Ten Miles of Golden Coast

Located in the middle of Jinshitan, it is 10 miles long and is the largest natural bathing beach in Northeast China. Its most distinctive feature is its wide and long beach.
You can experience recreational activities such as riding a motorboat, beach motorcycle, windsurfing, beach volleyball, beach football, etc. on the beach.
The best time for sunbathing and sea bathing is from July to September each year. In July every year, a month-long International Beach Culture Festival is held.

Attractions Location: In the Jinshitan National Tourist Resort, Jinzhou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province

Opening hours:
All day (Monday to Sunday, January 1st to December 31st)

Contact Details: 0411-87919688;0411-87919788

Transportation:
Take the Jinshitan Line of the Rapid Rail Line 3 and get off at Jinshitan Station, or take the bus to Yitang Ocean Hot Spring Station and then walk to the destination.

Time reference: More than 3 hours


Recommended itinerary for Ten Miles of Golden Coast tours

1-Day Itinerary: Ten Miles of Golden Coast Beach Leisure

Enjoy a relaxing day along the beautiful Ten Miles of Golden Coast, famous for its sandy beaches and stunning sea views.

  • Morning: Take a taxi or local bus from Dalian city center to Ten Miles of Golden Coast (approx. 1 hour by car, 45 km).
  • Spend the morning walking or sunbathing along the golden sandy beach.
  • Afternoon: Visit the nearby Dalian Forest Zoo (about 20 minutes by taxi), enjoy animal exhibits and scenic spots (2–3 hours).
  • Evening: Return to Dalian city center or nearby hotels.

Accommodation/Food: Stay at nearby resorts such as Golden Coast Seaview Hotel or return to Dalian city for more options. Try fresh seafood dishes like steamed scallops, grilled squid, and Dalian clams at local beachfront restaurants.

Souvenirs: Seashell crafts, dried seafood snacks, local sea salt, and beach-themed handicrafts.


2-Day Itinerary: Beach and Coastal Exploration

Combine beach relaxation with nearby scenic spots to deepen your coastal experience.

  • Day 1: Follow the 1-day itinerary.
  • Day 2 Morning: Visit Laohutan Ocean Park (Tiger Beach Ocean Park) – about 40 minutes by taxi from Ten Miles of Golden Coast.
  • Afternoon: Explore Dalian Xinghai Square and the nearby Xinghai Bay Scenic Area (30 minutes by taxi).
  • Evening: Return to your hotel.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Xinghai Square or Golden Coast. Sample local street food such as Dalian seafood pancakes and cold noodles.

Souvenirs: Ocean Park plush toys, local art pieces, and seafood seasoning blends.


3-Day Itinerary: Coastal Nature & Culture

This itinerary adds cultural experiences with coastal nature visits for a well-rounded trip.

  • Days 1–2: Follow previous itineraries.
  • Day 3 Morning: Visit Bangchuidao Scenic Area (about 30 minutes taxi from Golden Coast) – famous for forest trails and seaside cliffs.
  • Afternoon: Visit Dalian Modern Museum near the city center (40 minutes taxi from Bangchuidao) to learn about local history.

Accommodation/Food: Stay in central Dalian for easy access. Try traditional Liaodong-style braised seafood and steamed buns.

Souvenirs: Handcrafted fans, cultural postcards, and local art.


4-Day Itinerary: Island and Coastal Activities

Expand your trip with nearby island exploration and beach activities.

  • Days 1–3: Follow previous plans.
  • Day 4 Morning: Take a ferry from Dalian Port to Bangchuidao Island (approx. 30 minutes ferry ride).
  • Spend the day hiking, exploring beaches, and enjoying seafood at island restaurants.
  • Return to mainland in the evening.

Accommodation/Food: Stay near Dalian port or Golden Coast. Taste fresh island seafood like sea urchin and crab.

Souvenirs: Island specialty dried seafood, shell necklaces, and natural sea sponges.


5-Day Itinerary: Coastal Leisure & City Highlights

Combine the coast with more urban cultural and leisure experiences.

  • Days 1–4: Follow above itineraries.
  • Day 5 Morning: Visit Russian Street in Dalian (approx. 40 minutes taxi), known for architecture and shops.
  • Afternoon: Explore Zhongshan Square and surrounding shopping streets.

