School: Xinhai High School

Introduction

Lianyungang is in northern Jiangsu and has a population of 4.65m, with an urban population of 700,000. It is 36 km inland from the Yellow Sea. Its latitude lines up with the southern tip of Korea.

The climate is temperate, with a couple of brief snowfalls in winter.

Lianyungang is the eastern terminal of the Euro-Asia Continental Railway freight line that reaches to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and is an international trade centre.

To Beijing or Shanghai? Train and bus travelling times are quicker and easier to Shanghai. There is an airport. Weekend trips by bus or train can be made to the cities of Qingdao (Olympics - sailing), Qufu (Confucius's birthplace) and Xuzhou (historical Han dynasty centre).

Local popular day outings include Dong Lian Dao (an island with fishing villages, home-based restaurants and local resorts), Xuguo beach, Donghai (hot pools and natural crystals) and Huaguoshan (Monkey King Mountain). Monkey King Mountain is famous in China as the place where the Monkey King, from the book Journey to the West/ Monkey King (remember the TV series!), was born out of rock.

Huaguo Mountain

Rising 625 meters above sea level in the Yuntain Mountains of Lianyungang, Huaguo Mountain has secluded, deep caves, flowers, and fruit. The novel of Journey to the West sets the mountain as its backdrop. There are many scenic spots that are closely related to the novel. Pagodas and temples were erected there during the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. These Include the Sanyuan Palace, Asoka Pagoda in the Haiqing Temple, and 12 stone carvings of the Tang, Song, and other feudal dynasties in the Yulin Temple.