Dalian

Dalian 大连 Sub-provincial city 大连市 Clockwise from top: Dalian's Skyline, Laodong Park, Lüshun Station, Xinghai Square, and Zhongshan Square Location of Dalian within Liaoning in China Country China Province Liaoning Settled 1899 – Transfer of sovereignty to Japan (Treaty of Shimonoseki) 17 April 1895 – Russian occupation - Japanese occupation 3 March 1898 – 2 January 1905 1905 – 15 August 1945 – Transfer of sovereignty to the PRC 16 April 1955 City seat Xigang District Divisions  - County-level 6 districts, 4 counties(citys) Government  • Mayor Li Wancai Area  • Sub-provincial city 13,237 km2 (5,111 sq mi)  • Land 12,574 km2 (4,855 sq mi) Elevation 29 m (95 ft) Population  (2009)  • Sub-provincial city 6,170,000  • Density 470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)  • Urban 3,578,000  • Major ethnic groups Han Time zone UTC+8 (China Standard) Postal code 116000 Area code 0411 GDP 2009  - Total CNY ¥ 441.8 billion  - Per capita CNY ¥ 71,833 US$ 10,515 (nominal) HDI (2008) 0.834 – High Coastline 1,906 km (excluding islands) License plate prefixes 辽B City flowers Rosa chinensis Website http://www.dalian.gov.cn/

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Dalian
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	大连
Traditional Chinese	大連
Postal	Dairen
Literal meaning	Great Connection
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Dàlián Wu Romanization Du去lie平 Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Daai6lin4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Tāi-liân
Korean name
Hangul	다롄
Hanja	大連
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Daryen McCune–Reischauer Talyen
Japanese name
Kanji	大連
Hiragana	だいれん
Transcriptions Romanization Dairen
Russian name
Russian	Далянь or Дальний
Romanization	Dalian or Dalny

Dalian (Mandarin pronunciation: [tɑ˥˩li̯ɛn˧˥]) is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, facing Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's northernmost warm water port. Dalian is the second largest city in Liaoning Province, next only to the capital of Shenyang, and has a long history of being used by foreign powers as a port. The city made international news headlines in July 2010 when two oil pipelines exploded, releasing tens of thousands, and possibly upwards of 400,000, barrels of oil into the Yellow Sea.

History

File:Dairen dalny 1912.jpg

Dairen (Dalian) in 1912

Ancient

In the Qin and Han periods (221 B.C.-A.D. 220), the Dalian region was under the jurisdiction of Liaodong county. During the 3rd century through 5th century, when China was split into Sixteen Kingdoms, the neighboring kingdom of Goguryeo maintained control of this region. In the early Tang Dynasty (618–907), the Dalian region was under the jurisdiction of Andong Prefecture in Jili state, and during the Liao Dynasty (916–1125), it was under the jurisdiction of Dong Jing Tong Liaoyang county. Dalian was named Sanshan in the period of Weijin (220–420), San Shanpu in the Tang Dynasty (618–907), Sanshan Seaport in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), and Qing Niwakou in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).

Qing Dynasty

In the 1880s, the Qing government constructed loading bridges and fortifications with built-in cannons, and set up mining camps on the northern coast of Dalian Bay, and it became a small town. At that time, Jinzhou, north of downtown Dalian, now Dalian City's Jinzhou District, was a walled town and the center of political and economic activities of this area.

British, Russian, and Japanese occupations

Main article: Russian Dalian

The settlement was occupied by the British in 1858, returned to the Chinese in the 1880s, and then occupied by Japan in 1895 during the first Sino-Japanese War. Nearby Port Arthur was named after Prince Arthur, one of Queen Victoria's sons.

While Japan's intention to lease Port Arthur and its surrounding areas, based on the Treaty of Shimonoseki, met with the Tripartite Intervention by France, Germany and Russia, the Russian Empire in 1898 succeeded in leasing the peninsula from the Qing Dynasty, and a modern city was laid out with the name of Dalny (Дальний). Linked to the Trans-Siberian Railway's branch line, Dalny became Russia's primary port-city in Asia. The Russian government contributed more than 10 million golden rubles (equivalent to 11.5 billion of today's rubles) into the city foundation and building.

