July August 2009.pub - Qingdao Expat Group

Museums & Theatre …
Introducing Little Ones
to Arts & Culture in Qingdao
Living in Qingdao w/Kids by Jen Johnson
On a recent Saturday our family visited the Qingdao Municipal Museum, where my oldest daughter, who
had visited on a school trip played tour guide. We ambled through the massive space admiring the giant
stone Buddha's and stumbling over poor English translations in the initial exhibit rooms. Just as I
was about to write the experience off as being non-kid friendly, we arrived in an area that changed my
mind. The Qingdao Folk Culture Exhibition and the Interactive
Zone, both located on the second floor at the end of a
vast corridor, housed the most interesting items.
The Folk Culture exhibit contains items Chinese used traditionally
in daily life in the not-so-distant past and highlights
local festivals. But it is the aptly named Interactive Zone
that proved most interesting to my kids (and probably others
on summer holiday). The Interactive Zone allows kids
(for a small fee) to create traditional Chinese wood cut
prints. For 2 yuan, you purchase a length of thin paper long
enough to complete two Chinese zodiac animal prints or
one print of Qingdao scenery. Children apply paint to four
different wood cut prints, carefully layering each color over
the last. On our visit, a thoughtful, English speaking volunteer
(a Chemistry student at Qingdao University) walked us
through each step. If you want to preserve your creation,
you can sign it, have it chopped with a Chinese insignia and
laminated for an additional 2 yuan per print.
Unless your kid is a history buff, the exhibits at the far left
end of the second floor (History of Qingdao: Looking Back to
Ancient History I and the cleverly named History of Qingdao:
Looking Back to Ancient History II) might instead have your little one looking back for the door! If you go
with an art loving kid, it is definitely worth heading straight to the Folk Culture and Interactive areas.
When your first arrive at the museum just head right, instead of left at the entrance. Walk the length of
the corridor and take the elevator by the Tea Room to the second floor. Arm yourself with a pocket full
of one yuan notes, and allow your children to experiment with the printing process. Once they have successfully
completed this project, move on to the Qingdao Folk Culture Exhibition and then head back
downstairs for an inexpensive snack or juice at the smoke free Tea Room.
Take a Trip to the Theatre!
Consider taking in a performance with your children at
the Qingdao Theatre (located on the South side of Jimo
Market.)
by Jen Johnson
From July 11 - August 23 the Qingdao Theatre will have
Children's Plays including: The Emperor's New Clothes,
Aladdin, Seven Flowers, and Snow White.
Show Times & Prices:
10:30am 50 or 30 元 ; 3:30pm 40 or 25 元 .
Buy 3 tickets get the 4th free.
8 QINGDAO EXPAT MAGAZINE