Qingdao Liuting International Airport (TAO) is 30 km north of the city centre, with direct flights to Beijing (1 hour), Shanghai (1.5 hours), and most major Chinese cities, plus international routes to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Airport buses and taxis cover the transfer in 40–60 minutes depending on traffic.
By high-speed rail, Qingdao connects to Jinan (45 minutes) and Beijing (3.5 hours) via the Jiaoji–Jinan high-speed line. The main station is Qingdao North; the older Qingdao Station near the German quarter handles some slower regional services.
From Shanghai by road (or train) the journey is about 7 hours. The Jiaodong Peninsula is also served by ferry routes to Weihai, Yantai, and across the Yellow Sea to South Korea.