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About Dalian
Unlike the heavily touristy areas
in China (i.e. Beijing, Xi'an, and Hangzhou), that contain numerous palaces,
temples and museums, and that emphasize their long history and rich culture,
Dalian offers you a totally different experience.
Dalian started out as a small fishing village a little over 100 years ago. Since
then Dalian has seen its share of triumphs and tragedies: The first half was a
period full of power struggles and disasters, whereas the second got more stable
and saw more growth and prosperity. In 1894, the Sino-Japanese War broke out,
and later in 1895, Japan gained the Liaoning Peninsula. The Qing government
wrest the land back the same year, yet in 1898 the court ceded Dalien (Dalian)
to Russia again. In 1899 Russia changed the name of "Dalien" to "Dalny", which
means "a faraway city" in Russian. Russia's main objective was to develop the
Dalian and Lushun port facilities and allow for easier transit to Siberia and
inland locations in Russia. This occupation was short lived. In 1905, after its
victory in the Russia-Japan War, Japan recaptured the city. For the locals this
was a period of great confusion and sorrow. In August 1945, the last of the
hostile foreign troops left, leaving Dalian to become the first liberated city
in the newly founded People's Republic of China. From then on Dalian has
developed into an important base for heavy industry. It has been well-known for
its excellence in port development, shipbuilding and locomotive manufacture. In
1984, Dalian began to open up with the aim of building itself into a regional
hub for communication, trade, finance, information, and tourism. In 1988, the
Dalian International Fashion Festival began. In 1992, under the "Aiming at the
best instead of the largest" concept, the local government launched a drive to
modernize and beautify the city. This program has been immensely successful and
Dalian was soon bestowed with honors such as the "International Excellent Model
of Environment Improvement", the "UN Human Habitat Award" and the "Global 500
Roll of Honor for Environment Achievement".
"Fashion City", "Soccer City", "Home of Track and Field", "City of Romance"...
among Dalian's colorful monikers, approvals from two generations of China's top
leaders are worthy of notice: at the end of the 1980s, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the
chief architect of China's reforming & opening-up Policy, gave Dalian the
epigraph as "the window of the Northeast" and in 1999, President Jiang Zemin
said of Dalian, a "bright pearl shines over the North".
Dalian, a young city,
Dalian, a great city,
Dalian, is even a hopeful city,
Dalian, nestles upon fresh green mountains, and links with deep-blue sea;
Dalianese, bearing the amicability of the mountain and hospitality from the sea,
open their arms, to embrace your coming.
Dalian welcomes you!
Xinghai Square
 Xinhai
Square was erected in 1997 to commemorate the reversion of Hong Kong. It sits at
the center of the Xinghai business district, and maybe is roughly as big as two
Tian'anmen Squares in Beijing.
The design of the square combines Chinese tradition and modern concepts: A tall,
straight and pure-white marble ornamental column stands at the pivot of the
square, ranking the largest across the country. The column is 19.97 meters high,
with a 1.997 diameter, indicating that it was built in the year HK returned to
the motherland. The base of the column has 8 carved dragons, and the arch is
carved with another huge dragon, implying that Chinese are descendants of the
dragon.
To the north of the square lies Xinghai Convention & Exhibition Center and to
its south is the sea. Nearby the sea is located the city centennial sculpture.
The sculpture is just like an opened book, and on it is written the history of
the city, showing that the locals are confident to open a new historic page and
march into the new era.
Sunasia Ocean World
It was once the only underwater
tunnel aquarium in China and boasts the longest acrylic tunnel (118 meters)
throughout Asia.
A moving level passage guides tourists through the transparent tunnel to
experiences the mysterious underwater life. Right beside you are over 200 kinds
of rare fish from around the world. It also has a warship model exhibition, a
touch zone with ocean beasties, and a doodle room for kids.
The most exciting experience involve watching divers feeding the sharks and
seeing the sharks grabbing food in front of your eyes.
Recently penguins from the South Pole have hatched their young there.
Seashore Road
 If
you come to Dalian by plane, when your plane flies over the city, look down and
you may find what looks like a dancing silk ribbon inlaid between the southern
mountains and sea -- it's the Binhai Road, otherwise known as the "Coastal
Road". It offers a delightful sightseeing route and is one of the must see
attractions of the town.
The coastline of Dalian stretches for 1906 km. Ten major scenic spots dot the
Southern Seaside Scenic Area, in addition to 10 major bathing beaches -- All can
be accessed by the Binhai Road. In 1988, the Area was ranked as one of the
China's Major Scenic Areas.
The road starts from Haizhiyun Square at its east and ends at Heishijiao at its
west, the whole length extends 42.5 km. It is the best route for hiking and
going for driving in town: on the mountain side grow thriving trees, flourishing
flowers, and on the other the steep and rugged cliffs quicken one's health and a
vast expanse of calm, blue, or misty, rolling water delights one's eyes. The air
of the region is so fresh that tourists coming here apply the name of "natural
oxygen bar" to it spontaneously.
Donghai Park
The park consists of a modern
square, lush wooded zones, broken scarps off the coast, wandering roads and
funny novel sculptures along the roads--all leave the visitors with vivid
pictures, and those ancient
warship models near the square are absolute film-killers.
Polar Aquarium
 A
trip to polar regions shall be an unimaginable experience to average people, yet
coming visitors here to the Polar Aquarium find themselves in a crystal ice-snow
world anytime of the year.
The aquarium was opened in 2002, animals both from the south polar and the north
polar regions, including polar bears, penguins, polar belugas and sea elephants
share neighborhood here. Altogether the aquarium has 11 species of 153 polar
animals and it also boasts of 3,000 fish. Standing in a 360o channel one seems
to live together with the multitude of fish. A showcase of 300-odd sharks and
performances by dolphins also deserve high recommendations as well.
In the sea animal section, one can touch fur seals, sea dogs, and sea lions.
It’s the world's biggest coral exhibition hall and
a water-skiing course.
Golden Stone Beach
 Dalian
is renowned for its honor as a "City Garden", while in the city there is a place
called "Back Garden of Dalian"--the Golden Pebble Beach National Tourist Resort.
The Resort was approved by China State Government in 1992, and in 2001, it was
ranked as a 4A national tourist attraction. It can also be called a 4 "S" resort
-- a resort with elements of "Sea", "Shine", "Sand" and "Stone". For the last
unfamiliar element, one would be surprised at the figure and color of exotic
rocks here along the seaside--according to geological experts, it is a typical
glacial epoch sea karst physiognomy.
The Resort covers a land area of 62 km2, maritime space 58 km2,
and is 58 km away from downtown Dalian.
The former mayor of Dalian Mr. Bo Xilai compares the resort as an "Oriental
Hawaii". A Disney-style amusement land is under construction in centre of it and
is scheduled to open in 2005.
Dalian Zoo
Labor Park
Bangchui Island
Bingyu
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