Algeria's hidden gem: Annaba.

📍 On the eastern coast of Algeria, near Tunisia, lies a charming port city called Annaba. Not only is it the fourth largest city in Algeria, but it is also a warm home to 450,000 people. 🏙️ 🌿 Imagine a city nestled between mountains and the sea, enjoying the endless gifts of nature. Annaba is such a place, but its tourism resources have not been fully explored. Here, you might find a Sheraton hotel, other so-called four-star hotels, well, they might be more like our domestic economy hotel standards. 🏨 🏭 The city's scenery may be a bit old, but that's its charm. Annaba is an out-and-out industrial city, the port's containers are stacked like mountains, and cargo ships are busy on the sea. This is the heart of North Africa's steel industry, and steel, zinc, and phosphates are its pride. 🔩 📜 Tracing back to history, Annaba's steel industry began in the 19th century during the French colonial period. At that time, the French called it Bône and began large-scale development and construction after discovering iron ore. In 1864, Algeria's first railway was opened here, and the following year, Napoleon III personally visited to inspect the industrial development here. 🚞 🏗️ Today, Annaba is still an important city in the steel industry. One of Africa's largest steel companies, El Hadjar Steel Complex, is located 8 kilometers south of the city center. 🌆 🌤️ I stayed in Annaba for three days. On the first day, I spent a leisurely time in the hilltop town of Saraïdi and the beach at the foot of the mountain. In the afternoon of the second day, I strolled around the city to feel the pulse of the city. On the third day, I planned to visit the transportation and Hippo site, but an unexpected sandstorm disrupted my plan. 🏜️ 📸 Although the weather and itinerary were not satisfactory, I couldn't find a perfect shooting point, but what does it matter? The important thing is that I came here, experienced life here, and felt the unique charm of Annaba. 🌈 🌟 Sometimes, the meaning of travel is not in the perfection of photos, but in those unexpected experiences and stories. Annaba, this hidden gem of Algeria, has left an indelible mark in my memory. 💖