Dalian

Dalian. The beautiful city by the sea. When Bo Xilai took over as mayor of Dalian, it was one dirtiest cities of China. Within a few years he transformed the city, planting parks all over it. Bo was awarded the UN Habitat Scroll of Honor award for his efforts to transform Dalian. It is now considered the cleanest and most livable City in China. Indeed, as you stroll the tree lined avenues and the wonderful wooden seaside walk it's hard not to fall in love with this city. 3 Million people live in Dalian, many of them enjoying its many beaches and attractions on the weekends.

Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Dalian features a lot of breathtaking views. Its cuisine can be summarized with one word: seafood. Being a maritime city this is no surprise, strolling around one of the numerous food markets it is however surprising what is considered sea-"food". Crocodiles and seahorses included.

Dalian definitely is my most favorite City in China, because it is clean and relaxed. It has an European Old Town, a reminder that Dalian has a colonial heritage, and a lot of green. Indeed a typical and atypical Chinese City. How do we get there. Dalian's International Airport serves many European and North American  Cities.