Dalny was the main battlefield of the Russo-Japanese War (1905).

Both Dalny (Qingniwaqiao 青泥洼桥 of Zhongshan District, Dalian) and Port Arthur (Lüshunkou) were developed and heavily fortified by the Russians in the period prior to 1904. Consequently, some historians blame the fall of Port Arthur during the siege of Port Arthur on 2 January 1905 for the failure by Admiral Eugene Alexeyeff to concentrate on the naval base and its fortifications, instead splitting precious resources shipped 5,000 miles across the single tracked Trans-Siberian Railway and Manchurian railways.

After the Russo-Japanese war, Port Arthur was conceded to Japan (Treaty of Portsmouth), who set up the Kwantung Leased Territory or Guandongzhou, which is roughly the southern half (Jinzhou District and south) of the present-day Dalian City. Since the foundation of Manchukuo in 1932, the sovereignty of the territory moved from China to Manchukuo. Japan still leased it from Manchukuo. In 1937, the modern Dalian City was enlarged and modernized by the Japanese as two cities: the northern Dairen (Dalian) and the southern Ryojun (Lushun).

Post-World War II

With the unconditional surrender of Japan in August 1945, Dalian passed to the Soviets, who had liberated the city in advance of the end of hostilities and governed the city until 1950. During this period the Soviets and Chinese Communists cooperated in the further development of the city, its industrial infrastructure, and especially the port, which remained as the free port rented by the Soviet government. The city had been relatively undamaged during the war.

In 1950, the USSR presented Dalian to the Chinese Communist government without any compensation. Soviet troops left in 1955. After the departure of the Soviets, China made Dalian into a major shipbuilding center. In the 1990s the city benefited from the attention of Bo Xilai (son of the important first generation Party elder, Bo Yibo) who was both mayor of the city and provincial party official, who, among other things, banned motorcycles, created large, lush parks in the city's many traffic circles, and generally built things up very attractively. He also preserved much of Dalian's interesting and attractive Japanese and Russian architectural heritage. He is the former Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic.

Geography

Dalian – Landsat photo (circa 2000)

Dalian
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     8.9     0 −7     5.8     1 −5     12     7 0     25     15 7     47     20 12     83     24 17     140     27 21     155     27 22     65     24 17     29     18 11     20     10 3     11     3 −4 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: CMA
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.4     31 20     0.2     35 23     0.5     45 32     1     58 44     1.9     68 54     3.3     76 63     5.5     80 70     6.1     81 71     2.6     75 63     1.1     64 51     0.8     49 37     0.4     38 26 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

One of the most heavily developed industrial areas of China, the Dalian administrative district today consists of Dalian proper and the smaller Lüshunkou (formerly Lüshun city, known in western and Russian historic references as Port Arthur), about forty nautical miles farther along the Liaodong Peninsula. Historical references note that the Russian designed city of Dalny (Alt. Dalney), on the south side of Dalian Bay was 40 kilometers from Port Arthur/Lüshun (known today as Lüshunkou or literally, Lüshun Port).

Dalian is located west of the Yellow Sea and east of Bohai Sea roughly in the middle of the Liaodong peninsula at its narrowest neck or isthmus. With a coastline of 1,906 km, it governs the entire Liaodong Peninsula and about 260 surrounding islands and reefs. It is seated at south-south-west of the Yalu River, and its harbor entrance forms a sub-Bay known as Dalian Bay.

Environmental protection

• In general, the condition of environment quality was good. The average content of the four pollutants in the air reached Class Ⅱ of National Ambient Air Quality Standards and there were 353 days with air pollution index (API) over Class Ⅱ (Good), including 108 excellent days with Class Ⅰ(Superior). Dalian frequently ranks Grade 2 for air pollution according to SEPA.
• The water quality of offshore marine space maintained stable overall. The annual average content of monitoring indicators for water quality met Class-II of the national seawater quality standard, except Inorganic Nitrogen in Dalian Bay and southern coast. The water quality of drinking water sources maintained good and complied with Class-III of Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water.
• The urban traffic noise was in line with the national regulations and standards. Dalian won 6th Kitakyushu Environment Award.

