China’s northeast port city of Dalian has become a hot tourist destination, with exciting beach festivals, mesmerizing shows and opportunities to have close contact with marine animals, like penguins.

The Dalian International Beach Festival is being held at Jinshitan, literally translated as the Gold Stone Beach, which is hailed as the best beach in the city.

A sand sculpture competition has attracted many locals and tourists to the waterside. Many castles are the collective work of a whole family. The artworks make the scenery  even more beautiful.

A sand sculpture competition has attracted many locals and tourists to the waterside.

“The wind is breezy. It makes you feel cool and comfortable. Here you can fully feel the beauty of this romantic city,” one contestant said.

More than 200 people have come to compete at the festival’s beach volleyball competition.

“The festival has provided a wonderful place for us beach volleyball lovers to get together and compete,” a beach volleyball player said.

Players compete at the festival's beach volleyball competition.

Besides all kinds of activities related to fun at the beach, festival-goers can also go to music shows, eat at international foods stands, or take part in a beach run. The festival has already attracted more than 2 million people, a 13 percent increase from last year.

Visitors can also go to Tiger Beach Ocean Park to see 2,000 types of jellyfish at the park’s new coral aquarium. Or experience the park’s simulated flight pavilion, created with high definition 3D image technology.

Tiger Beach Ocean Park has also added a massive water curtain to its hit stage drama “The Dreamy Tahiti” to give viewers a mind-boggling visual experience.

At SunAsia Ocean World, visitors can see cute friends from the South Pole up close. People can feed the penguins themselves, something they cannot do anywhere else in Dalian. The Ocean park also boasts a night float parade, a “fight with bubbles” game and an amazing dolphin show.

The total number of visitors to Dalian has gone up by 12 percent since last year. And the city’s new beachside attractions are sure to make those numbers rise even more.