As of the 2020 census, its total population was 7,450,785 inhabitants of whom 5,106,719 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of 6 out of 7 urban districts, Pulandian District not being conurbated yet.
Today, Dalian is a financial, shipping, and logistics center forEast Asia. The city has a significant history of use by foreign powers for its ports. Dalian was previously known as "Dalniy"[7] (Russian:Дальний;Dal'nii), "Dairen" (Japanese:大連), and "Lüda" or "Luta" (Chinese:旅大; pinyin:Lǚdà). The city used to be better known as "Port Arthur" and "Ryojun" (Japanese:旅順) from the original Port Arthur, now the city'sLüshunkou district.
Modern Dalian originated fromQingniwa (traditional Chinese:青泥窪; simplified Chinese:青泥洼; pinyin:Qīngníwā;lit. 'green/blue mud swamp') orQingniwaqiao (青泥窪橋;青泥洼桥;Qīngníwāqiáo; 'bridge over the green/blue mud swamp'), a small Chinese fishing village. TheRussian Empire built a commercial town after coercing a lease of the area from theQing dynasty in 1898 and called itDalny (Russian:Дальний,romanized: Dal'nij — "a remote one" or "far-away", in reference to the town's location,[14]rendered in Chinese as達里尼;达里尼;Dálǐní) from 1898 to 1905. After theRusso-Japanese War of 1904–1905, Japan occupied the area as theKwantung Leased Territory and renamed the city Dairen (Japanese:大連/だいれん),[14] which is theon'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading) of the Chinese name forDalian Bay (simplified Chinese:大连湾; traditional Chinese:大連灣; pinyin:Dàlián Wān) — a name in use since at least 1879.[citation needed] English-language sources called the cityDairen in this period (1905–1945), from Japanese.
In 1950, Dalian, back in Chinese control, merged with the nearby town calledLüshun (traditional Chinese:旅順; simplified Chinese:旅顺; formerly Ryojun and before that, Port Arthur) to form the city ofLüda[14] (旅大;Lǚdà), a name (formed from the first syllable of each constituent's name) which was usually rendered asLuta in English during that era. In 1981, the ChineseState Council again renamed the city from Lüda back to Dalian (大連;大连;Dàlián), effective 5 March 1981.[14]
In theQin andHan empires (221 BC – AD 220), the Chinese empire annexed Dalian Peninsula from the Korean state.[14] During theSixteen Kingdoms era (3rd through 5th centuries), the Korean state ofGoguryeo controlled this region. In the earlyTang dynasty (618–907), the Dalian region formed part ofAndong Prefecture in Jili state; during theLiao dynasty (916–1125), it was a part of Dong Jing Tong Liaoyang county. Dalian was named Sanshan in the period ofWeiJin (220–420), San Shanpu in theTang dynasty (618–907), Sanshan Seaport in theMing dynasty (1368–1644), and Qingniwakou during the early modern era.
In the 1880s, Jinzhou, the north of downtown Dalian, nowJinzhou District, was a walled town and a center for political intrigue and economic activity. The Qing government built bridges and heavily fortified the peninsula. Mining camps on the northern coast ofDalian Bay became the small town of Qingniwa (青泥洼) orQingniwaqiao (青泥洼桥), near what became the downtown core of modern-day Dalian.
The British briefly occupied Qingniwa during theSecond Opium War in 1858,[15] but returned it to Chinese (Qing) control in 1860. Port Arthur at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula took its English name from Royal Navy LieutenantWilliam Arthur, though the area's Chinese name had always beenLüshun. Although China heavily fortified the area, in which it allowed trade with foreigners, in theFirst Sino-Japanese War Japan swiftly overcame those defenses[citation needed] occupied Dalian. In April 1895 China conceded defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, cedingLiaodong Peninsula, Taiwan andPenghu, and making many other concessions in theTreaty of Shimonoseki (17 April 1895).