Climate

The city's climate is a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwa), characterised by humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. The city experiences a one-month seasonal lag due to its position on the Liaodong Peninsula. Average temperatures range from −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) in January to 24.1 °C (75.4 °F) in August. Annual precipitation averages 602 millimetres (23.7 in) but is heavily concentrated in the summer months and can vary greatly from year to year. Despite the coastal location, the area receives 2740 hours of sunshine per year, or 62.5% of the possible amount.

Climate data for Dalian (1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−0.4 (31.3)	1.4 (34.5)	7.2 (45.0)	14.6 (58.3)	20.2 (68.4)	24.2 (75.6)	26.6 (79.9)	27.3 (81.1)	23.9 (75.0)	17.5 (63.5)	9.7 (49.5)	3.1 (37.6)	14.6 (58.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−6.8 (19.8)	−5 (23)	0.2 (32.4)	6.6 (43.9)	12.2 (54.0)	17.2 (63.0)	21.0 (69.8)	21.6 (70.9)	17.4 (63.3)	10.6 (51.1)	2.8 (37.0)	−3.5 (25.7)	7.9 (46.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	8.9 (0.35)	5.8 (0.23)	12.1 (0.48)	24.7 (0.97)	47.0 (1.85)	83.2 (3.28)	140.1 (5.52)	155.4 (6.12)	65.1 (2.56)	29.0 (1.14)	20.0 (0.79)	10.6 (0.42)	601.9 (23.70)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	3.3	2.9	3.7	5.4	7.0	9.3	11.8	9.2	8.0	5.2	5.3	3.4	74.5
Average relative humidity (%)	56	56	55	56	61	73	84	81	69	62	60	58	64.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours	198.0	200.2	238.8	256.9	277.6	254.7	220.7	240.8	251.5	234.6	182.1	183.9	2,739.8
Source: China Meteorological Administration

Administration

Dalian

Dalian is the second largest city of Liaoning Province, after Shenyang, the provincial capital. Dalian City is governed by the Mayor and its Dalian Municipal People's Government.

Municipal Government

The Municipal Government is located in the main building on the north side of People's Square on Zhongshan Road, originally built as the Administrative Office of Kwantung Leased Territory, and other buildings in downtown Dalian. There are the Commerce, Foreign Economy & Trade, Hygiene, Information Industry, Police, Religion, Science & Technology, Transportation and other city-level bureaus, which work closely with the corresponding agencies at the district level.

There are, in addition, 4 national leading open zones (对外开放先导区):

• The Development Zone (开发区)
• The Free Trade Zone (保税区)
• The Hi-Tech Industrial Zone (高新技术产业园区)
• The Golden Pebble Beach National Holiday Resort (金石滩国家旅游度假区)

Administrative divisions

(see Political divisions of China)

The city administers 6 districts (区 qu), 3 county-level cities (市 shi), and 1 county (县 xian) :

• There are 92 sub-districts and 69 town/townships .
• Ganjingzi, Zhongshan, Xigang, and Shahekou Districts make up the urban centre. Changhai County is made up entirely of islands east of the peninsula.

Map	#	Name	Hanzi	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (est. 2007)	Area (km²)	Density (/km²)
	City proper
	1	Xigang District	西岗区	Xīgǎng Qū	307,000	26	11,808
	2	Zhongshan District	中山区	Zhōngshān Qū	354,000	43	8,233
	3	Shahekou District	沙河口区	Shākékǒu Qū	643,000	49	13,122
	4	Ganjingzi District	甘井子区	Gānjǐngzi Qū	704,000	491	1,434
	Suburban
	5	Lüshunkou District	旅顺口区	Lǚshùnkǒu Qū	209,000	506	413
	6	Jinzhou District	金州区	Jīnzhōu Qū	717,000	1,390	516
	Satellite cities
	7	Wafangdian	瓦房店市	Wǎfángdiàn Shì	1,025,000	3,791	270
	8	Pulandian	普兰店市	Pǔlándiàn Shì	827,000	2,923	283
	9	Zhuanghe	庄河市	Zhuānghé Shì	921,000	3,900	236
	Rural
	10	Changhai County	长海县	Chánghǎi Xiàn	74,000	119	622

Demographics

Permanent population of Dalian at the end of 2008 totaled 6.13 million. The total registered population on household was 58,337 thousand, with a net increase of 51.8 thousand over the previous year, of which, non-farming population was 34,783 thousand, accounting for 59.6 percent; farming population 23,554 thousand, accounting for 40.4 percent.

