Boats from different countries compete in the first international Navy Cup sailing regatta in Dalian, Liaoning province, on July 24. LI HAOTIAN/XINHUA
After a brief rain shower, the skies cleared to reveal a picturesque scene off the coast of Dalian, Liaoning province, with rolling clouds and blue waters highlighted by the white sails of the boats.
As the excursion sailboat passed a lighthouse and left the harbor on the morning of August 19, the tall buildings along the coast unfolded like a painting before the eyes of the tourists.
One of those who enjoyed the sightseeing tour was 10-year-old Liu Linxuan from Beijing, who told his mother that he was reluctant to say goodbye to the beautiful seaside resort in the scenic area of Dalian’s Old Wharf in Zhongshan District.
“The sun was burning,” said the boy. “But once the sailboat started moving, a cool breeze blew in my face, the waves lapped behind the boat, and the seagulls flew around us, and I really enjoyed the ride.”
Dalian is located on the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula and borders the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Including the islands, it has a coastline of 2,211 kilometers, the longest of any Chinese city.
This summer, amid ongoing heat waves in many regions, the northeastern port city’s relatively cool climate has attracted domestic tourists seeking relief, making it a beach-lover’s paradise. Sailboat camps and boat trips are popular activities among visitors.
Become part of the crew
After getting used to the rocking of the boat, Liu Linxuan took out pieces of a ham sausage he had bought earlier and threw them into the air for the seagulls to catch with their beaks, enjoying the quick bites the birds devoured.
“This was the first time I fed seagulls on a boat. I never thought it would be so much fun!” he exclaimed.
As he watched tourists interact with the seagulls, some of whom held up their phones to capture memories, Captain Yang Zongjiang, 62, reminded everyone to put their safety first.
Like the tourists, Yang enjoys sailing and often makes more than 10 trips a day.
Yang is from Changhai County, Dalian. He started working on boats at age 16 and became a captain at age 25. For more than 30 years, he navigated passenger boats on a 14-nautical-mile route between the ports of Dachangshan Island in Changhai and Pikou Subdistrict in Pulandian District, Dalian.
“I have been sailing here since June last year, which is relatively much easier,” Yang said.
The double-hulled sailboat operated by Yang, which is also powered by a diesel engine, is 9.9 meters long and 5.5 meters wide and can carry about 40 passengers per trip. There are nine similar tourist boats in the scenic area.
Sun Xizhe, chairman of the Dalian Old Wharf Scenic Area, said 3,500 to 5,000 people took part in boat sightseeing tours every day this summer.
The scenic area sightseeing tour was chosen as a pilot route for water tourism. The trip lasts nearly 30 minutes and offers passengers the opportunity to admire the historical buildings of the century-old port and the coastal scenery in downtown Dalian.
