I’ve been to Qingdao countless times yet I always see the same thing: Train Station, Bus 304, University, Church, Bus 5, Jimo, Bus 202.

Since we had arrived on Friday for Christmas we decided to take advantage of a full Saturday. After a restful night surprisingly at the Hostel, we took the bus to the University and met up with Victoria for my favorite and day at a museum!

Victoria had already been and gave great reviews, she warned it was a provincial museum so don’t get lofty expectations she said but she had been presently surprised. For a provincial museum it blew my socks off.

It was huge from the outside but that is the Chinese way, empress with shear size to compansate for quality.

It was huge from the outside but that is the Chinese way, empress with shear size to compensate for quality.

 

I must admit I was impressed with the translation someone who actually studied English seemed to have translated.

I must admit I was impressed with the translation someone who actually studied English seemed to have translated.

 

Wouldn't be a real museum without a controversial piece or two. These are Japanese and still claimed by them from what I was able to gather.

Wouldn't be a real museum without a controversial piece or two. These are Japanese and still claimed by them from what I was able to gather.

 

Chinese also love their diarams. This one depicts a historical battle victory in which the besieged city tied bayonets to the herds horns and lit their tails on fire. Letting the ramaging beasts lose on the surrounding army.

Chinese also love their dioramas. This one depicts a historical battle victory in which the besieged city tied bayonets to the herds horns and lit their tails on fire. Letting the rampaging beasts lose on the surrounding army.

 

It was such a pleasure going through the museum with fellow Art History buffs - Katie and Victoria.

It was such a pleasure going through the museum with fellow Art History buffs - Katie and Victoria.

 

I was quite impressed with their selection of artifacts.

I was quite impressed with their selection of artifacts.

 

There was also the history section which had the life size diaramas, just couldn't resist the photo op.

There was also the history section which had the life size dioramas, just couldn't resist the photo op.

Of course the end of the museum had the triumphant liberation of China and the birth of Modern China.

Of course the end of the museum had the triumphant liberation of China and the birth of Modern China.

Thomas wandered into a side exhibit that turned out to be a print making center. We all did our Chinese zodiac.

Thomas wandered into a side exhibit that turned out to be a print making center. We all did our Chinese zodiac.

The museum was wonderful, of course I would say that as the museum fanatic that I am but I was truly impressed for a provincial museum.