The former residence of the German Governor of Jiaozhou sits on Xinhao Hill above the old concession, a chunky Bavarian villa completed in 1905 at a cost that scandalized Berlin (the Kaiser reportedly called it an "absurd extravagance"). Today it functions as a museum of the German colonial period.
The building is the most distinctive example of German colonial architecture in Qingdao — turrets, steep roofs, stone trim, and a ballroom with original parquet floors. The interior has been meticulously restored, with period furniture, maps, and photographs of the concession. The hilltop garden offers a fine view over the red-roofed German quarter below. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30am–5pm.