54 Teams Get Their First Glimpse of Dalian's Cityscape

Recently, over 1,600 participants, including football players, coaches, and staff from 54 teams competing in the ISF Football World Cup – China 2024, explored various attractions by bus in Dalian, such as the Dalian Forest Zoo, Dalian International Sculpture Park, Gangdong Fifth Street, and World Musical Culture Museum. They enjoyed the coastal scenery where mountains meet the sea, observed the blend of history and modern urban development, visited the famous giant pandas, and experienced traditional Chinese cultural activities like dragon and lion dances. This tour offered them an impressive first glimpse of Dalian's cityscape.

Event Scene [Photo by Wang Taofei]

To welcome guests from across the world, the Dalian Forest Zoo set up a glasses-free 3D interactive screen displaying 3D animated effects of elephants playing football, attracting visitors to take photos.

Players Take Photos with the "Internet-famous Panda" Plushies [Photo by Wang Taofei]

Animals like zebras, giraffes, ostriches, hippos, oryxes, chimpanzees, gibbons in the Wild Safari Zone and the Happy Primates Garden are popular among the players. But the top attraction for them is undoubtedly the giant pandas – Feiyun, quiet and sweet, Miaoyin, graceful and playful, and Jinhu, cute and lively. They all charmed everyone present.

Players Visit Dalian Forest Zoo [Photo by Wang Taofei]

Players Watch Lion Dance Performance [Photo by Wang Taofei]

The players watched traditional Chinese cultural performances such as dragon and lion dances at the International Sculpture Park, and saw the azure sea at the end of the Gangdong Fifth Street with ships sailing between tall buildings on both sides. On the Xingfu Avenue, they interacted with seagulls, feeling the harmony between people and nature. At St. Mark’s Square, they rested on the steps of the Gondola Pier, enjoying the charm of the Oriental Venice Water City. Additionally, they listened to the timeless sounds of traditional Chinese music in the World Musical Culture Museum. They all captured these memorable moments on their phones.