Economy

Friendship Square in Dalian

The city has enjoyed a continuous double-digit increase in GDP since 1992. In 2009, the city's GDP registered a 15 percent increase, reaching RMB441.77 billion, while per capita GDP hit RMB71,833. According to a nationwide appraisal by the National Bureau of Statistics, Dalian ranks eighth among Chinese cities in terms of overall strength. The city’s main industries include machine manufacturing, petrochemicals and oil refining, and electronics.

Seventeen enterprises in shipbuilding, internal-combustion engines, and finished oil and bearings are the largest firms of their kind in the country. Dalian is an excellent location for businesses involved in metal and lumber processing, component parts consolidation and distribution.

The city is also striving to build up an IT and software center – it is now an increasingly important software exporter to Japan. Finance and other service industries are growing as well. At present, some 23 foreign-funded banks and financial institutions have set up branches or agencies in the city. The exhibition industry is also doing well. The Xinghai Convention and Exhibition Center has hosted over 300 events, including the Dalian Import and Export Commodities Fair and Dalian International Garment Fair.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Dalian was originally an agriculture and aquaculture-based area, which, after the opening of the ferry between Yantai and Lüshun during the early 20th century, began to be populated by the farmers and fishermen of Shandong, across the Yellow Sea. Corn, vegetables, fruit such as apples, cherries and pears are Dalian's typical agricultural products. Aquaculture is well developed in Dalian, exporting seaweed, scallops, sea urchins and others to Japan, Korea and other countries.

Heavy, Light and Distribution Industries

Even before and during the Sino-Japanese War, the shipbuilding and locomotives industries were a thriving industry, such as the companies which later became Dalian Shipbuilding Co. and Dalian Locomotive & Roll Stock Works (DLoco). After the War, Dalian became an important center of the heavy and light industries, including companies such as Dalian Heavy Industry Co., Dalian Chemical Group, and Wafangdian Bearing Co.; and of the distribution industry, including such as Dashang Group. Overseas retailing giants, such as Wal-Mart from U.S.A., Carrefour from France and Metro from Germany have recently opened stores in Dalian. Mycal, the Japanese retailing chain store, was bought out by its Chinese partner, Dashang Group, and is operated as Mykal.

Dalian Port is emerging as a very important port for international trade. A new harbor for oil tankers, at the terminus of an oil pipeline from the Daqing oilfields, was completed in 1976. Dalian is the largest petroleum port in China, and also the 3rd largest port overall. Accordingly, Dalian is a major center for oil refineries, diesel engineering, and chemical production. Also completed recently is a newer port on Dagushan Peninsula on the northern suburbs, specializing in import/export of mining and oil products. Together with its Dalian Railroad Station, Dalian International Airport and two major express roads to Shenyang-Changchun-Harbin in the north and to Dandong to the east, Dalian has become an important distribution center. Dalian International Airport is the largest airport in Northeast China, and has direct flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei and several other Asian cities.

Dalian Development Zone

Main article: Dalian Development Zone

Dalian has been given many benefits by the Chinese government, including the title of "open-city" (1984), which allows it to receive considerable foreign investment (see Special Economic Zone). The Development Zone was established in Jinzhou District, to which many Japanese manufacturing companies, such as Canon, Mitsubishi Electric, Nidec, Sanyo Electric and Toshiba, followed by Korean, American and European companies (such as Pfizer). In March 2007, Intel announced plans to build a semiconductor fabrication facility (commonly known as a fab) in the Development Zone, Dalian. It is Intel's first fab to be built at an entirely new site in over 15 years. The fab at Dalian will make the chip sets that support Intel's microprocessors and is expected to begin operation in the first half of 2010. (Source: The Wall Street Journal; 26 March 2007; Page B6)

Industrial zones

• Dalian Development Zone
• Dalian Economic & Technological Development Zone

Dalian Economic & Technological Development Zone was established in September 1984, as one of the first of the China National Economic and Technological Development Zones. The zone had a GDP of 70.31 billion yuan in 2007 and the total volume of import and export trade is 14.92 billion dollars, which accounts for a quarter of the whole Liaoning Province's. Most of the enterprises in Dalian ETDZ are factories foreign enterprises, especially from Japan, South Korea and USA, such as Canon, Pfizer, Toshiba and Intel.

