DALIAN
Calling Code: +86 411
Dalian (大连; Dàlián) is the second largest city in Liaoning Province, Dongbei (North East), China and the largest port in northern China as well as a major destination for Chinese tourists. Located at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, the main part of the city is located on its own sub-peninsula, with the port to the north of the town centre and natural coastline dotted with beaches to the east and south.
Dalian, as a city, is young by Chinese standards, dating from 1898, though smaller settlements had long existed in the area. Like Hong Kong,
Shanghai and Qingdao, Dalian's development stemmed from colonial occupation, in this case by
Russia. Under Russian rule Dalian, or Dalny as it was known, became the southern tip of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the main port of
the eastern Russian empire. Following the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-5, the city was transferred to Japanese control and renamed Dairen. The Chinese
government resumed control following the Second World War (though the city was jointly run with Russia until 1955) and in 1950 was again renamed by the newly formed
Communist regime, this time to Luda City.
There followed a period of relative stagnation until the city (once again named Dalian) was opened up to foreign investment
in 1984. This sparked the first period of redevelopment of the city, the second period coming with the appointment of Bo Xilai as mayor. Under Bo's stewardship, the
city became a model example of redevelopment, with extensive redevelopment of its infrastructure and open spaces and a new focus on tourism and commerce and away from
heavy industry.
Dalian is less reliant on heavy industry than most Chinese cities, especially in north east China, and what heavy industry there is is mostly
located in the development zone far outside the city center. This, combined with the city's many parks and green hills, wide thoroughfares and army of street cleaners,
make Dalian a more pleasant city to visit and live in than most Chinese cities of comparable size.
Though most of the tourist industry in the city is targeted at the domestic, rather than international, market, overseas tourists should still find plenty to do in
the city, and the large number of foreign businesses in the city and foreign students and teachers at the city's many universities ensure that there's plenty of
companies (from upmarket hotels to bars and coffee houses) that cater to those who do not call China their native home. Currently, the city has a population of around, 6,300,000.
Dalian city is divided into 4 main districts:
- Zhongshan District (中山区 zhōngshān qū), home of Dalian's financial and commercial center.
- Xigang District (西岗区 xīgǎng qū), Dalian's government district.
- Shahekou District (沙河口区 shāhékǒu qū), mainly a residential area, though Xinghai Square and the many universities in the district may attract visitors.
- Ganjingzi District (甘井子区 gānjǐngzǐ qū) is by far the largest district, running from the Heishijiao University and high tech area in the south to the edge of the Dalian Development Zone in the north and to Yingchenzi in the west. For all its size, however, Dalian International Airport is the only location within the district most travellers are likely to visit.
The wider Dalian administrative area encompasses 6 further districts Jinzhou District, Lushunkou District, Wanfangdian District, Pulandian District, Zhuanghe District and Changhai County (spread over a group of islands to the east of the Liaodong Peninsula). Of these districts only Lushunkou, Jinzhou and Zhuanghe are likely to be of much interest to visitors.
- Jinzhou District (金州区 jīnzhōu qū) lies immediately north of Dalian city. The main attractions in the district are the Golden Pebble Beach (east of the Dalian Development Zone) and Xiangshui Temple.
- Lushunkou District (旅顺口区 lǚshùnkǒu qū) occupies the very southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, with the historically significant city of Lushun (formerly Port Arthur) at its center.
- Zhuganghe District (庄河市 zhuānghé shì) well north east of Dalian city is a mostly rural district with the impressive Bingyu Valley its main, or rather only, attraction.
If there's a place you've stayed or something you've done, but we haven't listed, review it for us!
Information here (unless otherwise specified) are licenced
under a Creative
Commons Licence.
|
|
