Century Square is a large open square in Laoshan District, built as a memorial to the turn of the century and located near the Qingdao International Convention and Exhibition Center. Its main role for travellers is festival-related: the Qingdao Beer Festival spreads across several districts, with the main Beer City on the Golden Beach in the West Coast area, a separate programme in the Old Town, and the Laoshan District celebrations held here.
Visitors consistently praise the size of the square, its cleanliness, the greenery and the fresh air of Laoshan District. It is a lived-in local space rather than a sight: residents come to walk, exercise, do tai chi and walk their dogs, and various events are often held here. Reviewers also note convenient transport connections and that the beach is not far away.
Practical advice: outside the festival, half an hour to an hour is enough for a walk; combine it with the nearby convention centre area and the seafront. Trip.com lists hours of 9:00–21:00, though as an open square it is generally accessible. Entry is free. If you come for the beer festival, check the current year's programme for the Laoshan venue, as the main crowds and the biggest events are elsewhere.