The dazzling sunset view from the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

The coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province recently ranked 14th among the best 20 holiday destinations for 2020 chosen by prominent travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller.

Pakistan ranked first on the list, followed by Plymouth (UK), Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Salvador (Brazil), Kangaroo Island (Australia), Galway (Ireland), Siargao (the Philippines), Paris (France), and the Egadi Islands (Sicily).

Dakar (Senegal), Portland, Maine (US), Lebanon, the Frisian Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Rabat (Morocco), Panama, Rijeka (Croatia), and Kyoto (Japan) also made the list.

Qingdao was the only Chinese city to make the list.

The beautiful cityscape of the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

"This ever-green Chinese city is turning over a new leaf," said the international travel publication.

The magazine spoke highly of Qingdao's pleasant climate, picturesque landscapes, historic German buildings, modern sculptural art, and the ubiquity of its homegrown Tsingtao beer.

In addition, Ctrip, China's largest online travel agency, recently released the 2019 China Cross-Border Travel Consumption Report, which ranked Qingdao among the top 10 cities in terms of the number of outbound tourists and among the top 20 cities in terms of the number of inbound tourists. It was the only city in Shandong to make the top 20 on the inbound tourist list.

According to Ctrip, the 10 cities in China with the highest number of outbound tourists in 2019 were Shijiazhuang, Lanzhou, Xuzhou, Zhuhai, Yangzhou, Yantai, Nantong, Qingdao, Shenyang, and Zunyi. The total number of outbound tourists from Qingdao increased by 193 percent.

Laoshan Mountain, known for its stunning natural beauty, is one of the birthplaces of Taoist culture and home to Taiqing Palace, the oldest and largest Taoist temple in the region. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

A light show illuminates the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

People enjoy themselves on the beach in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/dailyqd.com]