Shipping New Wave, Qingdao New Coordinates! The 2026 Qingdao International Shipping Week will kick off on the 30th

Qingdao Daily / Guan Hai News, March 20th: In March, Qingdao is kissed by sea breezes as spring gradually arrives. Along Jiaozhou Bay, massive ships shuttle back and forth, the port is bustling, and a city born from the sea is welcoming friends from all over the world with a new look. From March 30 to April 3, 2026, the Qingdao International Shipping Week will kick off—this is not only a major industry event but also a new chapter for a century-old port city facing the deep blue era.

As a comprehensive, high-level shipping week hosted in Qingdao, the 2026 Qingdao International Shipping Week is themed “New Wave of Shipping, Qingdao’s New Coordinates.” It will gather port and shipping leaders, government and enterprise elites, and academic experts to discuss industry transformations, explore new cooperation opportunities, and further enhance the city’s reputation and influence. This will inject strong momentum into the high-level development of Qingdao International Shipping Center.

This shipping week adheres to market-oriented principles, jointly organized by relevant associations and industry enterprises. It will deeply coordinate upstream and downstream entities across the shipping, energy, shipbuilding, finance, and scientific research industries to create an international shipping event that combines forums, innovation releases, exhibitions, trade matchmaking, and investment promotion. The event includes 13 series of activities.

Event Overview

Event Dates: March 30 – April 3, 2026

Organizers: China Pilotage Association, Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd., Shandong Shipping Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Logistics and Supply Chain Management Association, Qingdao Shipping Service Industry Association, Qingdao Shipowners Association, Qingdao Mariners Association, Qingdao Lawyers Association, Bank of Communications Qingdao Branch, Qingdao International Shipping Research Center

Three Core Highlights

1. A prestigious lineup gathers to discuss industry frontiers. Over 300 heavyweight guests—including experts, scholars, heads of national maritime organizations, leaders of national shipping logistics agencies, representatives from the top ten classification societies, and local Qingdao associations—will participate. Through opening ceremonies, expert seminars, and themed activities, they will engage in in-depth exchanges on high-quality pilotage development and the growth of the international shipping center, sparking innovative ideas.

2. Ten thematic tracks focus on the pulse of the times. Covering industry hotspots, the shipping week will feature ten specialized forums addressing key issues such as high-quality pilotage, shipping finance, port construction, vessel management, container transportation, green and smart shipping, maritime law and arbitration, development of the international shipping center, and port policies. Details are available in the event agenda.

3. Precise government-enterprise matchmaking to empower industry upgrades. The shipping week will host the 2026 International Logistics and Supply Chain Expo (Qingdao) and enterprise roadshows, providing practical cooperation platforms to facilitate element matching and attract high-end resources.

Event Schedule

1. High-Quality Pilotage Development Forum & Opening Ceremony of Qingdao International Shipping Week

• Phase 1: Opening Ceremony
  Date: March 30 (Monday), 09:00-10:00
  Location: Yellow Sea Hotel (Multifunctional Conference Hall)
  Theme: New Wave of Shipping, Qingdao’s New Coordinates
  Organizers: China Pilotage Association, Bank of Communications Qingdao Branch, Qingdao International Shipping Research Center

• Phase 2: Development Forum
  Date: March 30 (Monday), 10:30-16:30
  Location: Yellow Sea Hotel (Multifunctional Conference Hall)
  Theme: Intelligent Pilotage, Safe Navigation
  Organizer: China Pilotage Association

2. Expert Seminar
   Date: March 30 (Monday), 10:30-12:00
   Location: Yellow Sea Hotel (Third Conference Room)
   Theme: Focusing on Key Bottlenecks and Pathways to Breakthrough—High-Quality Development of Qingdao International Shipping Center
   Organizer: Qingdao International Shipping Research Center

3. High-Quality Port Construction Development Forum
   Date: March 30 (Monday), 14:00-17:00
   Location: Qingdao Shangang Hyatt Hotel (Hyatt Hall)
   Theme: Building Ports and Shipping, Leading the Future—A New Chapter in Port Construction
   Organizer: Shandong Port Qingdao Port Group Co., Ltd.

