Signal Hill Park, Qingdao

This small, but scenic park affords the kind of stunning hilltop views favored by postcard photographers and chamber of commerce employees. The 20-minute huff up the hill (it follows a path rather than a sidewalk so strollers are not suggested) borders on strenuous but is worth the effort. All of Qingdao and its surrounding harbors can be seen from the summit. The Xinhoa Hotel, which was built in 1905 by a German governor, also graces the top and is a big architectural attraction. It no longer accommodates lodgers, but is open for touring.