• Dalian Export Processing Zone

Dalian Export Processing Zone was approved to be set up by State Council in April 2000, with a planned area of 2.95 sq km. It is divided into two parts, A zone and B zone. A zone has a construction area of 1.5 sq km, and started operation in May 2001. All the basic infrastructure are available, which include road, water, gas, and power supply, telecommunication and so on. In A zone, it encourages several leading industries, such as home appliances, light industry, machinery, construction materials, medicine instruments.

• Dalian Free Trade Zone

Dalian Free Trade Zone was approved to be set up by government in May 1992. Investors can enjoy preferential policies, including duty-free. Inside the zone, all the infrastructures are available. The trade zone enjoys strategic location and convenient traffic. It has formed some leading industries, such as electronics, machinery and plastics.

• Dalian Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Dalian Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was approved to be a national-level development zone in 1991. It has a total area of 35.6 square kilometers. Inside the zone, all the infrastructure are available. It focuses and encourages the following industries: electronic information, bio-pharmacy, and new materials.

Financial Industry

Dalian is the financial center of Northeast China. There are the Dalian branches of China's five major banks: Bank of China, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Agricultural Bank of China. Dalian Commercial Bank is now called Dalian Bank, which among other things handles processing of the Dalian Mingzhu IC Card for public transportation. Foreign banks, such as Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, Bank of East Asia, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and Mizuho Corporate Bank also have branch offices. JPMorgan Chase, ABN, Deutsche Bank are also intending to open branches in Dalian, due to the city's prosperous population and booming industry.

Dalian Commodity Exchange is the only one of its kind in China, expanding the futures market beyond soybeans. A "Financial Street" around the new Commodity Exchange building is now being planned.

IT Industry

Since the 1990s Dalian City has emphasized the development of the IT industry, especially in Dalian Hi-Tech Zone and Dalian Software Park in the western suburbs near Dalian University of Technology. Not only Chinese IT companies, such as DHC, Hisoft and Neusoft Group, but also American, European, Indian and Japanese IT companies, such as Accenture, Dell, Genpact, HP, IBM, Liferay, SAP AG, Oracle Corporation, Siemens, Alpine Electronics, CSK Holding, Panasonic, NEC, Sony, Cisco, Netapp, British Telecom, Aspect, and Fidelity are located there. Currently, the "Lushun South Road Software Industry Belt" Plan is proceeding, including Dalian Software Park Phase 2.

Dalian has recently become an important center for information technology offshoring and business process outsourcing, similar to Bangalore in India; the city was described in "The World Is Flat" by Thomas Friedman (2007). In another way, Dalian is the forerunner of China's "Re-Development of the Old Industry Bases in Northeast" National Project, which began in 2002.

Intel's Fab 68 is located in Dalian. The plan was announced on 26 March 2007, and operations started on 26 October 2010. It is Intel's first chip-manufacturing fabrication in East Asia.

Tourism

Dalian is a very popular destination among Chinese tourists and foreign visitors, especially from Japan, South Korea and Russia. Its mild climate and multiple beaches as well as its importance in the modern history of China make it an especially nice place to visit. Some of the most famous beaches are Tiger beach, Xinghai beach, Jinshitan beach and Fujiazhuang beach. It is one of the three Best Tourism Cities (2006), along with Hangzhou and Chengdu, recognized by the National Tourism Administration.

Four Inner-City Districts

• ZhongShan District: Zhongshan Square (Dalian) (including the Modern Buildings on Zhongshan Square in Dalian) and Friendship Square It is also the economics center. Zhongshan Park
• Laohutan, Fujiazhuang Beach and Discovery Land

Laohutan is famed for its natural scenery. There is the Underwater World, the Bird Park and the recently completed Polar Region Zoo. The dolphin show is a major attraction for the Polar Region Zoo.

Discovery land is a theme park which contains six different major scenic spots.

