Dalian
Dalian (also Luda, Dairen, Lushun, Ryojun, Port Arthur) (大连) is a seaport city in the Liaoning province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city.
Dalian is also called Luda, consisting of both the city Dalian, and the smaller town of Lushun, formerly Port Arthur. Dalian is the main ice-free port for North-Eastern China (Manchuria), one of the most heavily developed industrial areas of China.
Lushun 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. From 1898-1905 it was occupied by the Russians and renamed Port Arthur. After the Russo-Japanese war Port Arthur/Lushun was conceded to Japan (Treaty of Portsmouth), who held it from 1905-1937. In 1937 Dalian was enlarged and modernized by the Japanese, who renamed it Dairen, and made it the capital of Kwangtung province. Dalian was part of the Japanese Manchukuo puppet-state.
After World War II Dalian was returned to Soviet-Chinese control (see Yalta Conference), and was returned to full Chinese control in 1955.
Dalian is located between 3843' - 4010' north latitude and 12058' - 123 east longitude, and in the southernmost point of Liaodong Peninsula; with the Yellow Sea (Korea Bay) to its east and the Bohai Sea to its west.
Dalian is the terminus for the oil pipeline of the Daqing oilfields, and 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.
Dalian has been given many benefits by the Chinese government, including the title of "open-city," (1984) which allows it consiberable foreign investment (see Special economic zone).
Every September Dalian hosts the Dalian International Fashion Festival. 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.
Dalian is the home of three zoological parks: Dalian Forest Zoo, Shengya 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 considered a "model city" from which other urban planning in China is to be inspired from.
Dalian is a sister city of Le Havre, France and of Glasgow, Scotland.History
Geography
Economy
Cultural Life
Miscellaneous
