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Dalian

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Dalian is a major sub-provincial port city in China.

Dalian, China, satellite image, LandSat-5, 2010-08-03
Dalian, China, satellite image, LandSat-5, 2010-08-03

It sits on the southern tip of the Liaodong peninsula. This location makes it the southernmost city in Liaoning province. It is also the southernmost city in the entire Northeast region of China. Dalian serves as a vital financial, shipping, and logistics center for East Asia. Because of its massive amount of port traffic, it is classified as a Large-Port Metropolis.

Donggang Dalian
Donggang Dalian

The city's geography connects it to many different maritime and land areas. To the north, Dalian borders the cities of Yingkou and Anshan. To the northeast, it meets the city of Dandong. Across the Liaodong Bay to the west and northwest, it shares maritime boundaries with Qinhuangdao and Huludao. To the south, the Bohai Strait separates Dalian from Yantai and Weihai on the Shandong peninsula. To the east, the Korea Bay sits between Dalian and North Korea.

Sunset in Dalian
Sunset in Dalian

Dalian has a complex history of foreign occupation and changing names. Originally, the area was a small Chinese fishing village known as Qingniwa. In 1898, the Russian Empire coerced a lease from the Qing dynasty. The Russians built a modern commercial town and called it Dalny. This name means "a remote one" or "far-away."

Dalian Hotel 大连宾馆
Dalian Hotel 大连宾馆

After the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, Japan occupied the territory. They renamed the city Dairen, which was the Japanese reading of Dalian Bay. In 1950, Dalian merged with the nearby town of Lüshun. This created the city of Lüda. The name Lüda combined the first syllables of both names. The city was renamed back to Dalian on 5 March 1981.

Control of the region has shifted many times through various conflicts. During the Qin and Han empires, the Chinese empire annexed the peninsula. Later, the Korean state of Goguryeo controlled the region during the Sixteen Kingdoms era. In the 1890s, the British briefly occupied Qingniwa during the Second Opium War. Japan also held the area as the Kwantung Leased Territory. After Japan's surrender in 1945, the Soviets liberated the city. The Soviet government eventually presented the city to the Chinese Communist Party in 1950.

Txu-oclc-6614368-nj51-5
Txu-oclc-6614368-nj51-5

Today, Dalian is a global player in finance and science. In 2016, it ranked 48th in the Global Financial Centres Index. The city is also a recognized center for scientific research. According to the Nature Index, Dalian was the 37th largest science city in the world in 2023. This scientific status is supported by major institutions. These include the Dalian University of Technology and the Dalian Maritime University. Both are members of the prestigious Project 211. The Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics is also located here.

Dalian Modern History Museum
Dalian Modern History Museum

The population of Dalian is quite large and concentrated. According to the 2020 census, the total population was 7,450,785 inhabitants. Most of these people live in the built-up metro area. This metro area consists of 5,106,719 people. It is made up of six out of the seven urban districts. One district, Pulandian, is not yet part of this conurbated urban area.

Street view on Renmin Road, Dalian
Street view on Renmin Road, Dalian

Dalian's modern identity is shaped by its role as a Special Economic Zone. This designation began in 1984. The city is now classified as a Beta-level City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It also hosts the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as "Summer Davos." This event is organized by the World Economic Forum.

Wang Jianlin - Annual Meeting of the New Champions Dalian 2009
Wang Jianlin - Annual Meeting of the New Champions Dalian 2009

The city continues to grow as a hub for international trade and industry. It remains a critical link in the economic systems of East Asia.

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🖼️ Images & Media (31)
File:Dairen Oohiroba.jpg
Dairen Oohiroba.jpg
File:Dalian Hotel 大连宾馆.jpg
Dalian Hotel 大连宾馆.jpg
File:Txu-oclc-6614368-nj51-5.jpg
Txu-oclc-6614368-nj51-5.jpg
File:China Railways SY 0652 in Dalian - 2014.jpg
China Railways SY 0652 in Dalian - 2014.jpg
File:Dalian, China, satellite image, LandSat-5, 2010-08-03.jpg
Dalian, China, satellite image,...
File:Wang Jianlin - Annual Meeting of the New Champions Dalian 2009.jpg
Wang Jianlin - Annual Meeting of the New...
File:Dalian Liaoning China CNS Liaoning (CV-16)-02.jpg
Dalian Liaoning China CNS Liaoning (CV-16)-02.jpg
File:Street view on Renmin Road, Dalian.jpg
Street view on Renmin Road, Dalian.jpg
File:Xinghai CBD.JPG
Xinghai CBD.JPG
File:Donggang Dalian.jpg
Donggang Dalian.jpg
File:Xinghai Square .jpg
Xinghai Square .jpg
File:Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park.JPG
Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park.JPG

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