Accommodation/Food: Stay in downtown Dalian. Enjoy Russian-influenced dishes and local seafood dumplings.

Souvenirs: Russian dolls, amber jewelry, and local souvenirs from Zhongshan Square.


6-Day Itinerary: Nature Parks & Hot Springs

Experience coastal nature parks and relax in local hot springs.

  • Days 1–5: Follow previous plans.
  • Day 6 Morning: Visit Laotieshan National Forest Park (approx. 1 hour taxi from Golden Coast) for hiking and forest scenery.
  • Afternoon: Head to Dalian Hot Springs (approx. 1 hour taxi) for relaxation.

Accommodation/Food: Stay at a hot spring resort or near Golden Coast. Enjoy nourishing seafood soups and herbal dishes.

Souvenirs: Herbal bath salts, forest honey, and local health products.


7-Day Itinerary: Comprehensive Coastal & Cultural Experience

Enjoy a full week mixing beach, islands, city culture, nature, and relaxation for a memorable trip.

  • Days 1–6: Follow above itineraries.
  • Day 7 Morning: Visit Dalian Forest Zoo (20 minutes taxi), or revisit favorite coastal spots for final relaxation.
  • Afternoon: Free time for last-minute shopping in central Dalian.

Accommodation/Food: Stay centrally. Enjoy farewell seafood feast with local specialties such as grilled prawns and shellfish pancakes.

Souvenirs: Dalian seafood gift boxes, local handicrafts, postcards, and edible seaweed products.


User Reviews

By Xiaoli & Xiaoli |

Here you can see the vastness and calmness of the sea. There are many fishing boats on the sea. On days when there are no boats out to sea, those small boats just drift on the sea, which is a unique and beautiful picture.

Watching the waves crashing on the shore and listening to the sound of the waves brings a sense of tranquility. You can also stroll along the beach, picking up small shells. Or just sitting there and throwing stones is also a lot of fun.

By Little Red Fox |

The water didn't look particularly clear on the Ten Mile Golden Coast, perhaps because of the cloudy weather. The sand was fine, but also felt dirty. It was the first time the kids truly felt the power of the ocean, and every wave hit them, their legs and feet were unsteady. But digging and building sand piles here and there could have been a whole day of fun for a three-year-old. However, if you join a tour group, the guide only gives you 45 minutes, so the kids were called away just as they were enjoying themselves. So sad...

By Just love to play |

The Ten Miles Golden Coast is located in the Dalian Golden Pebble Beach Scenic Area. It was built in 1992. The beaches in Dalian are basically rocky and pebbly. The sand used to pave the beach here is said to be transported from other places. The beach is fine, the wind is light and the waves are calm. It was built by the government into a bathing beach for receiving foreign guests. However, I feel that the scenery is not so three-dimensional and rich in layering.

By hyacinth! |

The Ten Mile Gold Coast is a beach that stretches for 4.5 kilometers.

By Double Moon Fly |

The coastline view is very nice, and there are not as many people as the bathing beaches in the city. It’s just that there are a lot of seaweeds in the sea water, which is quite uncomfortable.

By Sweet Sha |

I visited the Gold Coast on April 26th. I took the 8-yuan light rail from Dalian Railway Station, and the final stop is Golden Pebble Beach. I walked to the Gold Coast. There were few people, the sky was blue, and the temperature was just right, so I had a very pleasant few hours. The beach was very clean and pebble-like.

By jicey |

There were a lot of stones and even more kelp. I picked up a few shells and stones and took them home.

By overtake |

The coastline is flat and wide. The sand is fine and very close to the hotel.

By Love blue bear |

The beach is very coarse and feels like an artificial beach, but the sun is very good and the environment is not dirty or messy. It is still very comfortable to bask in the sun.

By Little chatterbox |

There is a tourist bus stop, so you can wander around. It's similar to other coasts. The facilities are quite complete. There are snacks, handicrafts and swimming-related items for sale nearby.

By rose |

The Gold Coast is divided into the East District and the West District. You can set up your own tent for free at the westernmost end of the West District, but you cannot set up your own tent in the East District and can only rent one.

The famous 10-mile golden coastline of Jinshitan looks really spectacular, but when you get closer, it's just an ordinary beach, just with a relatively long coastline! The sand is quite soft, at least it doesn't prick your feet, and it's nice to walk on it barefoot!

