Aquatic sports, seaside attractions drawing droves of tourists

Following a brief rain shower, the sky cleared and revealed a picturesque scene off the coast of Dalian, Liaoning province, with the billowing clouds and blue waters accentuated by the white sails of boats.

As the tour sailboat moved past a lighthouse on the morning of Aug 19 and departed the harbor, the tall buildings along the shoreline unfolded before the tourists' eyes like a painting.

One of those enjoying the sightseeing tour was 10-year-old Liu Linxuan from Beijing, who told his mother he was reluctant to say goodbye to the beautiful seaside spot in Zhongshan district's Dalian Old Wharf Scenic Area.

"The sun was scorching," the boy said. "But once the sailboat started moving — the cool breeze blowing in my face, the splashing waves trailing behind the boat, and the seagulls flying around us made me really enjoy the voyage."

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Located on the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, Dalian faces the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Including its islands, it boasts a coastline of 2,211 kilometers, the longest of any Chinese city.

This summer, amid the prolonged heat waves in many regions, the northeastern port city's relatively cooler climate has attracted domestic tourists seeking relief, and turning it into a haven for beach lovers. Sailboat camps and boat trips have been popular activities with visitors.

Join the crew

After adjusting to the sway of the boat's movement, Liu Linxuan took out chunks of a ham sausage he had bought earlier and tossed them into the air for the seagulls to catch in their beaks. He delighted in the birds' swift gobbles of the morsels.

"This was my first time feeding seagulls on a boat. I never expected it to be this much fun!" He exclaimed.

Watching the tourists interact with the seagulls, with some lifting their phones to capture memories, 62-year-old captain Yang Zongjiang reminded everyone to prioritize their safety.

Like the tourists, Yang also found joy in being on the sailboat, and often pilots over 10 trips a day.

A native of Changhai county in Dalian, Yang, began working on boats at the age of 16, eventually becoming a captain at 25. For over 30 years, he has navigated passenger boats along a 14-nautical-mile route between the ports of Dachangshan Island in Changhai and Pikou subdistrict in Dalian's Pulandian district.

"Since June last year, I have been steering sailboats here, which, relatively speaking, has been much easier," Yang said.

The double-hulled sailboat Yang operates, which is also powered by a diesel engine, measures 9.9 meters long and 5.5 meters wide and can accommodate about 40 passengers each trip. The scenic area has nine similar tourist boats.

Sun Xizhe, the chairman of the Dalian Old Wharf Scenic Area, said this summer, 3,500 to 5,000 people a day had gone on sightseeing boat rides.

The sightseeing tour in the scenic area has been selected as a pilot waterway tourism passenger route. The journey takes nearly 30 minutes, and allows passengers to admire the historical buildings of the century-old harbor and the coastal scenery in the downtown of Dalian.

Competitive nature

With a sea area of 30,100 square kilometers, its long coastline, and 538 islands, Dalian is prospering from its aquatic environment.

Surrounded by the ocean in three directions, navigating the waves in a boat has become a trendy pastime that is also injecting vitality into the city.

This summer, 15-year-old Zhang Shaohui, had the opportunity to fully enjoy the happiness sailing brings him. Since he first sailed at Xinghai Bay Yacht Harbor at the age of 8, sailing has become his favorite sport.

"I love sailing because it is not confined to a single location," said Zhang. "Additionally, sailing is a very independent sport that requires athletes to have the ability to think and make judgments independently."

Over the years, Zhang has spent his summer and winter vacations, as well as weekends, practicing his sailing techniques on the water.

His dedication paid off when he was selected for the national youth sailing team. He placed 17th in the final series at the International Topper World Championships 2024 held in Murcia, Spain in July.

Gao Lin, the head coach at Zhang's Dalian Mingdao Sailing Club, said the teenager's selection for the national youth sailing team was based on his outstanding performance in several 2023 CYA Youth Sailing League races.

Sailing relies on the wind and is a pastime that combines competition, entertainment, viewing, and exploration, Gao said. "The winds and waves can change unpredictably, presenting various challenges that demand flexibility and quick responses," he added.

Gao, 54, was one of the first sailing enthusiasts in Dalian. When the Dalian Mingdao Sailing Club was established in 2008, there were only five sailing clubs in the country, he said.

The club, which has 47 sailboats of various sizes docked at Xinghai Bay Yacht Harbor, is the only one in Northeast China authorized by the Chinese Yachting Association and the American Sailing Association to issue dual certifications for domestic and international sailing.

It can award 10 levels of ASA sailing certifications and eight levels of CYA sailing certifications. Since 2021, the club, which has more than 20 Optimist class small boats, has conducted training for junior coaches.

The club's summer camps this year consisted of 10 sessions, each with six participants aged seven and above. Half of the participants come from outside Dalian, including the inland provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, as well as cities with well-developed sailing activities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen.

