When searching for a place in Qingdao, keep an open mind. There are many great places out there, only you have to visualize how great they can be as opposed to how they are when you do see them. Qingdao’s real estate market is still quite young, and most landlords do not have much an idea of western tastes or designs. Most places need work done, especially on bathrooms and kitchens. Most bathrooms here are quite small (anywhere from 4-5sqm) and have a peculiar layout. Some even have urinals!! You can always ask the landlord to modify the bathrooms to make them look more to your liking. Adding shower doors or bathtubs are usually not a problem. (of course there should be enough space for that) Remember to also leave enough room for the washer as there are no such things as laundry rooms here. Decorative materials are quite cheap here in Qingdao, so really if you don’t like what you see and wish to modify, as long as its not tearing down the whole thing and building it back up again, the landlord should be able to accommodate you. Just make sure that you don’t end up in a bathroom where you can take a shower while sitting on the toilet!!

Guo Nien Hao