Officials from Dalian, in northeastern Liaoning province, said their city has been tapped as one of six key cities chosen to participate in a special zone - called the Cruise Tourism Development Pilot Area - that aims to boost China's rapidly-evolving cruise liner industry.

The first cruise zone, to boost the cruise tourism industry, was approved to be set up in Shanghai by the China National Tourism Administration in September 2012. Shanghai tourist authorities approved tax refunds for overseas tourists on purchases in designated shops, and opened duty-free shops at the arrival areas of the city's cruise terminals.

Liu Wei, general manager of the Dalian Port International Cruise Liner Center, said development of infrastructure in the city had progressed well since the Dalian Port Group began construction of a cruise liner center in 2015.