"With 16 years of experience in promoting and popularizing sailing, the club has a certain influence nationwide. For out-of-town students, Dalian's summer temperatures are relatively comfortable compared with cities in the south, which is also an advantage," Gao said.

He said many parents hope that through summer sailing camps, their children can put down their smartphones, reconnect with nature, improve their outdoor sports skills, and understand maritime culture.

The five-day summer camp costs around 5,000 yuan ($700). However, the family of one student from Shanghai who underwent 10 days of one-on-one training, which also included accommodation in a nearby high-end hotel and a nanny, spent 120,000 yuan.

"Sailing is still not popular. Many people mistakenly believe that it is expensive, but in reality, it can be affordable; (whether) fancy or simple, it depends on your budget. Our annual membership fee is just over 10,000 yuan," Gao said.

He said many companies choose sailing as a team-building activity and most of the Fortune 500 companies with branches in Dalian have had some form of interaction with the club.

Sailing events

With its natural maritime advantages, Dalian has hosted numerous sailing events, including national championships, the national games and various other championships in recent years.

In July last year, two racing categories in the 2023 National Sailing Championships and a round of the 2023 National University Sailing Championships were held in Dalian.

Organized by the CYA and the Dalian Sports Bureau, the events saw 103 athletes from 11 cities across the country participating.

In July this year, the first Navy Cup International Sailing Regatta, hosted by the Chinese navy, was held in Dalian.

During the four-day event, 16 sailing teams from naval academies representing China and eight other nations, including Brazil, Chile, Italy and Russia competed against each other.

The regatta's objective was to establish a platform for naval exchanges that encompass training, competition, interaction and exhibitions. In addition to the competition, various activities were arranged to facilitate exchanges between the naval academies.

"By organizing a series of high-profile and influential events, Dalian can fully demonstrate its unique mountain-sea advantageous resources and urban cultural charm," said Ni Haoran, deputy director of the competitive sports department of the Dalian Sports Bureau.

"By promoting Dalian through competitions, we aim to create new sports consumption scenarios, boost enthusiasm for fitness, attract domestic and foreign tourists, and promote the deep integration of sports with business, culture, and tourism," he said.

According to Ni, over 30 aquatic sports events are scheduled for this year. The bureau plans to further develop sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, and fishing projects that are compatible with the city's natural environment.

"We will continue to host more high-level sailing events to attract more sailing enthusiasts and tourists from home and abroad," Ni added.

The 2024 Dalian Cup Sailing Invitational is scheduled to take place in Dalian from September 13 to 17, the CYA said.

Wang Jiaxin, deputy secretary-general of the CYA, said the event is expected to attract sailing enthusiasts from various regions, and will allow residents to better experience the city's sailing sports.

Dalian is considered an early adopter of sailing sports in China and has hosted several influential sailing events in the past, Wang said. Many sailing enthusiasts are eager to return to Dalian to participate in national-level events.

"Dalian's sea area boasts excellent wind conditions, unique 'city-sea' event settings and landscapes, making it an ideal location for sailing and maritime sports," said Wang.

"We also hope to further cooperate with local governments and sports departments to jointly promote the development of sailing sports for youth, and sports leisure," he added.

Young recruits

Dalian has had a longtime involvement with the development of youth sailing, Wang added. A prestigious local high school attached to the Dalian University of Technology made spots available for sailing recruits this year, a measure Wang described as groundbreaking.

The move is expected to enhance the appeal of sailing to young people, he said.

Students with special skills in sports such as volleyball and swimming have easier access to certain high schools. It is the first time that students with sailing expertise have been recruited in Dalian

Zhao Jun, Party secretary of the school, said that Dalian, as a coastal city, should encourage primary and secondary school students to participate in sports that reflect the city's characteristics. "Non-powered sailing is an excellent educational project that demonstrates the competitors' athletic abilities, as well as their application of comprehensive knowledge and teamwork," he said.

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Chen Baocai, president of the Dalian Yachting Association, said the association will also strengthen its sailing training for young people.

"Sailing is not just a competitive sport; it is also a way of life and the pursuit of a spirit. We hope to continue attracting more people to understand and participate in this dynamic and passionate sport," he said.

Since its establishment in 2016, the association has been dedicated to promoting and popularizing sailing sports.

Dalian boasts 30 higher education institutions and a young and vibrant group of university students full of potential, Chen said.

In collaboration with Dalian University of Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian Ocean University, and Dalian Naval Academy, the association jointly initiated the China Urban University Sailing Alliance, to encourage and guide college students to participate in aquatic sports.

"Dalian is a paradise for marine sports. Its seaside offers so many places that are suitable for sailing, each promising a different maritime journey," said Chen.