Panoramic view of Dalian

4 min read

Occupying the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula that juts out of Liaoning Province into the Bohai Sea is the city of Dalian.As the second biggest city in the province after Shenyang，Dalian is not only the economic hub but also the main tourist draw for the area.Dalian has a mild climate，rich cultural resources and a long history with foreign investment.Dalian’s close proximity to South Korea to the east and Shandong，China to the west has allowed it to develop many modern attractions that have made it one of China’s top tourist cities.

Dalian viewed from the sea

Panoramic view of Dalian

Historically, Dalian has been the site of many foreign occupations because it is the largest and only warm water port for Northeast China. Japan, England and Russia have all fought for control of the area and have left behind cultural remnants that have co-mingled with the traditional Chinese culture of the area. The Russian District is popular with not only Russian tourists but also other visitors who enjoy the architecture, nightlife and cuisine on offer. Many Japanese and Koreans look to Dalian as a natural tourist destination with many local clubs and associations that cater to tourists from these two respective countries.

English, as well as other foreign languages are widely spoken here giving Dalian a truly international feel and making it a strong business center.

Dalian plays host to some major international events as well. The Dalian InternationalAutomobile Exhibition draws crowds and investors not only for the abundant automotive manufacturers and industries based in Dalian, but to better understand the automotive industry in China as it grows to surpass the US in purchasing power. For more than 20 years the Dalian International Fashion Festival has drawn from all over Asia investors and fashion enthusiasts to the city. The Dalian Beer Festival is just one of many food and beverage events that are becoming popular not just in Dalian but all over Liaoning Province to showcase the abundant seafood, agricultural products and beer and wine production in the province.

The city itself is teeming with cultural sights. Known by the locals as the City of Squares, Dalian has some of the largest, greenest public squares in all of China which include Xinghai Square, Zhongshan Square and People’s Square. Monuments to the recent and ancient battles fill the city including the Soviet Army Martyr Cemetery, Tomb of 10,000 Chinese Nationals, Victory Town and Port Arthur. Dalian is also home to dozens of churches, temples and mosques from many Eastern and Western religions which add to the international feeling and openness of the city.

As a city on the peninsula, Dalian is most famous for its beaches and water attractions. Golden Pebble Beach facing the Yellow Sea is the most famous beach in the area complete with all of the popular water attractions from boating to fishing to just enjoying the long summer day under the sun. There is also Kingdom of Discovery,a large and modern amusement park set right on the seaside. For those looking to immerse themselves into the sea culture, there are two great parks in Dalian as well. Sun Asia Ocean World boasts the longest undersea-viewing pathway where you can view up-close hundreds of species of aquatic life. The Polar Aquarium offers dolphin shows, sea lions and polar bears of course to go along with other cold-water aquatic attractions. Tiger Beach, with its giant tiger sculpture is another seaside attraction that cannot be missed.

For those looking to enjoy the other aspects of nature, Dalian offers great mountain scenery. The Bingyu Mountain and Valley area is a big attraction for hikers, cave explorers and week-end adventure travelers. The rugged peaks and snaking waterways are beautiful to see and explore. For those who like to enjoy their sports and outdoors in a more modern setting, Dalian also has one of the best golf courses in China. The Dalian Golden Pebble Beach Golf Club, with a design not unlike the world renowned St. Andrew’s course in Scotland, is situated along the water and cliffs of Golden Pebble Beach.

Dalian is another city in Liaoning that is reachable by sea, air or land with an international airport making it an easy destination from inside China and for tourists in the rest of Asia or the West. From Dalian many of the hot springs locations are just a short trip away with many offering private transportation to make it that much easier to visit.