Dalian facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Dalian is a big port city in Liaoning province, China. It's the second largest city in Liaoning and a very important center for money, shipping, and logistics in East Asia. Dalian is located on the southern tip of the Liaodong peninsula, right by the sea.

The city has had different names throughout history. It was once called "Dalniy" by the Russians and "Dairen" by the Japanese. It was also known as "Lüda" for a while before being renamed Dalian in 1981.

Dalian is known for its beautiful scenery and mild weather. It's also a "Beta - Global City," meaning it's an important city on the world stage. It's a top city for scientific research and has many important universities.

What's in a Name?

The modern name Dalian comes from a small Chinese fishing village called Qingniwa. When the Russian Empire took control of the area in 1898, they built a town and called it Dalny, which means "far-away" in Russian. This was because of its distant location.

After the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Japan took over and renamed the city Dairen. This name came from Dalian Bay, which had been known by that name since at least 1879.

In 1950, Dalian joined with a nearby town called Lüshun to form the city of Lüda. This name was made by combining parts of both names. But in 1981, the Chinese government changed the city's name back to Dalian.

A Look Back in Time

Early Days

Long, long ago, during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC – AD 220), the Dalian area was part of China. Later, a Korean kingdom called Goguryeo controlled it. Over many centuries, the area had different names like Sanshan and Qingniwakou.

Qing Dynasty Era

In the 1880s, the Qing government built strong defenses on the peninsula. A small fishing town called Qingniwa, near what is now downtown Dalian, started to grow.

British, Russian, and Japanese Influence

Zhongshan Square, then Ōhiroba, around 1940

Dalian Hotel, once called Yamato Hotel, built in 1914

The British briefly took control of Qingniwa in 1858 during the Second Opium War, but they gave it back to China in 1860. The area known as Port Arthur got its English name from a British naval officer.

In 1894, during the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan quickly captured the defenses at Port Arthur. After the war, Japan was supposed to get the Liaodong Peninsula, but Russia, France, and Germany stepped in and made Japan return it to China.

However, in 1898, the Russian Empire forced China to lease the peninsula to them. Russia was interested in the area because it had ports that didn't freeze in winter. The Russians built a modern port city called Dal'niy, hoping it would become a major center in the Far East. It was connected to the Trans-Siberian Railway by 1902.

During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), the Liaodong Peninsula became a big battleground. After a long siege, Russia surrendered Port Arthur to Japan in 1905. Japan then took control of the area, calling it the Kwantung Leased Territory. Japan invested a lot in the region, making it a key trading port between Manchuria and Japan.

After World War II

After Japan surrendered in 1945, Dairen came under Soviet control. The Soviets and Chinese Communists worked together to develop the city, especially its industries and port. In 1950, the Soviet Union gave the city to the Chinese Communist government. Dalian and Lüshun merged to form Lüda. Soviet troops left in 1955, and China made Lüda a major shipbuilding center.

In 1981, the city was renamed Dalian again. In 1984, the Chinese government made Dalian a Special Economic Zone, which helped it attract a lot of foreign investment.

Recent Times (1990s to Today)

In the 1990s, Dalian grew a lot. The city became known for its beautiful parks and well-preserved Japanese and Russian buildings.

Since 2007, Dalian has hosted the "Summer Davos" meeting, which is part of the World Economic Forum. This brings many important people from around the world to the city.

Where is Dalian?

Dalian and its surroundings, seen from space in 2010

Dalian is located on the Liaodong peninsula, which sticks out into the sea. It's north of the Yellow Sea and has a very long coastline of about 1,906 kilometers. Dalian also includes about 260 islands and reefs nearby.

Weather in Dalian

Dalian has a climate with warm, wet summers and cold, dry, windy winters. The average temperature in January is about -3.3°C (26°F) and in August it's about 24.8°C (76.6°F). Most of the rain falls in the summer months.

How Dalian is Organized

Dalian is the second largest city in Liaoning province. It's managed by the Dalian Municipal People's Government.

The city is divided into different areas: 7 districts, 2 county-level cities, and 1 county. The main city areas are Zhongshan, Xigang, Shahekou, and Ganjingzi Districts. Changhai County is made up of islands.

Map
1 2 3 Ganjingzi Lüshunkou Jinzhou Pulandian Changhai County Wafangdian (city) Zhuanghe (city) 1.Zhongshan 2.Xigang 3.Shahekou
Name	Chinese	Population (est. 2015)	Area (km²)
City proper
Zhongshan District	中山区	360,722	40.1
Xigang District	西岗区	293,316	23.94
Shahekou District	沙河口区	648,719	34.71
Ganjingzi District	甘井子区	843,342	451.52
Suburban
Lüshunkou District	旅顺口区	221,356	512.15
Jinzhou District	金州区	681,543	1,352.54
Pulandian District	普兰店区	915,595	2,769.9
Satellite cities
Wafangdian	瓦房店市	997,830	3,576.4
Zhuanghe	庄河市	901,182	3,655.7
Rural
Changhai County	长海县	72,033	156.89

People of Dalian

In 2020, Dalian had a total population of over 7.4 million people. Many people who live in Dalian today have ancestors who came from Shandong Province, across the Yellow Sea, a long time ago.