• Sha He Kou District: Xinghai Square, Xingghai Park and Heishijiao. Xinghai Square was built at the centennial of the City of Dalian (1998) and is slated to be East Asia's largest square. Xinghai beach is in side Xinghai Park. It is about 800m long and is an excellent place for swimming.
• Victory Square: It is an underground shopping mall which is 4 floors underground. You can find all kinds of different stuff. From shopping to dining, from hair cut to game stop.

Jinzhou District and Development Zone (in the northern suburbs)

• Dahei Mountain
• Jinshitan Sightseeing Area

Jinshitan beach, the Golden Pebble Beach is a tourist attraction with splendid coves and rock formations. There is also a golf course (Jinshitan International Golf Course), cross country motorcycling, a theme park (Dalian Discoveryland) and a game forest. It is a good place for someone who wants peace and quiet and it is excellent for swimming too.

Lüshunkou District (in the western suburbs)

• Lüshun Museum
• Lüshun Railroad Station
• 203 Hill and Shuishiying Meeting Place

The fiercest battle site and the signing site of the ceasefire treaty, of the Battle of Lüshun during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05).

Three Northern Cities of Greater Dalian

• Anbo Hotspring and Ski Course, in Pulandian City
• Zhangxing Island International Golf Course, in Wafangdian City
• Binyugou Scenic Area and Buyun Mountain Hotspring, in Zhuanhe City

Transportation

Local Transportation

Dalian is one of the many cities in China where there are no longer many bicycles, and where there are few motorcycles, because their sale is prohibited. The number of cars on Dalian streets has increased dramatically in recent years, but traffic continues to circulate relatively smoothly. The city has a comprehensive bus system and an efficient Dalian Metro system, usually called Qinggui (轻轨), which connects Dalian Development Zone and Jinshitan with downtown Dalian. The Dalian Tram system is the second oldest in China.

Domestic and international

Dalian has a modern and recently (2006) expanded international airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, with direct flights to the most major cities in China, and to the selected cities in Japan and South Korea.

The city's location means that train trips to most Chinese cities outside China's northeastern region require changing trains in Shanghai or Beijing. Most of the direct city to city express trains are overnight trips. In August 2007 construction started on a Harbin-Dalian high speed passenger railway, which is expected to be completed in 2013, connecting Harbin, Dalian, Changchun, and Shenyang.

In addition to local and express bus service to Beijing and other areas in the northeast, Dalian is connected by passenger ship service to neighbouring coastal cities, such as Tianjin and Yantai, as well as Incheon, South Korea.

Life and Culture

Zhongshan Square in Dalian

Dalian was rated No 1 of the most livable city in China in 2006 according to China Daily. Dalian is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities of China, and it is often compared with San Francisco or Seattle.

Dalian Dialect

Standard Mandarin is usually spoken in Dalian because it is a city with people from various locations. Among the Dalianites, however, the Dalian dialect is used, which belongs to the Jiao Liao Mandarin subgroup spoken from Shandong Province to Liaoning Province. The majority of the original Dalianites were the poor farmers and fishermen who had come from Shandong Province in a large population move called "Chuang Guandong". Among the Dalian dialect's features are a few loanwords from Japanese and Russian, reflecting its history of foreign occupation , which is a very rare case in the Chinese language.

Sports

Sports play a big role in the local culture. The city's mayor encouraged a top league football team with foreign aid and a lot of city cash to increase the city's image in the country and bring local fame. They have been caught out several times though and the heyday of the Super Team has passed. The city's football team has dominated the sport in China and Asia by winning 7 titles out of the past 9 years of Chinese professional football league. The city is also a powerhouse producing numerous track and field champions.

The Dalian's football club is Dalian Shide (大连实德), one of fifteen teams in the Chinese Super League. Prior to 2000, they were known as Dalian Wanda (大连万达). Dalian Shide(Wanda) achieved success as:

• Premium A Champions 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002，2005
• Asian Club Championship Runners-Up 1997
• Asian Cup Winners' Cup Runners-Up 2001
• Chinese Super Cup Winners 1997, 2001, 2003
• China FA Cup Winners 2001

City-Wide Festivals

Xinghai Square(星海广场), the Xinghai Conference Center, the Dalian World Expo Center and the hotels on Renmin Rd. are the places where Dalian's major annual events are held: Fireworks Displays (Chinese New Year, 1 May and 1 October), Dalian International Walking Festival (May), Dalian Locust Flower Festival (May), Dalian International Marathon (June), China International Software & Information Service Fair (June), Dalian International Beer Festival (July–August), Dalian International Auto Show (August) and Dalian International Fashion Week (September).

