If you have ever traveled in China, you may have heard of Qsingtao beer. It's the most famous brand of beer in China, produced in the city of Qingdao. The sweet, mellow beer is probably the best-known product of the beautiful coastal city. Qingdao's Beer Street is representative of the local beer culture. In today's travels, our reporter Ning Yan will tour this 100-year-old street to participate in a beer festival whose curtain never drops.

The half-mile Beer Street is located on Dengzhou Road in the southwestern part of the city. When Germans invaded Qingdao in 1873, they set up their camps in this street. Germans love beer, so they found a sweet fountain in the street, which they used to make a great-tasting brew. China's first European-style beer factory was thus born in 1903.

More than one hundred years have passed, and Dengzhou Road has become the best-known street in Qingdao. Chang Jun is in charge of the street's management center. He says the street receives over 10,000 customers each day.

"The street is now home to over 60 bars and beer shops. Every day, beer made fresh in the Qingdao Brewery Factory is sent to the shops. Moreover, Qingdao is home to a variety of seafood. With fresh beer and delicious seafood, it has become a popular hangout for local residents and a good destination for tourists."

In recent years, the local government has renovated the old street to maintain its original look. Most of the buildings on the street are done in a European style. The stones on the ground are not the usual grey and white, but green marble with red and white borders. Abstract sketches of old-fashioned beer glasses, white water and hairtails perfectly complement the old street.

Even the design of the drainage caps in the ground pertains to beer. The cartoon images on them are the mascots of Qingdao international beer festivals. Chairs along the street resemble a half bottle of beer. The road signs and dustbins are shaped like beer barrels.

Visiting Qingdao, the beer museum is one place tourists shouldn't miss. In 2003, Tsingtao Brewery Company renovated the 100-year-old factory into the Tsingtao beer Museum to celebrate its one hundredth anniversary of Qsingtao beer. It was the first beer museum in China. Now, the museum is a key cultural relic. The museum's slogan is "Give me one hour, I will return you 100 years."

Curator Dong Fang explains the slogan.

"It takes about one hour to tour the museum. During the hour, you can get to know the history of Qsingtao beer over the past 100 years. You can see how the Qsingtao beer factory was established, developed, and has achieved its current glory. In addition, you can get to know the beer production approaches and techniques in the first beer factory in China, as well as the world's most advanced current beer production techniques."

The museum is divided into three areas, history and culture, production techniques, and a multi-functional area. Tourists can learn the history of the beer through abundant pictures and detailed explanations. Sculptures of workers placed around the fermenting pool reproduce a typical work scene. In the multifunctional area, tourists can drink different varieties of Qsingtao beer.

The most treasured relic in the beer museum is a vintage machine made by Siemens. The machine has a special meaning for Siemens too. It was a milestone of the development of the company.

In addition to the historic relics, the museum is home to interactive entertainment features. In the drunken cabin, tourists can experience the sensation of drunkenness. The cabin holds great appeal for many tourists. Li Wei just came out of the cabin. He still looks drunk.

"It's magical. I came with my colleagues. They said they had never seen me drunk, but they saw it this time, when I was actually sober. It's pretty fun to experience the feeling of being drunk when you are actually awake."

Curator Dong Fang reminds visitors of one thing that they should drink the freshest beer, which was just produced on the assembly line. In the bar within the museum, take a few peanuts and have a glass of Qsingtao beer to glean a better understanding of the beer culture in Qingdao.

By the way, Beer Street is also a paradise for tourists who love seafood. With a few bucks, you could have a seafood banquet in any of the numerous restaurants on the street. So don't miss the Beer Street, when you come to Qingdao!