Meng Dong, a 28-year-old cafe owner, has a firsthand view of city's ongoing transformation in both the new district and old town. 

Meng was originally an interior designer who just saw coffee as a hobby. But after designing cafes, he gradually fell in love with coffee. He would eventually open his own cafe on the shoreline of Qingdao in the city's new district. "The external environment cannot be reproduced," Meng said, referring to the new district's desirable location on the water. The sea views made an ideal location for the young entrepreneur and many others like him looking to enter the business. 

As Qindao's new district continues to blossom, more and more young people are beginning to make it their home. According to Meng, the wave of millennials "promotes the rapid development of the market economy" and the vitality of the area. Meng also expressed his confidence in their spending power and believes they will drive consumption in the area. He applies this fact to his business, which market-oriented concepts to attract other coffee lovers. "Only by attracting them to the cafe can we continue to share coffee culture to more groups," Meng said.

Regarding old town, Meng said, "It used to be a prosperous area, we spend out childhood there, but with the development of Qingdao, it needs to be stimulated through creativity."

However, there are many young people living in old town. For them, the main reason for staying in the area is the preservation and continuation of traditional culture, such as Zijun Yu, a college graduate who has run his father's seafood stall for more than 10 years. Zijun took over the business for his aging father and has run it ever since. 

Whether living in the new district or old town, the youth are shaping the development and future of Qingdao.