Country's capital of romance

Dalian, one of the best tourist cities in China, is known as the country's "Capital of Romance".

Located at the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula in Northeast China with the Yellow Sea in the east and the Bohai Sea in the west, Dalian is neither hot in summer nor cold in winter. It has an annual mean temperature of 10 C.

The city's tourist campaigns are based on 3s - sun, sand and sea in summer, and spring, sports and shopping in winter.

Dubbed the "bright pearl in North China", Dalian has been awarded many titles, including being listed as one of the world's top 500 cities with excellent environment by the United Nations.

It was one of the first to be named "Best Tourist Cities in China."

In March 1999, the National Tourism Administration named the city "Capital of Romance".

Dalian has 13 million sq m of green land, making it the leader in northern China. The city has 50 squares including the more famous Haijun (Navy), the Zhongshan Music, the People's Fountain, and the Xinghaiwan (Star and Bay).

The 40-km-long Binhai Road is a well-known center for high-quality goods.

Architecture in Dalian is based on the style of ancient Roman, popular European, ancient Russian, Baroque, Byzantine, Japanese, and traditional Chinese.

The most distinguished buildings are the Hope Plaza and the World Trade Mansion.

With a coastline of 1,900 km and a mild climate, Dalian is an ideal place for seafood, sailing, fishing, and other aquatic sports.

The confluence of the Yellow and Bohai seas also provides a breathtaking view of the seashore.

Known as the Geological Museum of China, the Jinshi Beach National Holiday Resort stands out with its unusually shaped rocks - the superlative craftsmanship of nature. Among the rocks is the Turtle-Shell, which is 600 million years old.

Other places of interest include Jinshi Country Club, China Martial Arts Center, Model Film and Television Arts Center, Hunting Club, International Convention Center, Geothermal Springs, Maple Leaves International School, Golden Coast, and Wedding Paradise.

Another unusual feature of Dalian is its 40 policewomen who patrol on horseback.

Dalian has 151 star-status hotels and 362 tourist agencies. The city has 160 sightseeing sites and holiday resorts including six national forest parks. The city received more than 700,000 overseas visitors in 2006, up 17 percent from the previous year. Income from tourism was $460 million in 2006, up 16 percent from the previous year.

The city received more than 21.5 million domestic visitors in 2006, up 13 percent from the previous year. Its domestic tourist income was 26 billion yuan ($3.4 billion) in 2006, up 23 percent from the previous year.

Visitors to Dalian come from more than 100 countries - 54 percent of whom are tourists and the rest on business. Dalian has built more than 100 tourist projects with an investment of 19.5 billion yuan in the past five years.

It plays host to many festivals and international activities, such as the International Fashion Festival, and the International Beer Festival. All these activities have drawn numerous visitors from home and abroad.

This month, the Dalian International Fashion Festival will feature various cultural, tourist, and economic activities. Performances will be held at the various squares featuring fashion shows, concerts, young designers' contests, and garment fairs.

(China Daily 09/07/2007 page40)