Qingdao Navy Museum

The Chinese Navy Museum is in Qingdao (formerly Tsingtao – the German concession in China). The first time I went to the Museum in 2014, a number of their ships were absent due to construction works – they were basically rebuilding the entire museum. I went back in 2019 thinking they would have finished, but this time found the entire museum was closed for the redevelopment, and I had to resort to walking around the perimeter taking photos. But between the two visits, I managed to spot the following ships:

• The ex-Soviet WW2 Gnevny class destroyer Anshan (ex-Rekordny)
• The Luda-II (Type 051) class destroyer Jinan
• The Jiangdong (Type 053K) class frigate Yingtan
• The Osa class missile boat (or possibly a Chinese clone) 3101
• Four Motor Torpedo Boats:
  • PB 245 - A wooden-hulled MTB
  • 3218 & 3205 – described as C05-25 type MTBs
  • 5238 – Origin not known.
• Two Patrol boats:
  • PB 02
  • Jiefang (Liberation) - replica of a former customs patrol craft that fought in the Battle of the Wanshan Archipelago in 1950, complete with visible (recreated) battle damage.
• An air-cushion landing craft
• A Landing Craft.

The first Chinese nuclear submarine Long March 1 is also there - but is technically a separate museum.

I understand the museum also has the following vessel which was not present during either of my visits:

• Golf-class diesel-electric ballistic missile trials submarine Changcheng 200.

They also used to have the Romeo-class submarine Changcheng 237, however it was removed during the redevelopment and has reportedly been scrapped.

There were also a large number of guns, missiles, planes, tanks and various other exhibits which were all just piled together - almost on top of each other. I haven’t been back since the museum reconstruction has been completed, but I am sure they will be better laid out now.

There aren’t many naval museums where you can go and see 12 preserved warships in one place, so this is definitely worth a visit. And Qingdao is one of the nicest Chinese cities to visit – thanks to favourable geography they generally have clear skies and low air pollution levels - and don’t forget the Tsingtao Beer, a lasting legacy of the German period.

Links:

Permanent Exhibition at the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Museum

museumships.us - Anshan

museumships.us - Jinan

museumships.us - Long March 1

museumships.us - Yingtan

anon, 2014, Visiting China's An Shan. Veteran destroyer on show at Qingdao Naval Museum, Australian Warship, 80, pp64-65.

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