Dalian's Economy

Wang Jianlin, Chairman of the Dalian Wanda Group, at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions of World Economic Forum, Dalian 2009

Dalian's economy has been growing very fast for many years. In 2014, its total economic output (GDP) was about 765.56 billion Chinese Yuan. This means the city is doing very well!

Industries and Trade

Dalian started as a place for farming and fishing. Over time, it grew into a big industrial city. Key industries include making machines, chemicals, and electronics.

The Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, being refitted in Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company in 2011

The Port of Dalian is super important for international trade. It connects to over 300 ports in 160 countries! It's one of the busiest ports in the world. Dalian also has a big harbor for oil tankers and is a major center for oil refining and chemical production.

The city also has a newer port called Dayaowan Port, which handles mining and oil products. With its railway stations, airport, and express roads, Dalian is a major hub for moving goods.

A street view on Renmin Road in Dalian

Xinghai CBD is where the Dalian Commodity Exchange is located

Donggang CBD is home to the Dalian International Conference Center

Special Economic Zones

The Chinese government has given Dalian special benefits, like being an "open-city." This means it's easy for foreign companies to invest here. Many big companies like Canon, Mitsubishi Electric, Intel, and Pfizer have factories or offices in Dalian's special industrial zones.

Money and Technology

Dalian is a financial hub for Northeast China. All of China's major banks have branches here.

The Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE), founded in 1993, is the only futures exchange in Northeast China. It's a place where people trade contracts for things like corn, soybeans, and iron ore. It's one of the largest exchanges in the world!

Since the 1990s, Dalian has also focused on growing its IT (Information Technology) industry. Many Chinese and international IT companies, like IBM, Dell, and HP, have offices in the Dalian Hi-Tech Zone and Dalian Software Park. Intel even built a big chip-making factory here, which started working in 2010.

Fun Things to Do in Dalian

Created by filling in land, Xinghai Square is the largest city square in the world

Dalian is a popular place for tourists, especially from Japan, South Korea, and Russia. Its nice weather and many beaches make it a great place to visit. Some famous beaches include Jinshitan Golden Coast, Fujiazhuang, and Bangchuidao. In 2007, Dalian was even named one of "China's best tourist cities."

Places to Visit in the City

Zhongshan Square: This square was designed by Russians in the 1800s. It's famous for the beautiful old buildings around it that were built by the Japanese.
Laohutan Ocean Park: Here you can see amazing marine animals, including white whales and dolphins! There's also a big tiger sculpture nearby.

Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park

Xinghai Square: This is the largest city square in the world! It was built in 1998 to celebrate Dalian's 100th birthday.
Dalian Forest Zoo: A great place to see animals from all over the world.
Bangchuidao Scenic Area: A beautiful park with beaches, villas, and even a golf course. It's been used as a special guesthouse for important leaders.
Dalian Sightseeing Tower: Get a great view of the city from up high!

Dalian Sightseeing Tower, once called Dalian Radio & TV Tower

Dalian Modern Museum

Fun Outside the City Center

Jinshitan National Holiday Resort: This area has a huge beach called Golden Coast. You can visit a Waxworks Museum, a Geological Museum, and the Discoveryland Theme Park.
Discoveryland Theme Park: This exciting theme park was built in 2006 and designed by the same people who helped design Disney theme parks!
Lüshunkou District: This area has a lot of history. You can visit the Lüshun Museum, the old Lüshun Railway Station, and sites from the Russo-Japanese War. There's also a museum about a prison that was used during World War II.

Hengshan Temple in Lüshunkou District

Hot Springs and Skiing

Dalian has several hot spring resorts where you can relax, like Tang Dynasty Hot Spring Resort. When winter comes, you can go skiing at places like Linhai Ski Resort and Anbo Ski Resort.

Protecting the Environment

A beautiful sunset by the beach in Dalian

Dalian cares about protecting its environment, even though it's a big industrial city. They are working to restore and protect nature. For example, they have plans to help the endangered black-faced spoonbill bird and protect spotted seals. Dalian even has a special nature reserve for spotted seals.

Seaside at Xieziwan Park

The city has received awards for its environmental efforts. However, like many growing cities, Dalian faces challenges like air quality and water pollution. There was a big oil spill in 2010 that affected the sea, and a chemical factory caused concerns in 2011. The city is working to improve these issues.

