In 2016 China has about 25 % of global manufacturing in the world. Also, in relation to tire production, China has about one-third of the world’s total tire production. And no where is that tire production greater than in the Qingdao region.
Qingdao is a major seaport city and looks out over the Yellow Sea. The bay that it sets on is crossed by one of the World’s longest sea bridges called the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge (16.6 miles long). Also, it is one of the World’s busiest seaports. Qingdao, China, has an urban population of about 6 million and a metropolitan population of 9 million people. The Qingdao Metropolitan Area size ranks 44th in the world today. Qingdao itself probably has over 35 tire plants in the area.
Qingdao has one of the World’s busiest seaports. There have been people living in this area for over 6,000 years. Being on the bay provides some beautiful scenery. Many people vacation in the area. Qingdao was named “China’s most livable city” in 2009.
Qingdao University is very important to the China rubber industry. By 2010 Qingdao University had graduated over 6,000 rubber technologists. Each year Qingdao graduates about 400 rubber technologists with BS degrees, 60 with MS degrees and 10 with PHDs. Qingdao University is focused on the rubber industry and much R & D is conducted in the physics and chemistry of rubber.
In 2011, Qingdao and Akron, Ohio worked out a “cooperative agreement” and became “sister cities” where the name “polymer valley” is now used in both locations. Also, at that meeting, the Chinese Government Minister indicated that the China Rubber Industry in the previous Five-Year Plan had grown 35 % per year; however, it would eventually slow down to only 7%.
In the Qingdao area, there are many rubber and tire expos, technical conferences, and trade shows each year. For example, GRTAE is an exposition that meets in Guangtao. Also, the China Rubber Conference (CRC) commonly meets in Qingdao. In addition, the China Rubber Exhibition (CRE) has met in Qingdao for four years straight.
Some things to see while visiting Qingdao are given below:
- May Fourth Square
- Zhanqiao Pier
- Mount Lao (Legendary mountain with Taoist Temples)
- Tsingtao Brewery Museum
- Qingdao Aquarium
- Zhanshan Temple
- Michael’s Cathedral, Qingdao