The 1,500-meter-long Zhongshan Road in Shinan district, which serves as a major pedestrian street in Qingdao, is comparable to Wangfujing Street in Beijing and Nanjing Road in Shanghai as the city's main commercial zone.

People wait at a traffic light on Zhongshan Road, a famous pedestrian street and commercial zone in Shinan district, Qingdao. [Photo/Qingdao News]

Time-honored brands such as Hendry Glasses and Hongrentang are still in operation in historic structures and have evolved to keep up with the times on Zhongshan Road. As some people search for peace in coffee shops while others pursue excitement by watching musicians playing in the street, all visitors can breathe in a mixed air of the ancient and the new while strolling along the street.

Construction of the Catholic Church, commonly known as St. Michael's Church, began in 1932 and was finished in 1933. The church, which boasts the largest Gothic-style structure in Qingdao, is surrounded by two towers that stand 56 meters tall and are popular photo locations.

Visitors flock to the Catholic Church during the National Day holiday in Shinan district. [Photo/IC]

Visitors swarm into the church every day. Adults enjoy striking poses for photos, while kids can't help but run around the square with bubbles all around them.

Pichaiyuan is the snack area where visitors can taste all kinds of traditional Qingdao snacks such as fried dumplings, tofu jelly and shrimp wontons. There are scores of restaurants in the food court on Zhongshan Road in Shinan district.

According to local legend, the "1902" stamped on the gate on Pichaiyuan gourmet street marks the beginning of the bustling and culturally rich area. Many writers, including Liang Shiqiu (1902-87) and Zang Kejia (1905-2004), had flocked to the street to sample delicacies and pass the time. Additionally, it attracts street performers like Ma Sanli (1914-2003), a well-known crosstalk performer who began doing street performances at the age of 18.

A photo of the Pichaiyuan gourmet street [Photo/Qingdao News]