The coast at Heishijiao Geological Park

Getting Around Dalian

Dalian's historic tramway, still used in some parts of the city.

Dalian has a good public transportation system. It has a modern metro system with several lines, and also an old tram system that is one of the oldest in China! You can use a special card called the Mingzhu IC Card to pay for most public transport.

Travel to Other Cities

Inside the Dalian North railway station

Dalian has an international airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, with flights to many cities in China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

You can also travel by train. Dalian has two main railway stations, including Dalian North railway station, which is part of a high-speed rail line. This means you can get to cities like Shenyang and Harbin very quickly!

There are also passenger ships that connect Dalian to other coastal cities in China and even to Incheon, South Korea.

Dalian's Culture

In 2006, Dalian was chosen as the most livable city in China.

Dalian Dialect

People in Dalian speak a special dialect of Chinese. It's a bit different from Standard Mandarin and has a few words borrowed from Japanese and Russian because of the city's history. Locals sometimes say it has an "oyster flavor" because of its unique sound!

Delicious Food

Salted Fish with Corn Cake

Boiled crabs in Dalian

Dalian is famous for its amazing seafood dishes. You can find all kinds of seafood here, like fish, prawns, crabs, scallops, sea urchins, and more!

One popular dish is Colorful Snowflake Scallops, which looks beautiful with egg white shaped like snowflakes. Another local favorite is Salted Fish with Corn Cake, a simple but tasty meal that fishermen used to eat. You should also try Dalian-style Grilled Squid, which is cooked on an iron plate with special sauce.

Sports in Dalian

China Martial Arts Hall, at Jinshitan National Holiday Resort

Sports are a big part of Dalian's culture, especially football (soccer)! Dalian has a long history of successful football clubs and has produced many top players for China. Because of this, Dalian is sometimes called China's "Football City." You can even see a giant football statue in Labor Park!

The city has big stadiums like the Dalian Sports Centre Stadium and Jinzhou Stadium. Besides football, people in Dalian enjoy swimming, skiing, golf, and cycling. The city also hosts many sports events every year, like marathons.

Festivals and Events

Binhai Road is the main route for Dalian International Walking Festival. It's a popular exercise spot.

Dalian hosts many exciting events throughout the year:

Bingyugou Ice Lantern Festival: In winter, you can see amazing ice and snow sculptures.
Lüshun International Cherry Blossom Festival: In spring, enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms, especially at 203 Hill.
Dalian International Walking Festival: Every May, people walk different routes to promote health and peace. Dalian is the only city in China recognized by the IML Walking Association.
Dalian International Marathon: A big running race held every May.
China International Software & Information Service Fair: A fair in June for technology and software companies.

Dalian International Beer Festival in 2019

Dalian International Beer Festival: From July to August, this festival is like a huge party with beer, music, and contests!
Dalian International Fashion Festival: In September, top fashion designers and models come to Dalian for this event.

International Connections

Dalian has strong connections with other countries. Japan has a branch office for its consulate and a trade office in Dalian, showing that many Japanese people live and work there.

Dalian is also "twinned" with many cities around the world, which means they have special friendly relationships. Some of these cities include:

Adelaide, Australia
Akita, Japan
Austin, United States
Bremen, Germany
Cape Breton Island, Canada
Chuncheon, South Korea
Dallas, Texas, United States
Enschede, Netherlands
Genoa, Italy
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Gwangju, South Korea
Houston, Texas, United States
Incheon, South Korea
Kanazawa, Japan
Kitakyushu, Japan
Le Havre, France
Los Angeles County, California, United States
Milan, Italy
Oakland, California, United States
Pohang, South Korea
Rijeka, Croatia
Rostock, Germany
Tomsk, Russia
Vladivostok, Russia
Wolfsburg, Germany

Places of Worship

Lianhuashan Temple, Dalian

Dalian has many different places of worship. In 2005, there were 29 Christian churches (both Protestant and Catholic), 10 mosques, 34 Buddhist temples, and 7 Taoist temples. You can find these places all over the city, from downtown to the suburbs.

Famous People from Dalian

Liu Changchun statue at Olympic Square, Dalian

Many talented people come from Dalian, including:

Bo Xilai: A former mayor who helped develop the city.
Lai Yawen: A retired volleyball player and team manager.
Sun Jiadong: An aerospace engineer who worked on space projects.
Liu Changchun: A sprinter who was the first athlete to represent China in the Olympic Games.
Sun Jihai: A famous football player.
Yu Nan: A well-known actress.
Sun Nan: A popular singer.
Toshiko Fujita: A Japanese voice actress.

Learning in Dalian

Dalian has many schools and universities. There are 23 general universities and colleges, along with many vocational schools, high schools, and kindergartens.