May Fourth Square

Background

May Fourth Square is in the east of Shinan District, Qingdao. It is a city square built in the late 1990s on the waterfront of the then-new central business district, with the Qingdao Municipal Government building to the north and Fushan Bay to the south. The square is named in memory of the May Fourth Movement: after the First World War, the Paris Peace Conference decided to transfer Germany's rights in Shandong, including Qingdao, to Japan, and on May 4, 1919, students in Beijing rose in protest, launching the May Fourth Movement. Donghai West Road divides the square into north and south parts; the southern part was formed by land reclamation in 1994 and is home to the landmark sculpture "May Wind", created by Huang Zhen, about 30 m high, with spiraling red steel plates shaped like a strong gust of wind. The waters of Fushan Bay beyond the square were the venue for the sailing events of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the Olympic Sailing Center is right next door to the west.

Local customs

• On sunny days May Fourth Square is full of locals flying kites and couples, and in the evening many people stroll along the seaside promenade looking at the high-rises across Fushan Bay. On holiday evenings the buildings along Fushan Bay put on a light show, best viewed from the square and around the Olympic Sailing Center, where crowds are large
• in summer, catching the sea breeze by the water is part of everyday life in Qingdao.

Religion & beliefs

• The square is a public urban space with no religious function. 'The Wind of May' carries the significance of commemorating the May Fourth Movement, and citizens and groups sometimes hold commemorations, oath-taking and other events here
• if you come across one, please keep quiet and don't disrupt it.

Rules that apply here

Travel tips

• Allow 1–1.5 hours, or an evening into the night if you add the Olympic Sailing Center and the light show. It is a short walk from Wusi Square Station on Metro Lines 2 and 3, there are many bus routes, and nearby malls have parking. The square is open all day and free
• the light show is usually staged on holiday and weekend evenings, with exact dates and times as announced by Qingdao officials, and metro stations are crowded when it ends. Combine with: the Olympic Sailing Center and Lovers' Dam to the west, Yan'erdao Hill Park to the east, and to the west by car Badaguan, No. 2 Bathing Beach and the old town around Zhanqiao Pier. The sun is strong in summer and the sea wind strong in winter, so protect yourself from the sun or keep warm
• on foggy days with low visibility the sea views suffer.