In theTriple Intervention of 23 April 1895, Russia, France and Germany forced Japan to return theLiaodong Peninsula to China, despite the treaty's terms; instead theRussian Tsarist regime coerced a lease of the peninsula from China in 1898. Russia had a particular interest in the region of the peninsula as one of the few areas in the region that had the potential to developice-free ports.[16] The Russians built a modern commercial port city, which they wanted to become the Paris of the Far East, and called it Dal'niy (Russian:Дальний).[17] Linked by 1902 with theTrans-Siberian Railway via the branch lineChinese Eastern Railway throughHarbin, Dal'niy became Russia's primary port-city in Asia while also serving Western traders. Russia signed thePavlov Agreement (1898) with China, which granted Russia a 25-year lease on Dalian and Lüshun and exclusive right to build a branch of the Chinese Eastern Railway—what would become from 1905 the Japanese-operatedSouth Manchurian Railway.[18] Russia spent more than 10 million golden rubles (equivalent to 11.5 billion of today'srubles) building the new ice-free port city.[19]
Russia heavily fortified both Dalniy (Qingniwaqiao of Zhongshan District) and the Port Arthur naval base (Lüshunkou) before and after theBoxer Rebellion of 1899–1901. During the insurrection, missionaries, converts and Russians were killed and other Europeans were killed by rebels in the peninsula, although the massive massacres of Europeans and Christians includingMetrophanes, Chi Sung occurred atHarbin.[20] Western expeditionary forces suppressed theBoxers across the Yellow Sea inShandong Peninsula.
During theRusso-Japanese War of 1904–1905, the Liaodong Peninsula became a major battleground. Major-General BaronAnatoly Stoessel defended abesieged Port Arthur, for five months (August 1904 to January 1905), but the Japanese army, using long-distance fire, sank several Russian ships at the Port Arthur naval base in early December 1904. AdmiralEugene Alexeyeff was blamed[by whom?] for splitting precious resources shipped 8,000 km (5,000 mi) across the single tracked Trans-Siberian Railway andManchurian Railway between Dalniy and Port Arthur. After theImperial Japanese Navy crippled the remaining Russian battleshipSevastopol in three weeks of constant attacks, and explosives detonated in tunnels destroyed Port Arthur's remaining defenses in the final days of 1904, Russia negotiated a ceasefire and surrendered Port Arthur in January 1905.[21]
TheTreaty of Portsmouth (signed 5 September 1905) ceded Port Arthur to Japan, which set up theKwantung Leased Territory orGuandongzhou (關東州), on roughly the southern half (Jinzhou District and south) of present-day Dalian. Japanese invested heavily in the region, which became the main trading port betweenManchuria and Japan. Japan leased the area fromManchukuo after establishing that puppet state in 1932. In 1937, as theSecond World War began, Japan enlarged and modernized the trade zone as two cities: the northern Dairen (Dalian) and the southern Ryojun (Lüshun or Port Arthur).
With the unconditionalsurrender of Japan in August–September 1945, Dairen passed to theSoviets, whoseManchurian Strategic Offensive Operation had liberated the city on 22 August 1945. The Soviets andChinese Communists cooperated to develop the city, relatively undamaged during the war,[14] especially its industrial infrastructure and the port. The Soviet government rented the port and in 1945 the first Chinese Communist mayor of the new Lüda Administrative Office (旅大行政公署) was appointed.[citation needed]
In 1950 theUSSR presented the city to theChinese Communist Party (CCP) without any compensation. Dalian andLüshun (former Port Arthur) merged as Lüda on 1 December 1950. From 12 March 1953 to 1 August 1954 it was adirect-controlled municipality and not part of Liaoning. Soviet troops left the city in 1955.[14] After the Soviets left, the PRC made Lüda a major shipbuilding center.
In 1981 the city was renamed Dalian, withLüshunkou becoming a constituent district.[14] In 1984 the Chinese Government designated the city aSpecial Economic Zone. At the time, Dalian was China's largest foreign-trade port.[22]
The city was upgraded from aprefecture-level city to asub-provincial city in May 1994, with no change in its administrative subdivisions. In the 1990s the city benefited from the attention ofBo Xilai (Party secretary of Dalian). Bo served both as the mayor of the city and as one of the major leaders in the province; among other things, he banned motorcycles and planted large, lush parks in the city's many traffic circles. He also preserved much of Dalian's Russian Tsarist regime era buildings. He also worked as the formerMinister of Commerce of China.
