacy of that experience would give birth to the Chinese Beer Culture and create international fame for Qingdao (Tsingtao) as the most internationally recognized Chinese Beer and host of the International Beer Festival.
There will be plenty to ponder after your visit as well as the chance to see tourists and travelers from around the world. Don't miss this wonderful exhibit of the melding of East and West!
Written April 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen S
Medford, OR112 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
Visited in early September which is shoulder season, between summer and Mid Autumn and China National Day (10/1) so very quiet and no crowds. Was surprised by 20RMB admission, but once inside I thought worth it. Most of the explanation is in Chinese sadly which is a bit rough for a non-native Chinese speaker. I wish they would add several languages including English to explain many of the details in the rooms. One can see everything in about 1/2 hour and then quickly visit the Protestant Church which is one block away.
Great learning opportunity for modern Chinese history- highly recommended!
Great learning opportunity for modern Chinese history- highly recommended!
Written September 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
graemef23
Geelong, Australia74 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
The exterior is typically German/Bavarian, but stepping inside you see a mixture of two cultures in the architecture and furniture. The woodwork is big, chunky European, mixed with Chinese and European furniture of the time. It makes a wonderful blend.
We spent about an hour walking through the two levels of this huge mansion, and loved it.
It is interesting to look into the 100-year-old photos of the room, and compare them to the contemporary latter settings.
We spent about an hour walking through the two levels of this huge mansion, and loved it.
It is interesting to look into the 100-year-old photos of the room, and compare them to the contemporary latter settings.
Written March 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lars B
Yantai148 contributions
Feb 2013 • Friends
This is a most attractive historic tourist spot with all the trappings of opulence and colonial indulgence. The outside is even better than the inside which looked a little timeworn during my visit, but still you can really feel what it was like to live in such a place during the early last century. As sad as colonialism is, it is good to see that the Germans left something that still benefits the local community, though I'm sure the former Governors may not have been as cooperative with today's open house visits!
Written February 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing