Boy band SEVENTEEN’s songs have been a hit among K-pop lovers since their debut in 2015. Its years of success and limelight have created a separate fan base for all its thirteen members, especially The8! The Chinese pop star is immensely popular in South Korea, so much so that ‘Carats’ are curious to delve into the origins of this dancing sensation. Join us on a virtual journey to The8’s hometown, exploring the things to do in Haicheng and Anshan in China.
Love K-pop? Check out this guide to the hometown of BTS’ Suga and V.
Who is The8 in the K-pop boyband SEVENTEEN?
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S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino are together famous as the K-pop boyband SEVENTEEN. The musical group is divided into three sub-units: performance, vocal, and hip-hop, each showcasing distinct strengths and styles.
Among these extraordinary artists, The8 is a versatile performer, recognised for his dance moves and soulful vocals. Born Xu Minghao in Haicheng, Anshan, China, he is known as Seo Myung Ho in South Korea.
The8’s journey to stardom began in China, where he rose to prominence through the Shanghai World Dance Competition. His impressive performance secured him a top 8 finish, leading to his stage name, The8. Subsequently, he made his debut in South Korea as a member of SEVENTEEN. In 2019, The8 embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut single, “Dreams Come True”.
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Things to do in Haicheng, Anshan in China
Part of China’s Liaoning Province, Haicheng is a county-level city administered by Anshan, a prefecture-level city renowned for its industrial heritage. While details about Haicheng remain relatively private, Anshan’s history dates back centuries to its roots in mining and metallurgy. Today, The8’s hometown is recognised for its contributions to steel, talcum and magnesite production.
To reach The8’s hometown, visitors can fly into Anshan Teng’ao Airport, situated approximately 40 kilometres away. Haicheng is a small destination compared to Anshan, but both destinations offer a series of interesting attractions that reflect the culture, traditions and natural surroundings.
Book your stay at Doubletree By Hilton Anshan via Booking.com
Book your stay at Doubletree By Hilton Anshan via Agoda
Traverse the Qianshan National Park, Haicheng
Extending from the Changbai Mountains to Liaoyang and Dalian, the Qianshan National Park is an excellent place to experience the local nature of The8’s hometown. Besides being the centre of adventure activities like hiking and trekking, the national park also holds great religious significance as it has several ancient ruins from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Peruse our guide to visa-free entry to China to know if you are eligible.
Timings: 8 am to 5 pm.
Marvel at the Jade Buddha Temple, Anshan
Learn about the traditions and culture of Anshan at the Jade Buddha Temple. Located in 219 Park, the highlight of the temple is the jade Buddha statue, holding the Guinness World Record for being the largest Buddha sculpture ever to have been forged from a single piece of jade. Pay respect to the traditions and marvel at the beauty of this artistic achievement.
Timings: 8 am to 5:30 pm.
Entry: Tickets start from CNY 80 (approximately HKD 86).
Dip in the Tanggangzi Hot Spring, Anshan
One of the oldest hot springs in China, the Tanggangzi Hot Spring is known for its healing waters and its value in ancient Chinese bathing culture. This is a national 4A-level scenic area that is historically and culturally significant. This hot spring dates back to the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, when Emperor Taizong bathed in the holy waters.
Book your stay at Holiday Inn Express Anshan Downtown via Booking.com
Book your stay at Holiday Inn Express Anshan Downtown via Agoda
Go shopping for jade, Anshan
Chinese Jade is revered and celebrated across the world. The gemstone is celebrated for its meaning in the culture, known as a symbol of purity and indestructibility. Anshan is also famous for its jade production, especially the Xiuyan area, called the “hometown of jade”. The record-holding Jade Buddha statue was carved from the stone found in Xiuyan! The city has several markets and shops, around Jade Buddha Temple, where you can sample and buy this precious stone.
Stroll around the Anshan 219 Park
One of the top things to do in Anshan is to spend time at 219 Park. This beautiful public park has picturesque landscapes of the Dongshan mountains, a lake, several walking trails and the Jade Buddha Temple. It was named 219 to celebrate the liberation of Anshan by the People’s Liberation Army.
Discover the new UNESCO World Heritage sites in China that were added in the past decade.
Learn about history at the Anshan City Museum
Dive deep into Anshan through its city museum, where artefacts, statutes and precious elements from Anshan’s past are stored. The museum complex spans 10,000 square metres and consists of the main antique-style building and an exhibition space. Witness over 10,000 cultural relics like ceramics, bronze, paintings, calligraphy, furniture, jade, lacquer, gold and ancient coins.
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(Feature image credit: @xuminghao_o/Instagram)
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The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Anshan City Museum, Tanggangzi Hot Spring, Jade Buddha Temple and Qianshan National Park are historical sites in Haicheng and Anshan.
Popular outdoor activities in Haicheng and Anshan are trekking and hiking in the Qianshan National Park.
Written By
Priyaja Bakshi
Digital Writer - Growth, TravelPriyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism ..Read More