Every September Dalian hosts the Dalian International Fashion Festival (大连国际服装节). This festival is a chance for many major foreign companies to showcase their new products and sign up buyers. Before the festival, the city holds an opening ceremony attended by government officials as well as famous stars of the entertainment world.

Zoo and Museums

Dalian is the home of three zoological parks: Dalian Forest Zoo, Sun Asia Ocean World, and Polar World. The Forest Zoo has a free-range animal section as well as a more traditional zoo. Shengya Ocean World includes an underwater conveyor through a transparent tunnel. Polar World is the only park devoted to polar animals in China. Dalian is also home to a number of public squares, including Xinghai Square.and it also famous for beer festivals, every year it attracts a lot of tourism.

Plastination center

The German anatomist Gunther von Hagens runs a plastination center in Dalian.

Food and Restaurants

The local cuisine heavily depends on variety of fresh seafood and fruits, both of which are abundant in the area.

In popular culture

The computer game Battlefield 2 has a single-player/multiplayer map labeled as the "Dalian Plant", wherein the United States Marine Corps engages the People's Liberation Army to take control of a power plant. However, in reality, there presently aren't any power plants in or near Dalian. (Although Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant is being built in Wafangdian, part of Dalian Prefecture-level City – over 100 from Dalian city center).

Inter-Governmental and People-to-People Communication

Japan maintains a Consulate General office and a JETRO office in Dalian, reflecting a relatively large Japanese population.

Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry has about 700 corporate members. Those Japanese who had lived in Dalian before the War have organized the Dalian Society. There are such voluntary groups as the Lilac Society (for women) and the Dalian Mountaineering Association.

Religion

Five religions (Taoism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam) are "officially approved" by the Chinese government. As of 2005, Dalian had 27 Protestant churches, 2 Catholic churches, 10 mosques, 34 Buddhist temples, and 7 Taoist temples, according to the statistics of the city government.

Daoist temples can be found in various districts including downtown Dalian (Hua Temple in Zhong Shan Park), in Lushunkou District (Longwang Temple), and in Jinzhou District (Jinlong Temple in Daweijia, Xiangshui Temple at the foot of Dahei Mountain, and Zhenwu Temple in Liangjiadian).

Buddhist temples are in downtown Dalian (Songshan Temple on Tangshan Street), on the northern side of Anzi Mountain (Anshan Temple), at Daheishi (Thousand-Hand Buddha & 500 Luohan Statues), in Lushunkou District (Hengshan Temple at Longwangtan), and in Jinzhou District 'Guanyinge-Shengshui Temple on Dahei Mountain).

Dalian Catholic Church (built in 1926) is in downtown Dalian, west of Dalian Railway Station. Protestant churches are near Zhongshan Square (Yuguang Street Church, the former Dalian Anglican Church, built in 1928 in the British Consulate General's premises by the Church of England and Anglican Church of Japan jointly), on Changjiang Road (Beijing Street Church, now called Cheng-en Church, originally built in 1914 by the Danish Lutheran Church), on Xi'an Road (Christian Church for the Korean Chinese), east of the airport (the newly built Harvest Church, which can seat 4000 people), in Jinzhou (the newly built Jinzhou Church) and in Lüshunkou District (Lüshun Church, a former Danish Lutheran church). Dalian Mosque is on Beijing Street.

Local Celebrities

Toshirō Mifune (三船 敏郎, Mifune Toshirō), Mifune Toshirō (1 April 1920 – 24 December 1997) was a famous Japanese actor who appeared in almost 170 feature films. He was born in Qingdao, China, to Japanese parents, and grew up in the Chinese city of Dalian with his parents and two siblings.

Dong Jie, (Chinese: 董洁; Born 19 April 1980) is a popular actress from Dalian, Liaoning, China. In 2000 she played the female role of Wu Ying in a Zhang Yimou art-house film. Her movie, Happy Times (幸福時光), was also extensively filmed in and around the city of Dalian.

