Old Qingdao getting new look with traditional feel

With over a century of memory of the city's development, the old downtown area of Qingdao, Shandong province, will soon tell a different story.

Under a three-year citywide protection and redevelopment campaign launched recently, historic areas of the city will take on new looks while preserving their nostalgic atmosphere.

The 28 square kilometer old town enclosing the 1,500-meter Zhongshan Road in Shinan district, built in 1897, used to be one of the most important commercial areas of Qingdao. It featured iconic courtyard neighborhoods, time-honored brand shops, cafes and bars — although development gradually lost its vibrancy over the past few decades.