In 2010one of the worst recorded oil-spills in China's history occurred in Dalian. TheDalian PX protest occurred on 14 August 2011. In June 2014, China's tenthstate-level new area, the Dalian Jinpu New Area was officially established. On 5 August 2016, the Dalianhuabiao incident occurred. A huabiao, named the "Jiu Long Hua Biao [zh]" (九龙华表), in the center ofXinghai Square was demolished, which was believed to be out of political reasons related to thedownfall of Chinese politicianBo Xilai, who oversaw the construction of Xinghai Square and the central huabiao during his tenure as the mayor of Dalian. The site of the huabiao was later replaced with a musical fountain, the largest one in Northern China.
Dalian and vicinities,Landsat 5 satellite image, 3 August 2010
One of the most heavily developed industrial areas of China, Dalian municipal area today consists of Dalian proper and the smallerLüshunkou (formerly Lüshun city, known in Western and Russian historic references as Port Arthur), farther along theLiaodong Peninsula. Historical references note that the Russian designed city of Dalniy (Alt. Dalney), on the south side ofDalian Bay was 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Port Arthur/Lüshun (known today as Lüshunkou or literally, Lüshun Port).
Dalian is located onKorea Bay north of theYellow Sea and roughly in the middle of the Liaodong peninsula at its narrowest neck oristhmus. With a coastline of 1,906 km (1,184 mi), it governs the majority of the Liaodong Peninsula and about 260 surrounding islands and reefs. It is seated at south-south-west of theYalu River, and its harbor entrance forms a sub-bay known asDalian Bay.
Dalian has amonsoon-influencedhumid continental climate (KöppenDwa), characterized by warm wet summers due to theEast Asian monsoon, and cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vastSiberian anticyclone. Except for winter, the city experiences a one-month seasonal lag due to its position on the Liaodong Peninsula. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in January to 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) in August. Annual precipitation averages 580 millimeters (22.8 in) but is heavily concentrated in the summer months and can vary greatly from year to year. Due to the coastal location, the meandiurnal temperature variation annually is small, at 6.66 °C (12.0 °F). The monthly percent of possible sunshine ranges from 45% in July to 66% in March, with 2,625 hours of bright sunshine annually. The annual mean temperature is 11.8 °C (53.2 °F). Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −21.1 °C (−6 °F) on 4 January 1970 to 36.9 °C (98 °F) on 2 August 2018.[27][28]
Climate data for Dalian, elevation 92 m (302 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
Dalian is the second largest city of Liaoning province, afterShenyang, the provincial capital. The city of Dalian is governed by the Chinese Communist Party Committee of Dalian and the Dalian Municipal People's Government.
The municipal government is located in the main building on the north side of People's Square onZhongshan Road, originally built as the Administrative Office ofKwantung Leased Territory, and other buildings in downtown Dalian. There are the Commerce, Foreign Economy & Trade, Health, 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 population of Dalian according to the 2010 census totaled 6.69 million. The total registered population on household at year end 2014 was 5.943 million, with a net increase of 29,000 over the previous year.[32]
The city has had a continuous annual double-digit percentage increase in GDP since 1992.[33] In 2014, the city's GDP registered a 5.8% increase, reaching RMB 765.56 billion, while per capita GDP hit RMB 109,939.[32] According to a nationwide appraisal by theNational Bureau of Statistics, Dalian ranks eighth among Chinese cities in terms of overall strength.[33] The city's main industries include machine manufacturing, petrochemicals and oil refining, and electronics.[34]
Dalian was originally an agriculture and aquaculture-based area, which, after the opening of the ferry betweenYantai and Lüshun during the early 20th century, began to be populated by the farmers and fishers ofShandong, across theYellow Sea during theChuang Guandong era.
Even before and during theSecond Sino-Japanese War, the shipbuilding and locomotives industries were located in the city such as the companies which later becameDalian Shipbuilding Industry Company andDalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Works (DLoco). After the WWII, 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, such as theDashang Group.
Dalian Port is an important port for international trade. It has established trading and shipping links with more than 300 ports in 160 countries and regions of the world. There are over 100 international and domesticcontainer shipping routes.[35] A harbor for oil tankers (the largest by tonnage in China),[35] at the terminus of an oilpipeline from theDaqing oilfields, was completed in 1976. Dalian is the 6th largest port in China;[36] and according toAAPA world port ranking data, Dalian is the8th busiest port in the world by cargo tonnage in 2012, and the12th busiest container port in the world by total number ofTEUs handled in 2013.[37][38] Accordingly, Dalian is a major center foroil refineries, diesel engineering, and chemical production.
