UnliketheheavilytouristyareasinChina(i.e.Beijing,Xi'an,andHangzhou),thatcontainnumerouspalaces,templesandmuseums,andthatemphasizetheirlonghistoryandrichculture,Dalianoffersyouatotallydifferentexperience.

　　Dalianstartedoutasasmallfishingvillagealittleover100yearsago.SincethenDalianhasseenitsshareoftriumphsandtragedies:Thefirsthalfwasaperiodfullofpowerstrugglesanddisasters,whereasthesecondgotmorestableandsawmoregrowthandprosperity.In1894,theSino-JapaneseWarbrokeout,andlaterin1895,JapangainedtheLiaoningPeninsula.TheQinggovernmetnwrestthelandbackthesameyear,yetin1898thecourtcededDalien(Dalian)toRussiaagain.In1899Russiachangedthenameof"Dalien"to"Dalny",whichmeans"afarawaycity"inRussian.Russia'smainobjectivewastodeveloptheDalianandLushunportfacilitiesandallowforeasiertransittoSiberiaandinlandlocationsinRussia.Thisoccupationwasshortlived.In1905,afteritsvictoryintheRussia-JapanWar,Japanrecapturedthecity.Forthelocalsthiswasaperiodofgreatconfusionandsorrow.InAugust1945,thelastofthehostileforeigntroopsleft,leavingDaliantobecomethefirstliberatedcityinthenewlyfoundedPeople'sRepublicofChina.FromthenonDalianhasdevelopedintoanimportantbaseforheavyindustry.Ithasbeenwell-knownforitsexcellenceinportdevelopment,shipbuildingandlocomotivemanufacture.In1984,Dalianbegantoopenupwiththeaimofbuildingitselfintoaregionalhubforcommunication,trade,finance,information,andtourism.In1988,theDalianInternationalFashionFestivalbegan.In1992,underthe"Aimingatthebestinsteadofthelargest"concept,thelocalgovernmentlaunchedadrivetomodernizeandbeautifythecity.ThisprogramhasbeenimmenselysuccessfulandDalianwassoonbestowedwithhonorssuchasthe"InternationalExcellentModelofEnvironmentImprovement",the"UNHumanHabitatAward"andthe"Global500RollofHonorforEnvironmentAchievement".

　　"FashionCity","SoccerCity","HomeofTrackandField","CityofRomance"...amongDalian'scolorfulmonikers,approvalsfromtwogenerationsofChina'stopleadersareworthyofnotice:attheendofthe1980s,Mr.DengXiaoping,thechiefarchitectofChina'sreforming&opening-upPolicy,gaveDaliantheepigraphas"thewindowoftheNortheast"andin1999,PresidentJiangZeminsaidofDalian,a"brightpearlshinesovertheNorth".

　　Dalian,ayoungcity,

　　Dalian,agreatcity,

　　Dalian,isevenahopefulcity,

　　Dalian,nestlesuponfreshgreenmountains,andlinkswithdeep-bluesea;

　　Dalianese,bearingtheamicabilityofthemountainandhospitalityfromthesea,opentheirarms,toembraceyourcoming.

　　Dalianwelcomesyou!