Yu Nan (Chinese: 余男; Born 5 September 1978) is a Chinese actress born in Dalian. She played a small role in the Wachowski brothers' live-action adaptation of Speed Racer.

Education

There were 23 general institutions of higher education (and another 7 privately-run colleges), 108 secondary vocational schools, 80 ordinary middle high schools, 1,049 schools for nine-year compulsory education and 1,432 kindergartens in Dalian. The students on campus of all levels (including kindergartens) totaled 1108 thousand.

There are the following schools of higher education and research centers:

Colleges and Universities

• Dalian University of Technology (大连理工大学)（Project 985、Project 211）
• Dalian Maritime University (大连海事大学)（Project 211）
• Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (东北财经大学)
• Dalian Medical University (大连医科大学)
• Liaoning Normal University (辽宁师范大学)
• Dalian University (大连大学)
• Dalian Polytechnic University (大连工业大学)
• Dalian Nationalities University (大连民族学院)
• Dalian Fisheries University (大连水产学院)
• Dalian Jiaotong University (大连交通大学)
• Dalian University of Foreign Languages (大连外国语学院)
• Neusoft Institute of Information (东北大学东软信息学院)
• Dalian Naval Academy of the PLA（中国人民解放军海军大连舰艇学院）

Some universities are undergoing relocations from the metropolitan area to the suburban districts. In 2007, Dalian University of Foreign Languages (except for its Schools of Chinese Studies 汉学院 and Continuous Education 培训部) and Dalian Medical University (except its Hospital) were moved to Lüshunkou District, just east of Baiyin Mountain Tunnel (白银山).

Missouri State University Branch Campus Dalian is a dual management private school with a western director.

Research Centers

• Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (大连化学物理研究所 or 化物所) Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院)

High schools

• The High School Attached to Lianning Normal University（辽宁师范大学附属中学）
• Dalian Maple Leaf International School（大连枫叶国际学校）
• Dalian No. 24 High School（大连市第二十四中学）
• Dalian Yuming High School（大连育明高中）
• Dalian No. 8 High School（大连市第八中学）
• Dalian No. 12 High School（大连市第十二中学）
• Dalian No. 1 High School（大连市第一中学）
• Dalian No. 2 High School（大连市第二中学）
• Dalian No. 23 High School（大连市第二十三中学）

International relations

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in China

Twin towns — Sister cities

Dalian is twinned with:

• Zaragoza, Spain
• Szczecin, Poland
• Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Kitakyūshū, Japan
• Le Havre, France
• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Ohrid, Macedonia
• Bremen, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany
• Incheon, South Korea
• Oakland, California, USA
• Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
• Maizuru, Japan
• Vladivostok, Russia
• Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo
• Bahía Blanca, Argentina
• Surabaya, Indonesia
• Enschede, Netherlands

Further reading

• Hess, Christian A. (2006). "From colonial jewel to socialist metropolis: Dalian, 1895—1955." Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, San Diego.
• Kuramoto, Kazuko. Manchurian Legacy: Memoirs of a Japanese Colonist, 1st edition. Michigan State University Press. 1 October 1999. ISBN 0-87013-510-4, ISBN 978-0-87013-510-1, ISBN 0-87013-725-5, ISBN 978-0-87013-725-9.
• Matz, Leigh. Blue Sky Red Tears, 1st edition. DigitalKu. 30 November 2004. ISBN 0-9763168-1-1, ISBN 978-0-9763168-1-7.
• McKnight, Tom, (ed.). Geographica: The Complete Illustrated Atlas of the World, 3rd revision. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2001. ISBN 0-7607-5974-X, ISBN 978-0-7607-2714-0.
• Perrins, Robert John (1998). "'Great connections': The creation of a city, Dalian, 1905–1931. China and Japan on the Liaodong Peninsula." Ph.D. dissertation, York University (Canada).
• Song Li. Everyday Dalian: Life In Modern Manchuria (Photography Book), Foreword by Phil Borges. 1st edition. DigitalKu. 8 February 2008. ISBN 0-9763168-5-4, ISBN 978-0-9763168-5-5.
• Theiss, Frank. The Voyage of Forgotten Men, 1st Ed. Indianapolis & New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1937.

External links

• Dalian Government website