Qingdao, lying on the southern coast of Shandong Peninsula, faces the Yellow Sea to the south and east, and borders inland areas of Shandong Province to the north and west. It covers a land area of 11,282 square kilometers and a sea area of 12,240 square kilometers. The city has a population of 10.3 million and has jurisdiction over 7 districts, and 3 county-level cities. Qingdao is steeped in rich historical and cultural heritage and is widely recognized as a cradle of Taoism. Two of its precincts are included on China's official list of Renowned Streets of Cultural and Historical Significance. It has 144 historical sites or monuments recognized by the cultural heritage administration authority at the national, provincial or municipal level.

As of today, the city has established sister-city relations or friendly cooperative relations with 74 cities of other countries. More than 2,000 international trading companies, businesses and financial institutions have opened permanent branches or offices in Qingdao. In 2018, Qingdao’s imports and exports totaled 531.61 billion RMB yuan, and the paid-in foreign direct investment rose to US$8.69 billion dollars.

In 2018, its gross domestic product exceeded 1.2 trillion RMB yuan and cargo throughput topped 540 million metric tons. The Qingdao airport serves flights to 192 domestic and international destinations. The city has 123 of China's time-honored trademarks. It boasts 30 percent of Chinas marine research institutions, 50 percent of elite Chinese marine scientists and 70 percent of the members specialized in marine science and technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

In 2018, the city received 100 million tourist arrivals from home and abroad. It was the venue for sailing competition of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and the XIII Paralympic Games in 2008. In June, 2018, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit was held in Qingdao. On April 23, 2019, a naval parade was held in the city to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army Navy.