Qinhuangdao gained its name from Qinshihuang, China's first emperor, who first set foot in the city during an inspection back in 215 BC. The emperor, seeking gods of longevity believed to be living in the sea, repeatedly made way to the coast, seeing off fleets on impossible searching missions.

Qinhuang is the abbreviated form of Qinshihuang, while Dao translated into English means 'island'. The coastal city became famous for being located where the Great Wall reaches the sea in the east. The city's geographical characteristics and historical legacies make it distinctive among the country's numerous tourism sites.

Boasting large forestry preserves, beautiful seashore and national-level sanitariums, Qinhuangdao has long been attracting visitors among whom former leader Mao Zedong was the most notable. After enjoying sun-bathe and swimming, he once wrote a famous poem illustrating the city's landscapes and history.

It came as no surprise that Qinhuangdao was also spotted by the national sports ministry, who had a large training centre built in 1974. The China Football School, also based in the centre, has developed into one of the country's most prolific production lines for footballing talents. The school has provided a huge pool from which the national teams of all age levels select, with players such as Gao Lin and Yan Xiangchuang having already figured prominently for the national Olympic team.

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre Stadium was completed in 2004 and has been getting ready to play host to the Olympic Football Tournament. With its three million people awaiting for the global event with passion, the city is ready to embrace the world.