Dalian has been given many benefits by the Chinese government, including the title of "open-city" (1984), which allows it to receive considerableforeign investment (seeSpecial Economic Zone). The Development Zone was established in Jinzhou District, to which many Japanese companies, such asCanon,Mitsubishi Electric,Nidec,Sanyo Electric andToshiba, followed by South Korean, American and European companies (such asPfizer). In 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 since 1992. The facility began operation in October 2010.[40] Dalian also houses auto-manufacturing plants forChery,[41]Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company,[42] andBYD Automobile (a production base forBYD K9 electric buses).[43]
Founded in 1993,Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is the onlyfutures exchange in Northeast China. The futures industry leaped forward in its development. Among its 19 listed futures products approved by theChina Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) are corn, corn starch, soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil, RBD palm olein, polished round-grained rice,linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE),polyvinyl chloride (PVC),polypropylene (PP),ethylene glycol (EG),ethenylbenzene (EB), metallurgical coke, coking coal, iron ore, egg, fiberboard and blockboard. 3 options are also listed for trading, which includes soybean meal, corn and iron ore options. In 2019, DCE achieved 1,331 million lots and RMB 68.92 trillion respectively in trading volume and turnover. According to theFutures Industry Association (FIA) of the U.S., DCE was 11th largest exchange in the world by trading volume in 2019.[45]
Intel'sFab 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 inEast Asia.[47]
Dalian is a popular destination among domestic tourists and foreign visitors, especially from Japan, South Korea and Russia.[14] Its mild climate and multiple beaches as well as its importance in the modern history of China have attracted tourists. Some of the most famous beaches are Jinshitan Golden Coast (金石滩黄金海岸) beach, Fujiazhuang (付家庄) beach, Bangchuidao (棒棰岛) beach, Xinghai Park (星海公园) beach, Xinghai Bay (星海湾) beach, and Xiajiahezi (夏家河子) beach. In 2007, it was one of the three cities named "China's besttourist city", along withHangzhou andChengdu, recognized by theNational Tourism Administration and theUnited Nations World Tourism Organization.[48]
Originally designed by Russians in the 19th century, Zhongshan Square (中山广场) is especially noted for theseveral classical buildings located around the square built during the first half of the 20th century by the Japanese.
Laohutan Ocean Park: the park contains the Polar Region Marine Animals World,[49] the Coral Aquarium, and the World of Birds.[49] Thewhite whale and dolphin show is a major attraction in the Polar Region Marine Animals World.[50] The Tigers Sculpture Square is nearby, whose tiger sculpture is the symbol of Tiger Beach (老虎滩;Lǎohǔtān). A retiredAnshan-class destroyerTaiyuan is open to visitors.
Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park
Xinghai Square: situated at the Xinghai Bay, Xinghai Square (星海广场; 'Square of the Sea of Stars') was built at the centennial of the City of Dalian (1998) and is thelargest city square in the world.
Heishijiao Geological Park and Dalian Natural History Museum
Sunasia Ocean World
Dalian Forest Zoo
Video showing Bangchuidao beach during winter season
Bangchuidao Scenic Area: a well-maintained park used as a State Guesthouse since 1960, the Bangchuidao Scenic Area is now open to the public with upgraded features including lavish greens, Chinese and Western style villas, hot spring, tennis courts, badminton courts, a recreation center, a golf course and the Bangchuidao beach.[51] The Bangchui Island (棒棰岛;Bàngchuí Dǎo, named for anislet in the shape of an ancient washing tool Bangchui)[52] can be seen from the beach. As a State Guesthouse, the scenic area has received numerous Chinese and foreign leaders and high-profile officials, includingZhou Enlai,Deng Xiaoping,Jiang Zemin,Hu Jintao,Xi Jinping,Kim Jong Un,Henry Kissinger,Boris Yeltsin,Gerhard Schröder,Juan Antonio Samaranch and so on.[citation needed]
Dalian Sightseeing Tower
Dalian Sightseeing Tower, formerly Dalian Radio & TV TowerDalian Modern Museum
Donggang Music Fountain
Fujiazhuang Beach
Jinzhou District and Development Zone (in the northern suburbs)
The fiercest battle site and the signing site of the ceasefire treaty, of the Battle of Lüshun during theRusso-Japanese War (1904–05).