4. Qingdao Shipping Finance Development Forum
   Date: March 30 (Monday), 14:00-16:00
   Location: Haitan Hotel (Qindao Hall)
   Theme: Global Service, Green Empowerment—Bank of Communications Supporting High-Quality Shipping Development
   Organizer: Bank of Communications Qingdao Branch

5. Senior Strategic Industry Seminar on Vessel Management
   Date: March 30 (Monday), 14:00-17:30
   Location: Yellow Sea Hotel (Jinxiu Hall)
   Theme: Cultural Empowerment, Compliance Collaboration
   Organizer: Qingdao Mariners Association

6. Qingdao Port Shipping Policy Briefing
   Date: March 30 (Monday), 14:00-17:00
   Location: Qingdao Municipal Government Conference Center (Fuxin Building Conference Room)
   Theme: Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Supporting Port Economy
   Organizer: Qingdao Shipowners Association

7. 2026 International Logistics and Supply Chain Expo (Qingdao)
   Date: March 31 (Tuesday) – April 2 (Thursday)
   Location: Qingdao International Convention and Exhibition Center (Laoshan Hall)
   Theme: Connecting Globally, Reigniting a New Chapter
   Organizers: Shenzhen Logistics and Supply Chain Management Association, Qingdao Shipping Service Industry Association

8. Shandong Port Container Development Conference
   Date: March 31 (Tuesday), 09:30-12:00
   Location: Shangang Hyatt Hotel (Hyatt Hall)
   Theme: Ports and Shipping Join Hands to Open International Logistics Corridors—Building the Qingdao International Shipping Center
   Organizer: Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd.

9. Vessel Management Experience Exchange
   Date: March 31 (Tuesday), 09:00-17:00
   Location: Yellow Sea Hotel (Lobby Area in Front of Conference Center)
   Theme: Cultural Empowerment, Compliance Collaboration—Building a New Future for Chinese Ship Management
   Organizer: Qingdao Mariners Association

10. Qingdao Green and Smart Shipping Development Forum
    Date: March 31 (Tuesday), 09:00-17:00
    Location: Qingdao International Shipping Center (Fifth Floor Conference Room)
    Theme: Green Shipping, Blue Economy
    Organizer: Shandong Shipping Co., Ltd.

11. Qingdao Shipping Industry Policy Interpretation & Enterprise Roadshow
    Date: April 2 (Thursday), 09:00-12:00
    Location: Qingdao International Convention and Exhibition Center (Hall 1 Conference Room)
    Theme: Ecological Co-Building, Navigating the Future—Gathering Shipping Strength to Build a New Qingdao International Shipping Ecosystem
    Organizer: Qingdao International Shipping Research Center

12. International Shipping Center Development Special Forum
    Date: April 2 (Thursday), 09:00-17:00
    Location: Yellow Sea Hotel (Back Area of Conference Center)
    Theme: Seizing Opportunities, Upgrading Shipping Services
    Organizer: China Economic Information Service Xinhua Index Research Institute

13. Maritime Judicial and Arbitration Seminar

• April 1 (Wednesday), 08:30-12:00
  Location: Badaguan Hotel Conference Center, First Floor (Auditorium)
  Theme: Legal and Commercial Integration in Global Shipping to Support Chinese Enterprises Going Global
  Organizer: Qingdao Lawyers Association

• April 3 (Friday), 08:30-12:00
  Location: Badaguan Hotel Conference Center, First Floor (Auditorium)
  Theme: Theoretical and Practical Issues of Electronic Bills in Maritime Cargo Transport
  Organizer: Qingdao Lawyers Association

• April 3 (Friday), 13:30-17:45
  Location: Badaguan Hotel Conference Center, First Floor (Auditorium)
  Theme: Focusing on Amendments to the Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China, Interpreting Core Clauses of Maritime Cargo Transport, Exploring New Paths for Practical Application and Dispute Resolution
  Organizer: Qingdao Lawyers Association

Open Day Activities

During the shipping week, the following venues and facilities will be open free of charge with professional guides, allowing guests and citizens to experience maritime culture and the city’s charm: Qingdao Customs Museum, Qingdao Road Traffic Museum, Civil Aviation Museum at Qingdao Airport Branch, Qingdao Undersea Tunnel Museum, Jiaozhou Railway Qingdao Museum, Qingdao South Needle Road Maritime Museum, Qingdao Cruise Home Port Cultural Center. Reservation procedures will be announced separately.

Additionally, the maritime training ship from Dalian Maritime University will dock at the Olympic Sailing Center during the shipping week and will be available for free visits by citizens, with reservation procedures to be announced.

From the rich history of a century-old port city to the leap in international shipping center capabilities, from a single port hub to a global resource allocation platform, Qingdao is writing a new chapter of high-quality shipping development with an open and inclusive attitude. On March 30, 2026, let’s gather in Qingdao, discuss cooperation with shipping elites, draw blueprints, and share development opportunities. (Qingdao Daily / Guan Hai News, Reporter Zhou Jianliang)

Editor: Lü Jingwen