Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA) is emerging as a leading cultural and tourism hub in Qingdao, hosting major events such as the 2024 Chinese Football Association Super League, the Qingdao on the Sea performance, and the Qingdao International Beer Festival.
In 2023, the national-level new area welcomed 36.12 million visitors and achieved tourism revenue of 37.96 billion yuan ($5.31 billion), significant year-on-year increases of 56 percent and 41 percent, respectively. Over 40 key cultural projects were introduced, with investments totaling more than 70 billion yuan, fueling consumption growth and contributing to the area's 6.3 percent GDP growth in the first half of this year, the highest in Qingdao.
The 34th Qingdao International Beer Festival held at Golden Beach Beer City in Qingdao WCNA. [Photo/VCG]
The beer festival's opening saw a massive turnout at Golden Beach Beer City on July 20 – so large that netizens humorously claimed "100 million people" were present.
The 2024 Chinese Football Association Super League match takes place in Qingdao with a huge crowd in attendance. [Photo/IC]
Moreover, Qingdao WCNA has leveraged the impact of events to enhance the integrated development of sports and tourism. In 2024, it hosted nine Chinese Football Association Super League matches, one Chinese Football Association Cup match, and one Chinese Football Association China League One match, attracting over 90,000 spectators.
The Qingdao on the Sea, a 360° panoramic show. [Photo/IC]
The Qingdao on the Sea show, launched on July 12 at the Phoenix Island Art Center, exemplifies the area's natural beauty and cultural heritage through artistic expression.
Meanwhile, the China Movie Metropolis has enriched the area's artistic atmosphere, with successful rap and talk shows and "Made in Qingdao" blockbusters placing Qingdao WCNA at the vanguard of the entertainment industry.