Yantai-a fairly typical seaside resort

Yantai is a major port city, situated in Bohai Bay on the Shandong Peninsula, on the coast, opposite Inchon in South Korea- a days ferry journey away.

Not as well known as its big brother Qingdao, Yantai nonetheless is an attractive city with decent all-round climate suitable for agriculture - including an extensive wine industry, one of China's best known brands (Changyu) is from Yantai. With a population of just 1.5 million, the city also enjoys a fair amount of domestic tourism - in some respects it is a fairly typical seaside resort, the type you encounter world wide - slightly down at heel, but nonetheless charming and practical. More winkles and cockles than lobster and tuna, but that is part of it is down to earth seaside ambience.

Yantai's history goes back some time too - some of the earliest human settlements in China are located here - dating back some 7000 years, while in more recent times it was one of the so-called "Treaty Ports" being under British administration in the 1860's. That has lead to a suprising number of European style houses appearing, especially on the coast, giving Yantai its British "Bognor Regis" flavor. Except Yantai makes decent wine!

Places to stay include the Golden Gulf Hotel (0535) 622 4491 or the Marina Hotel (0535) 666 9999 which face each other at opposite ends of Bohai Bay. Rooms are about RMB300 a night.

There are plenty of seafront restaurants - and the quality in Yantai is very good. Just wander into the kitchen and point at what you want - everything from the local fried squid (excellent) to farmed seafish and oysters. Or, you can catch your own - the rock pools down on the waterfront have locals searching for smaller shellfish and crabs, or you can hire a rod and line and a boat and get out and try your luck!

There are a number of bars also along the waterfront, our favourites being "The Red Bar" and "Sally's" both along Dama Road close to both hotels.

Yantai has an annual Fruit/Vegetable exposition every October 17th - 21st which showcases its excellent agricultural produce, check this out at www.apec-china.gov.cn - well worth a visit and sponsored by APEC, MOFTEC and the city government. 2002 will be its fourth year.

Yantai's foreign investment bureau is unusual in that its head is French - the irrepressible Michel Humbert who has done a great job in bringing foreign investment to the area. If only all investment zones could engage someone like Michel it would make our job a lot easier! Yantai is also very favourable to foreign investors in terms of registered capital - just USD36,000 in some cases (USD66,000 for manufacturing) will obtain you a WFOE licence. Email Dezan Shira & Associates at info@dezshira.com for more information about Yantai's investment policies.

Yantai is also famous as being China's largest gold-producing area, and for being, in Chinese mythology, over at nearby Penglai Pavilion, the meeting place for China's Eight Taoist Immortals. Visitors have claimed to see them as apparitions - with one very credible account being captured on video as recently as 1998!

Whatever - for spooks, wine, fruit, a seaside dip or for a serious look at business - Yantai has a lot to offer - get over there and investigate for yourself!