Gold Coast is not far from the Jinshitan Light Rail Station. You can definitely walk there in 20 minutes. It is recommended to walk and do not trust the minibus outside the light rail station. It is not worth spending ten dollars to take a bus for such a short distance.

By The open space in the north 🌛 |

A cool sea breeze blew gently, and I felt instantly refreshed and invigorated. Yesterday's fatigue seemed to have completely dissipated. This is probably the charm of the sea breeze. It was extremely comfortable. Looking out, the blue sea stretched as far as the eye could see. Looking to the side, the ten-mile golden coastline was in full view. Countless beautiful shells were embedded in this golden coastline. This place is undoubtedly the most beautiful seaside in Northeast China. The golden stones are interspersed with gray stones, the golden beach, and the blue sea. If it is a sunny day with blue sky and white clouds, if you take a photo, it can be used as a computer wallpaper.

The golden beach is indeed worthy of being called the Gold Coast. The sand on the beach here looks very fine and clean.

By beginning of autumn |

The water was incredibly dirty, full of trash and oil. I only played there for an hour, and when I came back, my swimsuit was covered in indelible black oil stains. Don't take children swimming there, and there were people who charged for extra umbrellas. Still, the scenery and people at Golden Pebble Beach were lovely. I hope things improve on the Gold Coast.

By Cee Bao |

It is an ideal place for various activities such as sea bathing, seaside barbecues, beach bonfire parties, marine entertainment, etc. If you have more time, you can also visit the nearby "Discovery Kingdom".

By Flowers like a dream |

Compared with Sanya and Qingdao, the beaches in the north have very few tourists. The sand is said to be transported from the south. The high-rise buildings and hills in the distance are stacked up like castles and the devil's world, giving people a sense of large-scale film.

By Vic |

The sand was so coarse that it was unbearable to walk for a few steps.

By Cold Wind White Lake |

We arrived at 1:00 and planned to play until 3:00, but I left after 40 minutes because there wasn't much to do! Dalian doesn't have any naturally formed beaches, so the beaches at Jinshitan were transported from other places. However, the sand was quite poor. It was a bit rough and hurt when I stepped on it.

As for the sea, it was surprisingly cool this day! It was beyond my expectations! There were actually some trash bottles floating in the water, but I've seen that on many beaches. Sigh, I just can't help but miss the super clean sea of my childhood!

By Taotao |

It was foggy and visibility at the beach was extremely low. If there had been no fog, we would have gone for a walk, but the fog was so thick that the photos turned out okay, but the reality was even more cruel.

By Jiebao King Electric Car 🍼🍩 |

The water in the distance is quite blue

But the shore is not sure whether it is because of the large number of people or the yellow sand, it is like muddy water.

The water is still a bit cold in mid-June

I still like the National Geopark~

By Mr. Black and White Loves Traveling |

The beach on the Gold Coast is also something I don’t like. I’ve been to many beaches in Dalian, and almost all of them are pebble beaches, not sandy beaches.

By fallen willow |

No tickets are required here. There is a beach along the way. You can also rent double or triple bicycles and ride slowly along the coast. It is nice to feel the sea breeze.

By 🔥Mao Ning |

The boundless ocean is literally stepping on you.

By Stacy |

I arrived at the Gold Coast at 4:40. Since the last sightseeing bus was at 5:00, I only spent 15 minutes there. This is a free attraction with golden sand.

By Sophia_Zhang |

I personally feel that the Gold Coast has better beaches and water in Dalian, and it is worth a visit.

By |

We went in March, so it wasn't peak season, so there were very few people. But that was also why we were able to fully appreciate the beauty. Having grown up inland and never seen the ocean, the sight of the golden sand and the blue sea shimmering in the sun was truly breathtaking.

By mimu411 |

The Gold Coast is so beautiful. It looks so beautiful no matter how you take photos. I can’t help but feel excited when I see the sea. There are so few people, the sky is so blue, and there are so many seagulls. I would be sorry if I didn’t take more photos. I pretended I was in Maldives.

By Amour |

This is the last stop before the Jinshitan tourist bus returns to the visitor center. The scenery is better if you go there after 4 pm on sunny days.

