The German Prison Museum at Qingdao is a German castle-style building, featuring thick red brick walls and pointed towers, exuding an air of classical mystery. Inside, visitors can explore the internal structure of the ‘castle’ and learn about its history as a prison and detention center, as well as the conditions of the cells. Constructed in 1900, the German Prison was a facility specifically designed to hold non-Chinese prisoners during Germany’s occupation of Qingdao, hence its alternative name ‘European Prison’. It was later used by the invading Japanese forces and the Nanjing Nationalist Government as a place of confinement and detention.
The prison complex consists of five buildings named after the virtues ‘Benevolence’, ‘Righteousness’, ‘Propriety’, ‘Wisdom’, and ‘Faith’, with the ‘Benevolence’ building being the main area open for visits. The interior of the prison is relatively small, primarily featuring a guard duty room, cells, and a water prison. A spiral staircase allows for movement between floors, which is itself a characteristic feature of the castle. In some rooms, wax figures can be seen, including guards in uniform and martyrs who were once imprisoned, adding a lifelike quality to the dimly lit prison environment. Certain cells have video simulation windows, allowing visitors to watch short scenes through small holes, recreating some of the confinement scenarios, complete with the background sound effects of howling north winds, providing an immersive experience. The basement of the prison houses a water prison added by the invading Japanese forces, which is the most gloomy and oppressive part of the entire facility. Numerous instruments of torture can be seen here, where many Chinese anti-Japanese patriots were brutally harmed by the Japanese forces. Opening hours: Closed all day on Mondays throughout the year; from April 1st to October 31st, open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00; from November 1st to March 31st, open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 17:00; Closed all day during the Spring Festival, and closed on Mondays (except for national holidays). Low season: November 1st to March 31st of the following year, closed from 11:30 to 13:30 at noon. Special notice for New Year’s Day and Spring Festival opening hours. Preferential policies: Minors: under 18 years old, free; Elderly: 60 years old and above with valid personal identification, free; Students: 18 to 22 years old with undergraduate student ID (excluding graduate students), enjoy discounted prices on-site.German Prison Museum at Qingdao
The German Prison Museum at Qingdao is a German castle-style building, featuring thick red brick wal[...]
