Weihai: The Citadel that Subdues the Sea

Author: Shang Ailan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features:
Wenhai, located at the eastern tip of Shandong Peninsula, is surrounded by the sea on three sides. It faces the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago to the east, the Liaodong Peninsula to the north, and Yantai City to the west. With a coastline of 985.9 kilometers, it boasts numerous harbors and islands. Renowned as the "Garden City," Wenhai is a national sanitary city in China, a national garden city, a national model city for environmental protection, one of the first outstanding tourist cities in China, a national civilized city, and a global best example of improving living environments. It is a popular destination for summer vacations, health resorts, leisure, and sightseeing. Wenhai, a beautiful coastal tourist city, is celebrated for its picturesque landscapes, cleanliness, and pleasant climate.
Wenhai offers a rich array of tourism resources, including urban landscapes, island scenery, sandy beaches, rocky reefs, folk customs, underground hot springs, historical and cultural relics, famous mountains and temples, and unique rocks and streams. Over 80 scenic spots, such as the famous Liu Island, where the Battle of the Yellow Sea was commemorated, the "Heaven's End" where emperors of the Qin and Han dynasties once visited, the birthplace of the Quanzhen sect of Taoism—Shengjing Mountain, the "Paradise of Pure Water"—Shengshui Temple, the "Great East Scenic Beauty"—Tiesha Mountain, the Chishan Fahuai Temple, which symbolizes the friendship among the people of China, Japan, and South Korea, and the largest swan wintering habitat in northern China—Swan Lake, depict the poetic and picturesque scenery of Wenhai, covering an area of 5,436 square kilometers. In recent years, new tourism projects such as the Wenhai Film City, Xixiakou Wildlife Park, Shengjing Mountain Gondola, and the Battle of the Yellow Sea Museum have been developed, along with four provincial-level tourism resorts: Huancui, Yin Beach, Shidao Bay, and Swan Lake.
Wenhai's tourism facilities have been continuously improved, with over 100 hotels, more than 30 travel agencies, and over 20 transportation companies offering buses and ships. The city boasts high-end shopping malls, dance halls, and entertainment centers. The Wenhai Airport has reached 4D-class standards and operates domestic routes to Beijing, Harbin, Changchun, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other cities. The railway has opened tourist trains to Qingdao and Zibo. Sea routes connect to Dalian and South Korea. The city has formed a comprehensive service system covering "travel, sightseeing, accommodation, dining, shopping, and entertainment," with multi-level and multi-functional reception capabilities. The number of inbound and outbound tourists and tourism revenue have been increasing at a rate of over 20% annually.
With the arrival of the new century, Wenhai's tourism industry has broad prospects. Wenhai, with its open-mindedness like the sea, natural simplicity, and sincerity, warmly welcomes tourists from all over the world.