Compared to other beaches in Dalian, the Gold Coast is larger and has finer sand. When I went there around 4 or 5 in the afternoon, the waves were quite big. I felt like I could sit on the beach and watch the waves crashing onto the beach again and again for the whole afternoon.

It doesn’t matter if you miss the sightseeing bus on the way back, it’s not far to walk back.

By Xiaomu |

It is far away from the city, the gravel is larger, and there are relatively fewer people.

By ヾ법사оО |

The Ten Mile Gold Coast has a dedicated wooden boardwalk, perfect for a day stroll.

By LJ Co., Ltd. |

It is the best free bathing beach in the north. The Gold Coast stretches for 4.5 kilometers and is 100-200 meters wide. It is the largest in the north and can accommodate 100,000 people at the same time.

By emily |

The rental of lounge chairs is very expensive, and the sand on this coast is relatively coarse, not very suitable for playing in the sand. The water quality is better than the Xinghai Bay Bathing Beach in Xinghai Park.

By Eye Color Mirror |

The Gold Coast is beautiful, with clear water and clean beaches. It's divided into the East and West Coasts, both free and not very crowded. Walking on the beach, feeling the sun and the sea breeze is very relaxing. Many people bring their children here. The water quality is excellent, and although the sand is dotted with shells, it's still very clean. The coastline is long and beautiful from a distance. You can also enjoy jet skis, water bikes, and other paid entertainment. It was cloudy when we went, and the waves were quite strong, making it unsuitable for swimming, but it was convenient for the children to dig in the sand. Restaurants in the surrounding area are expensive, so it's recommended to bring plenty of dry food and water.

By green fruit |

Very nice beach, especially good for swimming.

By Gray |

It's quite far away, and you need to take the light rail for about an hour to get there. After getting off the light rail, buy a ticket for the circular bus and follow the bus to the Ten Mile Gold Coast Beach. The beach is very long and stretches for a long time. The sand is of good quality and golden in color. It's very relaxing to sit on the beach.

By candy |

It was my first time seeing the sea and I was very excited. I thought it was a good morning with fewer people.

By Su Yunduo |

The scenery is nice. If you want to go in the water, be sure to choose the right season. I went in June, and the water was too cold, so I just played on the shore...

By The Sassy Princess |

The 10-mile Golden Coast, located in Dalian's Golden Pebble Beach, boasts golden sand, soft, flat beaches, and excellent water quality. During peak tourist season, it's packed with tourists enjoying sunbathing, beach games, and swimming—it's a fantastic place! In recent years, due to the surge in visitors, the beach's sanitation has deteriorated, and the water quality has deteriorated slightly. Most importantly, renting shelters has become increasingly expensive, and parking has become increasingly difficult. This problem really needs to be addressed! Still, it's worth a visit.

By Fish seeking water |

The beach is pretty good, but I didn’t have time to play in the water or sunbathe. I just stayed for a while. The sun, the sea, the beach, it was a beautiful time for leisure.

By Lucky and low-key |

It was the end of October when I went there, and there was no one at the beach...

By Hide |

The sand on the coast is a bit coarse, there are a lot of stones, and the sea water is very cold. What's more depressing is that there is a charge for large parasols.

By Wang Xuanzang. |

May was perfect for our visit. On our first day in Dalian, we spent some time getting acquainted with the surrounding area before deciding to visit the Gold Coast. We took the Gold Coast's special train (it's called a train, but it's actually a sightseeing bus) and were delighted to arrive in just two minutes. It's incredibly close, and we could have walked. The Gold Coast is located in the heart of the Jinshitan Tourist Resort, connecting the east and west peninsulas. It's the largest natural seawater bathing beach in Northeast China. The beach here is probably one of Dalian's less-visited, finer sands, though it's still much coarser than those in Hainan and Australia, with lots of pebbles. It's considered relatively fine sand in Dalian, I'm told. There's a wide variety of activities here, including swimming in the sea, playing in the sand, playing beach soccer, playing volleyball, and even barbecues. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the beach. The area is quite large, so I recommend renting a tandem bicycle for less effort. It was a very relaxing experience to take in the surrounding scenery.

By Xiaomu |

We went there in the afternoon, a little late, so there were few people, but the beach was still very nice.

By chunchun_lee1107 |

To be honest, there are no big surprises in the Gold Coast. The sand is very coarse, so it would be better to visit during the day.