Japanese and Russian Prison Site Museum in Lüshun
The prison was built by Russians in 1902 and later expanded by the Japanese. DuringWorld War II, the prison was used to detain people of various nationalities who were against the Japanese invasion.An Jung-geun, theKorean independence activist who assassinatedItō Hirobumi, was imprisoned and killed there.[55]
Lüshun Snake Museum, and Lüshun Bird Port and Snake Island Reservation
There are various hot spring hotels in Dalian. Notable ones include Laotieshan Hot Spring Hotel in Lüshunkou District, Tang Dynasty Hot Spring Resort in Jinshitan, Minghu Hot Spring Hotel in Wafangdian, Chengyuan Hot Spring Villa in Ganjingzi District, and Tianmu Hot Spring Hotel in Lüshunkou District.
Skiing has become increasingly popular in Dalian. Famous ski resorts are Linhai Ski Resort in Ganjingzi District, Anbo Ski Resort in Pulandian District, Minghu Ski Resort & Minghu International Skiing Holiday Village in Wafangdian, and Dalian Happy Snow World in Ganjingzi District near the airport.[57]
Despite being in a period of economic and industrial growth, Dalian has placed an emphasis onenvironmental protection.[58] Dalian'secological restoration and protection efforts are ongoing and expanding.[59][60] In 2021, Dalian set a five-year-plan for the marine environment that included targets for conserving populations of the endangeredblack-faced spoonbill.[59] In 2019, 49 nests were built for the black-faced spoonbill on nearby uninhabited islands.[61] There has also been conservation and rescue efforts targetingspotted seal populations.[62][63][60] Dalian also maintains the National Spotted Seal Nature Reserve within Lioadong Bay.[64] This reserve is home to a spotted seal population and is a breeding ground for multiple marine species.[64]
In 2001, theUnited Nations Environment Programme awarded the Dalian Municipal Government for its outstanding contribution to the protection of the environment.[65]
The average content of the four pollutants in the air reached Class II of National Ambient Air Quality Standards and there were 353 days withAir Pollution Index (API) over Class II (Good), including 108 excellent days with Class I (Superior).[66] Dalian frequently ranks Grade 2 for air pollution according toState Environmental Protection Administration.[67] However, the environmental effects of economic growth are of concern, according to Dalian Environmental Protection Agency, during the first half of 2011, respirable particles in the air increased significantly, with an average 40% higher than 2010.[68]
The water quality of offshore marine space remained stable overall. The annual average content of monitoring indicators for water quality met Class-II of the National Seawater Quality Standard, with the exception of Inorganic Nitrogen inDalian Bay and the city's southern coast. The water quality of drinking water sources is considered good and complies with Class-III of Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water.[66]
Seascape at Heishijiao (黑石礁) Geological Park
Recent events have had a major environmental impact on the city. In July 2010, theexplosion of two petroleum pipelines released 11,000 barrels of oil into theYellow Sea, according to official statements. Rick Steiner, an American marine conservationist working withGreenpeace, says that the figure could be upwards of 400,000.[69] It was reported as the largest oil spill to occur in China,[70][71] and involved 2,000 firefighters.[72] The oil spill stretched for at least 50 square kilometers (19 sq mi). 800 fishing boats were mobilized for the cleanup.[73] The incident caused CCP General SecretaryHu Jintao and PremierWen Jiabao to intervene, and Vice PremierZhang Dejiang moved in to help direct the rescue work.[74] A researcher with the China Environmental Science Research Institute, said that "the impact on marine life and on humans – as the pollution enters the food chain – could last 10 years."[75] This has compounded aquatic pollution, affecting the city's fishing industry.[68]
In August 2011, adike protecting the petrochemical Fujia Factory inJinzhou District was breached due to a typhoon. Authorities have ordered the plant to be shut down.[76] Around 12,000 residents protested as the factory, which originally was intended to be based inXiamen, did not receive official approval to operate in Dalian.[77][78] Municipal authorities ruled that the facility must move, leaving taxpayers to pay the expensive cost of relocation.[79]
Concerns have been raised over mounting traffic due to "bad urban design" and that the growing rate of car ownership is affecting air quality.[68][80] The United StatesNational Academy of Engineering have raised concern about rising traffic in Dalian stating that "rapid growth of traffic in Dalian and in similar Chinese cities will repeat the air quality and energy consumption mistakes ofLos Angeles and other U.S. cities, if not better managed."[81]
Cycling is not as popular in Dalian as in other Chinese cities because of the hilly roads. Dalian is also one of the many cities in China where there are fewmotorcycles in the downtown core, where motorcycle riding is prohibited by the local law.[82]
The city has a comprehensive bus system and an efficient metro system. As of March 2023, theDalian Metro consists of the undergroundLine 1,Line 2,Line 5 and the overgroundLine 3,Line 12 andLine 13.[83] New lines and expansion of the metro system are under way including Line 4 and Line 7. The new rail traffic system is designed to connect the entire city in the coming future. TheDalian Tram system is the second oldest in China. Most of the public transportation in the city can be accessed using the MingzhuIC Card (明珠卡).
