Qingdaonews.com, January 8 (Reporter: Song Bohong) – The sea breeze brushes the Olympic Sailing Center as light and shadow capture the city's pulse. To immortalize the unique charm of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Marine Culture and Tourism Resort and convey the fashionable vitality of the "City of Sails," the opening ceremony for the "Charming Qingdao, Where Dreams Set Sail" themed photography exhibition and the awards ceremony for the short video and photography competition were recently held at the Qingdao International Convention Center. Guided by the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Culture and tourism, the event was co-hosted by the Qingdao Tourism Group and Qingdao Daily Press Group, and organized by qingdaonews.com. It aims to use visual arts as a medium to showcase the "integration of mountain, sea, bay, and city" spatial layout and development of the resort, presenting a spectacular visual experience for citizens and tourists.
Nearly a Year of Submissions: Images Chronicle Urban Growth
Launched in July 2024, the competition ran for nearly a year, attracting over a hundred photographers and enthusiasts from Qingdao and surrounding areas. During this period, several guided photographic field trips were organized, guiding creators to explore the Olympic Sailing area and document urban spaces and life scenes from diverse perspectives.
The competition received over 500 photographic works and more than 100 short videos. Centered on five major themes—"The Beauty of Mountain and Sea," "The Vigor of a Modern City," "The Spirit of the Sailing City," "The Power of a Thriving Industry," and "The Warmth of 5-Star Service"—the entries vividly recorded the new developments of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Marine Culture and Tourism Resort in sailing, coastal leisure, cultural experiences, marine research, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism.
Following rigorous quarterly and final reviews, the competition selected 46 winners for the short video category and 56 for the photography category. The outstanding works were displayed at the awards ceremony, where organizers presented prizes and honorary certificates to the winners, fully acknowledging their exceptional creativity in showcasing the city's beauty and telling the story of the Olympic Sailing Center through compelling visuals.
Themed Photo Exhibition Opens Simultaneously, Presenting a Multidimensional View of the Olympic Sailing Center
As a significant extension of the competition's achievements, the "Charming Qingdao, Where Dreams Set Sail" themed photography exhibition opened on the same day as the awards ceremony. The exhibition carefully selected winning and excellent works, sketching a moving tapestry of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Marine Culture and Tourism Resort for the audience through over 50 exquisite photos and videos (or sets of them).
The exhibition is divided into a main "Annual Tribute" area and a comprehensive "Myriad Charms" section. This layout not only highlights the masterpieces of the annual winners but also allows a large number of selected and shortlisted works to be displayed, fully demonstrating the breadth and depth of the competition. It offers visitors an immersive experience of Qingdao's maritime rhythm, modern energy, and cultural warmth.
Innovative Interactive Experiences to Extend Cultural and Tourism Appeal
To enhance public engagement and synergize with Qingdao's winter tourism market, a "Set Sail for a Surprise" blind box event was specially planned. Every attendee had the chance to receive an exclusive "sailing surprise"—winning experience vouchers for popular tourism products provided by the Qingdao Tourism Group. This extended the joy of the art festival into real-world travel experiences, effectively boosting the "Winter Tour in Qingdao" market atmosphere.
The photography exhibition will be open to the public for free at the Qingdao International Convention Center until January 16, 2026. The successful hosting and showcase of this exhibition have effectively expanded the brand influence of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Marine Culture and Tourism Resort and further polished Qingdao's city brand as the "City of Sails." Looking ahead, the Qingdao Tourism Group will continue to use photography and video as a medium to explore the city's cultural and tourism resources, tell the unique story of the Olympic Sailing Center, and contribute to the higher-quality development of Qingdao's culture and tourism industry.
Editor: Yuan Ruichen