By l Kezi |

From July 24th to August 3rd, 2015, our family vacationed at Golden Pebble Beach. We went to the Shili Golden Coast Bathing Beach every day. It's divided into the East and West sections. The East section is bustling, but the beach is a bit bumpy. The West section is less crowded and has fine sand. We have a special preference for the West section.

By wave |

We bought the sand later. The sea in Dalian isn't sandy, it's pebbled. But it's absolutely clean. Extremely clean. And there weren't many people, so the quiet was quite enjoyable.

By Fat Cat |

The Ten-Mile Golden Coast is the primary leisure and entertainment area of the Jinshitan National Tourist Resort. Designated by the State Oceanic Administration as one of China's 16 "healthy" bathing beaches, the coast stretches 4.5 kilometers and is northern China's largest and only naturally illuminated bathing beach, boasting golden sand, soft, flat shores, and excellent water quality. The best times for sunbathing and sea bathing are July, August, and September. The month-long International Beach Culture Festival is held each July, offering a variety of activities.

By l Kezi |

On July 24, 2015, our family went to the Golden Pebble Beach, a 10-mile stretch of the Golden Coast. It's divided into the East and West districts. The East district is bustling, but the beach isn't as good as the West district.

By Little Grape |

I saw many Gold Coast footprints when adding them, and after choosing, I chose to comment on this one, O(∩_∩)O~

The Ten Miles of Golden Coast is located within the Golden Pebble Beach Resort and is the last stop for the eco-friendly shuttle bus. After getting off, you'll need to walk a bit, passing the Aviation Museum and almost reaching the destination. The Ten Miles of Golden Coast doesn't feel very long; we rented a four-wheeler and spent about an hour riding, eating, drinking, and having fun. The beach is quite sandy, and it's probably the best in China besides Sanya.

By Fatty99 |

The water quality at Dalian's Golden Pebble Beach, a 10-mile stretch of golden coastline, is quite good. It was windy and the waves were high that day, so few people were in the water. Everyone was just chasing the waves, having a blast. The sun was shining brightly, and the sea was truly beautiful.

By ------------------ |

It was lively and great, and I was lucky enough to meet a beautiful bride. The scenery was amazing.

By The Legend of the Knight Xu |

It must be nice to go when the weather is good, but unfortunately when I went there it was bad, cold and foggy.

By CHEN. |

There are a lot of big stones in the water that will hurt your feet, but the water is cool and refreshing.

By I travel at my own pace |

Although you can’t go to the sea in winter, standing on the beach and looking at the scenery is another way to appreciate it. The winter coast makes you feel the sky is high and the clouds are clear, and the sea is vast.

By Hina |

Dalian's Golden Coast stretches for about 4.5 kilometers, so it is called the Ten-Mile Golden Coast. The area near Discovery Kingdom is often crowded in the summer. If you are driving by yourself, you can continue to look ahead and avoid the crowded areas for better scenery and more comfortable play.

By Clear Rain and Cold Dreams |

Although it was a bit cold, I still went to play in the sea. There were a lot of kelp.

By Wendy loves chestnuts |

Since I went there at the end of May, the Gold Coast was open, but the facilities such as the bathing beach were not open. After all, summer has not yet fully arrived. But it is very pleasant. The sand is very soft, the sea water is cool, and the waves hit the shore. The scenery can only be described in one word: beautiful.

By coolplay |

A very large bathing beach. I don't know why, the beaches in the geological park are all stone, while the Gold Coast is a sandy beach, artificial

By Fake photographer Xiao Xiao |

The deserted Gold Coast, in one word: deserted.

One word: depression!

By Misty Ranger |

Jinshitan Beach is located in northeastern Dalian, approximately 50 to 60 kilometers from the city center. It's said to have the best water quality in Dalian. Jinshitan's ten-mile golden coastline is divided into two sections, east and west, by a prominent hill in the center, where the Luneng Hilton Hotel sits. The sand in the western section is finer, while the eastern section is coarser. Locals say Dalian's beaches are all rocky, with no natural sandy beaches. These are artificially constructed using sand transported in annually.

By |

It's called a beach, but the sand is so coarse it's just gravel. It's not suitable to walk barefoot, and it's also very painful to walk in with shoes.

By Ink splashing |

We went to the Gold Coast. Needless to say, it was packed. The sand was nice and fine, but the water wasn't very clear.