In 2005, Dalian expanded the international airport,Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, with direct flights to the most major cities in China, and to cities in South Korea and Japan as well as countries inSoutheast Asia. In 2014, the airport was the20th busiest airport in China with 13,551,223 passengers.[84] The airport is the hub ofDalian Airlines.
The new airport Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport (IATA:DLC,ICAO:ZYTL) is also under way. Once open, it will replace the existing city's main airport. It is being built on 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi) of reclaimed land off the coast of Dalian. Expected to open in 2026, it is set to become the world's largest offshore airport.
In addition to local and express bus services to Beijing and other areas in the northeast, Dalian is connected by passenger ship service to neighboring coastal cities, includingTianjin,Yantai,Weihai,Penglai andDongying, as well asIncheon, South Korea.[35]
Dalian dialect belongs to theJiaoliao Mandarin subgroup spoken in parts ofShandong andLiaoning provinces, which is a separate branch fromNortheastern Mandarin. Most of the residents of Dalian were farmers and fishermen who had come from Shandong Province in a large population move, theChuang Guandong, during which era Dalian was occupied by the Japanese as theKwantung Leased Territory. Dalian dialect incorporates a fewloanwords fromJapanese andRussian (very rare in Chinese), reflecting the history of foreign occupation.[86] Dalian dialect is mostly distinguishable fromStandard Mandarin based on a low-falling Yinping阴平 (31) and richtone sandhi, and it is often referred to as being "oyster flavored" (海蛎子味) by the locals.[87]
Colorful Snowflake Scallops (五彩雪花扇贝) is a local seafood dish, where egg white is made into snowflake-shape to embrace the scallops, with seasonal greens, carrot and hot pepper cut into small pieces as decorations on top.[89]
Another popular local dish is Salted Fish with Corn Cake (咸鱼饼子), where steamed or fried corn cake is served with fried salted fish. Legend goes that, in the old days fishermen going out fishing in the morning couldn't return home to have lunch, so they baked fresh fish to eat with corn cakes, and the habit passed down from generation to generation and eventually became a famous food among local people.[90]
Dalian-style Grilled Squid (大连铁板鱿鱼) is also a local delicacy. It originated in Dalian, where the squid is produced. It is made by frying the squid on an iron plate, then cutting the squid into sections with a spatula, and sprinkling it with special sauce.[91]
Menzi (焖子) is a traditional local snack. A protein-rich starch paste coagulated from an extract of potatoes is cut into pieces and fried on a pan to create a crisp cover. A mixed seasoning of smashed garlic, sesame, and sauces is added on eating.[90]
Other popular local specialties include seafood noodles, roast full prawns, salt baked conches, lantern-shaped steamed abalone, and so on.[92]
Other popular sports enjoyed by the local Dalianese include swimming, skiing, golf, cycling, bowling and billiards. The government organizes various events every year in Dalian, like marathon, tennis and so on.[98]
In February 2018,Dalian Wanda Group decided to take overDalian Pro (then Dalian Yifang), after a lapse of 20 years before Wanda Group decided to reinvest in a Dalianese football club. Wanda Group announced a long-term investment plan to help Dalian build more advanced football infrastructure, improve on youth training, and revitalize local football culture and Chinese football culture as a whole.[100]
Binhai Road is the main route for Dalian International Walking Festival. View of mountain on one side and sea on the other makes it a popular exercise destination for local people.
Xinghai Square, Dalian Xinghai Convention & Exhibitions Center, the Dalian World Expo Center and the hotels on Renmin Road are the main places where Dalian's major annual events are held.
