China is hardly a hotbed of craft brewing. Tsingtao is possibly its only famous brand. Named for Qingdao, the German-influenced city where it is brewed (the difference in spelling is a result of changing pinyin systems in the 20th century) Tsingtao is a nice pilsner of the type favored in Asian countries.
When you visit the city of Qingdao and order a beer, it’s a given that you will be given a Tsingtao. The question they ask you is “Do you want the local one or the kind we export?”
“What’s the difference?”
“The local one is 5 yuan extra.”
“I’ll take the local.”
Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I think the home-style brew tasted a little fresher.
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