People who can swim must come here. The sand here is very fine and very comfortable to walk on barefoot.

By wini |

A free beach, the fat paper continued to dig, the sea water was still quite cold, but there were still many people going into the sea

By Wow |

I believe that one of the reasons why many tourists come to Dalian is to see the sea. If you are looking forward to seeing the soft sand and blue sea like those on TV, then come to the Gold Coast!

By Three clear skies |

The beaches in Dalian are all similar, the sand quality is not good, but this one is quite nice, golden yellow.

By Rain Lam |

The sea looked awful without the blue sky. Our feet ached from walking on the rocks. We were completely exhausted, so we just took photos to prove we'd been there. As we were snapping away, we noticed the fog thickened, obscuring the pedestrians around us. The hills in the distance disappeared, too.

By Go one's own way |

The ten-mile golden coastline in Dalian Golden Pebble Beach Park is a great place for tourism and leisure.

By Blind Panda |

After a brief stroll through Discovery Kingdom and realizing it wasn't the right place for me, I headed out, feeling a bit disappointed. I could hear the sound of the ocean in the distance. I saw a deserted cement path on the side of the road, and I could vaguely see it might lead to the embankment, so I decided to give it a try. Walking along the cement path, I gradually came across a patch of shrubs and streetlights. A small stone path paved the way through the shrubs, and as I stepped onto it, a vast expanse of blue suddenly appeared before my eyes.



Walking down the embankment, there's sand ahead, then more gravel below. Waves crash in, and the breeze carries the scent of the sea. The wind fuels the waves, and white streaks rush toward us, then retreat with reluctance, seemingly trying to attack but feeling the immense power, forcing them to retreat. It's a wonderful feeling!



It was out of season and past the holidays, so the beach wasn't crowded, save for the occasional two children swimming in the water. Most of the people were university students traveling together, all brimming with youthful energy.



The bathhouse showers are two sets of sexy statues, and the office even has a calligraphy by Lao Jiang hanging on the wall. Haha, it's really worth it. It's a shame the beach still lacks proper management. It's not noticeable now with so few people, but it would probably be chaotic with more people.

By still |

Golden fine sand, each grain of sand is a world, gold is spread all over the ground, the bottom is covered with sand for ten miles, gold is everywhere! Very beautiful!

By Muzi big green onion |

This is my favorite place. I took a lot of photos with my friends. If time permits, I would like to go there again.

By Queer |

When we got to the Gold Coast, we saw the blue sea and couldn't help but get off the car immediately. Then a spectacular view appeared before our eyes.

By Sun and Moon Shine Together |

In fact, the Gold Coast is divided into four attractions (Sand Sculpture World, Sand Slide Entertainment Center, Emerald Island, and Fishing Island)

By eiland |

When we arrived, the sun was about to set. It was really deserted. When we stepped onto the beach, there was no one to be seen except us. It was very beautiful.

By cloudysun |

The Gold Coast is a stretch of sandy beach, with fine sand, unlike the pebbled beaches along Dalian's coastal road. However, as the saying goes, "You can't go to Sanya without seeing the sea, and it's not Yalong Bay." Once you've been to Sanya's Yalong Bay, you'll feel the same way about all the beaches in the north.

By Zhu Xiaomin |

I didn't get off the bus and went straight to the next stop. This was another free and worthwhile place to visit. The coastline stretched out long and the beach was neatly lined with parasols. You can imagine how busy it is during peak season. Personally, I don't like sand, though. I had to run a long way to wash my feet after getting them all covered in sand. It's romantic, I don't deny, so it's still worth a visit.

It's free and worth visiting. The coastline stretches out endlessly, and the beach is neatly lined with umbrellas. You can imagine how busy it gets during peak season. Personally, I'm not a big fan of sand, though. I'd have to run a long way to wash my feet after they get all covered in it. No, no... It's certainly romantic, I won't deny, so it's definitely worth a visit.

By Happy flying in the snow |

This is the dinosaur landscape group in Dalian Binhai National Geopark. The picture shows dinosaurs exploring the sea. It looks like a giant dinosaur drinking water. It is a sea erosion arch bridge landform landscape, commonly found at coastal capes. Due to the continuous erosion of sea water, a hole is formed in the middle!