In recent years, tourism in Qingdao has witnessed a growth rate of 33.4 percent each year. Last year, 1 million foreign visitors flocked to the city.

Wang said that the local government invested 5.3 billion yuan ($771.2 million) to refurbish and upgrade more than 100 star hotels and travel agencies before the Games.

Olympic legacy

Qingdao is using the Olympic sailing competition as a springboard to reinvent itself as a new hub for the fledgling sport in China.

It has established sailing as part of the program at 40 local schools and has 100 youth sailing clubs specializing in teaching theory and technique.

Wendeng Road Primary School added sailing to the curriculum in 2005. Its "Dream of Sailing" training team, comprising nearly 40 pupils from third to sixth grade, has a 40-minute class each day. During the summer, they will move away from classroom simulation to the reality of the open sea.

Meanwhile, local companies have donated 10 million yuan ($1.43 million), so schools and clubs can buy 1,000 boats to foster a greater sailing culture there.

Besides promoting sailing education among children, the local government also connects the city with world-class sailing events. With two pre-Olympic test events under its belt, Qingdao already has plans for three more international sailing regattas after the Beijing Games.

Having participated in the 2007-08 Clipper Race, Qingdao will continue to be the only Chinese stopover for the competition over the next four years.

It will also serve as the only Chinese stopover of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, one of the world's biggest sailing events. Moreover, the Chinese team that features in the American Cup also has a base in Qingdao.