Oriental City of Canals takes shape in Dalian

Pictures taken in Dalian, Liaoning province, featuring a canal, gondolas and European-style buildings created a stir on the Internet on Monday, with viewers attracted by the prospect of experiencing the "Oriental City of Canals".

But they will have to wait.

The seawater was introduced into the canal for a test and the two gondolas were put into the water for a photography competition, said Sun Yan, manager of the Dongfang Shuicheng project.