China's 4 provincial capitals outshone by more famous tourist cities in the same province, two in the north and two in the south
For many people, the provincial capital is supposed to be the city with the best economy and culture in the province, an outstanding leader in all aspects. However, in the process of urban development, due to various factors, this is not always the case.
In China, there are four provincial capitals that have been "overshadowed" by another city in the same province. No matter how hard they try, there is always some gap in various aspects, and they have even been mistaken for the provincial capital by some. Some netizens jokingly suggest swapping the capital cities. These four special provinces are Liaoning, Shandong, Guangxi, and Hainan.
1. Shenyang vs. Dalian in Liaoning
As we all know, Shenyang is the capital of Liaoning Province. However, as someone living in northern Hebei near Liaoning, I have noticed that even today, many people, especially the elderly, often assume Dalian is the provincial capital because Dalian is so famous.
Why is Dalian more famous than Shenyang? Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Dalian, as an economically strong and tourist city, became one of the first popular northern tourist destinations for many people. Traveling to Dalian was considered fashionable and trendy, which made more people know Dalian.
Even today, although Shenyang has developed rapidly in recent years and has taken on the look of an international metropolis, Dalian's popularity still often ranks ahead of Shenyang. So Shenyang has been overshadowed and often overlooked.
2. Jinan vs. Qingdao in Shandong
When it comes to the most well-known city in Shandong, outsiders will certainly blurt out Qingdao, not Jinan. Jinan's popularity is even lower than that of coastal cities like Yantai, Weihai, and Rizhao.
In many people's eyes, Qingdao is much stronger than Jinan. Apart from having better university resources than Qingdao, Jinan seems no match for Qingdao in other aspects. As a scenic coastal city, Qingdao has overshadowed Jinan for many years, making the provincial capital Jinan have a weak presence and feel somewhat awkward.
3. Nanning vs. Guilin in Guangxi
As the provincial capital, Nanning has developed rapidly in recent years, with high-rise buildings sprouting up, giving it the look of a proper capital. However, in its early years, Nanning was relatively unknown and was constantly overshadowed by Guilin among the many cities in Guangxi.
People know Guilin not because it is wealthy or has more skyscrapers than Nanning. In the 1980s and 1990s, when China first opened up to tourism, the phrase "Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven" made Guilin a sought-after tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Guilin's popularity actually benefited from tourism. Even today, in the eyes of some northerners, when asked about the capital of Guangxi, they blurt out Guilin.
4. Haikou vs. Sanya in Hainan
As a tourist paradise that people across the country yearn for, Hainan sees Sanya as its most representative tourist city due to its beautiful scenery and superior natural resources. Most people traveling to Hainan go to Sanya, so Haikou, as the provincial capital, appears relatively quiet and less popular.
Like Jinan, Haikou has also been completely overshadowed by a tourist city.
These four cities that are more famous than their provincial capitals share a common feature: they are all tourist destinations and economically strong cities, with high popularity online. For years, they have been well-known, leading some to mistakenly believe they are the provincial capitals.
What do you think about netizens' joking suggestion to change the capitals to Dalian, Qingdao, Guilin, and Sanya?
