Qinhuangdao

Qinhuangdao’s newly constructed, 30,000-seat Olympic Center Stadium will play host to men’s and women’s soccer matches. Those include the Norway vs. U.S. women’s preliminary and the Italy vs. Korea men’s preliminary. Located in China’s northern Hebei province about 190 miles east of Beijing, the industrial city’s relatively small size--2.7 million people--makes it the least populous Olympic venue. Wedged between the mountains and the sea, Qinhuangdao is named after China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who is said to have looked for immortals on an island there (with no luck). Qinhuangdao is also known for its ice-free port and the summer resort of Beidaihe. Travelers come to Qinhuangdao mainly to check out China’s most famous landmark, the Great Wall, which runs through the center.