Every year from January to February, the Bingyugou Ice Lantern Festival is held in Bingyugou Scenic Area inZhuanghe City. The event features a large number of ice sculptures, snow sculptures and colorful ice lanterns. Visitors can also participate in a series of ice-sports including ice-skating, ice hockey andiceboating.[101]
From late April to May, the Lüshun International Cherry Blossom Festival is held. The main site is203 Hill, and the other site isLongwangtang Cherry Blossom Park. It is said that the first cherry trees were planted by Japanese soldiers stationed inLüshun duringWorld War II, in order to ease their homesickness. Today, the 203 Hill site has more than 3000 cherry trees, and boasts to be the largestcherry blossom park in China with the most varieties.[102]
Each May, the Dalian International Walking Festival takes place. The purpose of the festival is to foster health and peace for the whole community. It is widely popular among citizens and attracts many foreign participants. Dalian is the only city in China recognized by theIML Walking Association.[103] Four different routes of 30 km (19 mi), 20 km (12 mi), 10 km (6 mi), and 5 km (3 mi) are provided for participants, with the longest route going fromXinghai Square along Binhai Road to Laohutan Ocean Park, Bangchuidao Scenic Area and finally reaching Dalian International Conference Center. Starting from 2012, Jinshitan National Holiday Resort also serves as a venue for the festival.[104]
Every May,Dalian International Marathon is held. With the first marathon held in 1987, it is one of the four oldest marathon races in China.[105] The main venue is the Jinshitan National Holiday Resort.
Every June, the China International Software & Information Service Fair is held in Dalian World Expo Center. Officials from overseas government departments, CEOs of World Top 500, well-known consulting firms and overseas IT associations attend the fair each year.[106]
Dalian International Beer Festival in 2019
Dalian International Beer Festival takes place inXinghai Square every year from July to August. It is similar toOktoberfest inMunich and is a widely popular event in the city. Activities of the Beer Festival include exhibitions by beer manufacturers, a beer disco plaza, a beer culture exhibition, a beer drinking contest, a photography contest, the Beer Industry Summit, and a beer quiz.[107]
Dalian International Automotive Exhibition is held in August in Dalian Xinghai Convention & Exhibitions Center and Dalian World Expo Center.[108]
The annual Dalian International Fashion Festival is held in September in Dalian Xinghai Convention & Exhibitions Center and Dalian World Expo Center. For the past decade, the festival has been attracting the world's top fashion designers, businessmen and models to Dalian. Arrangement for the show includes various theme activities including the Garment Export Fair, fashion exhibitions, fashion competitions and a model contest.[109]
Japan maintains a branch office for itsConsulate General of Japan at Shenyang and aJETRO office in Dalian, reflecting a relatively large Japanese population.
Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry has about 700 corporate members.[citation needed] Those Japanese who had lived in Dalian before the War have organized the Dalian Society.
As of 2005[update], Dalian had 29 Christian churches (27 of them Protestant, 2 of them Catholic), 10 mosques, 34 Buddhist temples, and 7Taoist temples, according to the statistics of the city government.[110]
Taoist temples can be found in various districts including downtown Dalian (Hua Temple in Zhongshan Park), in Lüshunkou District (Longwang Temple), and in Jinzhou District (Jinlong Temple in Daweijia, Xiangshui Temple at the foot ofDahei Mountain, and Zhenwu Temple in Liangjiadian).
Buddhist temples are in downtown Dalian (Songshan Temple on Tangshan Street and Lianhuashan Temple on Yingchun Road), on the northern side of Anzi Mountain (Anshan Temple), at Daheishi (Thousand-Hand Buddha & 500 Luohan Statues), in Lüshunkou District (Hengshan Temple at Longwangtang), 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 formerDalian Anglican Church, built in 1928 in the British Consulate General's premises by theChurch of England andAnglican Church of Japan jointly), on Changjiang Road (Beijing Street Church, now called Cheng-en Church, originally built in 1914 by theDanish Lutheran Church), on Xi'an Road (Christian Church for Korean Chinese and South Koreans), 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.[110]
There are[clarify] 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 1,432kindergartens in Dalian. The students on campus of all levels (including kindergartens) totaled 1108 thousand.[citation needed]
Dalian is one of the top 40science cities in the world by scientific research as tracked by theNature Index, ranking 37th globally in 2023.[13] There are the following schools of higher education and research centers:
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