About Dalian
What to see and do in Dalian
Weather in Dalian
Airport in Dalian
Visa
Dalian (Japanese: Dairen; Dalny - also formerly known in English as Dairen) is the governing sub-provincial city in the eastern Liaoning Province of Northeast China. Dalian is China's northernmost ice-free seaport.
Dalian is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings, consider printing them all.
Dalian is the second largest city in Liaoning Province, Dongbei (North East), China and the largest port in northern China as well as a major destination for Chinese tourists. Located at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, the main part of the city is located on its own sub-peninsula, with the port to the north of the town centre and natural coastline dotted with beaches to the east and south.
Squares - Within China Dalian is renowned for its squares and green places, with a large number scattered throughout the city, each with its own distinct character. Zhongshan Square (Zhongshan District) hosts the city's financial centre and some fine old Japanese buildings, Renmin Square (Xigang District) is the seat of the city government and boasts an impressive fountain while Xinghai Square (Shahekou District) is the largest square in Asia and home to a wide range of tourist attractions.
Old colonial buildings - Though a young city, Dalian's status as a former colony of both Russia and Japan offers an eclectic mix of architectural styles for history buffs. Many of the older buildings in central Dalian were demolished during periodic bouts of renovation, but pockets of history remain with Russian Street (Xigang District) offering perhaps the best concentration of old buildings.
Forest Zoo - Dalian has a wide range of tourist attractions, but most of them are geared for the local market. To overseas visitors it would seem more of a tourist trap rather than attractions. The Forest Zoo (Xigang District) is one of the few that does stand up to international expectations, albeit only just. The zoo, set in the hillsides south of the city centre, plays host to a wide variety of animals in enclosures that are modern and spacious by Chinese standards (though not up to the standard of better western zoos). The zoo's pandas, both great and red, are probably its main attraction.
Cherry blossoms - Late April is a good time to visit Long Wangtang, a village around 20 mins drive from Dalian city, to watch its cherry blossoms. The approx. 3,000 cherry trees were planted by Japanese colonists back in 1920s after the completion of Long Wangtang water dam. The nouveau-style dam itself is another interest to visit.
Laodong Garden. You can walk up or use a seat-lift to reach the peak of the mountain. When you arrive there, you have the possibility to go up the Reach Sightseeing Tower to have a even higher panoramic view. On a beautiful Day it is worthy a trip and the gorgeous view will pay off. To get back down you can take the "First Land Sled" which is a really fun experience. Besides looking at probably one of the biggest Footballs in the World, you can do skiing or ice-skating in winter-time. Especially for children a lots of fun rides are offered. Please watch out. The operators are sometimes cheating their way to get daylight robbery. If you get in such situations please call the police (110) to put an end to their scheming.
Relax on one of the city's beaches - There are a number of beaches clustered along the southern and eastern sides of the Dalian Peninsula, the largest of which are Xinghai Beach (xinghai haibin), Fujiazhuang Beach (fujiazhuang haibin) and Bangchuidao Beach. (b'ngchu'dao haibin). Of these beaches Xinghai Beach is almost invariably overcrowded and Bangchuidao beach is hard to get to and expensive (its located within an exclusive luxury resort) making Fujiazhuang Beach the best bet for anyone wanting to take a dip or simply sunbathe.
Travel along Binhai Road - Running along the southern edge of the Dalian peninsula Binhai Road is a pretty, winding coastal road similar to the corniche of the French Riviera. The road is split into three main sections, Binhai West Road (binhai xi lu) from Xinghai Square to Fujiazhuang, Binhai Middle Road (binhai zhong lu) from Fujiazhuang to Tiger Beach, and Binhai South Road (binhai nan lu) and Binhai North Road (binhai bei lu) from Tiger Beach to Donghai Beach. It's possible to walk along the entire 35 km (22 mi) stretch in a day, but for those feeling less adventurous the Fujiazuang-Tiger Beach and Tiger Beach-Donghai Beach stretches also make for a rewarding walk. A taxi ride offers a less taxing means of seeing the road.
Entertainment - Dalian offers a range of entertainment options, with theatres and concert halls in Zhongshan District for those interested in high culture, including local and international performances. There are dozens of KTV bars and a few bars/hotels offer live music. For those interested in the silver screen, there's a cluster of cinemas in the centre of town around Youhao Square, but these mainly cater to local audiences and so English-language screenings are extremely rare. Those who aren't fluent in Mandarin would be better off going to the Warner-Wanda cinema on the north side of Olympic Square (Xigang District), Ownar Cineplex in the He Ping shopping centre north of Xinghai Square (Shahekou District) or theater at Roosevelt Shopping center. Finally, those visiting during the football season (March-November) should make the effort to catch a game at the People's Stadium, Xigang District, given football's role as a fundamental part of Dalian's identity. Typical of northern Chinese cities, the nightlife comes to an end rather early and the city feels asleep around 10PM and the formal bar closing time is 2AM.
There are a number of attractions around the city that, though technically within the Dalian administrative area, are far enough away from the centre to warrant devoting a full day to.
Golden Pebble Beach - Located in Jinzhou district northeast of Dalian about 50 km (30 mi) from downtown, Golden Pebble Beach (jinshitan), named after the unique rock formations of the area, is a tourist destination which has at its heart Dalian's best beach (courtesy of specially imported sand). Surrounded by tourist attractions that could perhaps be best described as traps rather than attractions, it's the beach that's most likely to reward visitors. Swimming isn't too popular because of the temperature and cleanliness of the water but most just spend time on the beach grilling and walking around. Some of the other attractions include the kung fu museum, which doubles as a school for aspiring Jet Lis, and Kingdom of Discovery, Dalian's small theme park. Outside of the main tourist areas there are a lot of the beach-side shops and stalls which shut down during bad weather, so it's best to check the forecast before venturing out. The best way to get to there from downtown is to take the light rail. A single-journey trip takes about 1 hour and costs RMB 8. A tourist shuttle is available to get from the Jinshitan light rail station to the beach as well as taxis.
Xiangshui Temple +86 411 8764 7565. 8:30AM-5PM. One of the few truly ancient sites in and around Dalian, the Daoist Xiangshui Temple (xiangshui si) was first constructed during the Tang Dynasty around a thousand years ago, though much of the current temple stems from renovations during the Qing Dynasty. The temple is built around a large cavern, the waterfalls inside give the temple its name ("Water-sounds Temple") and is part of a wider network of temples in the Big Black Mountai (daheishan) area. To get there take the light rail train or bus (from the bei gang qiao long distance bus station) to Jinzhou then take a taxi to the temple. Taxi drivers waiting near the Dalian train station and Xi'an Lu will take passengers to Jinzhou for about RMB 60 - 80/4 person max (RMB 15 - 20 each).
Bingyu Valley - Billed as "Dalian's Guilin" Bingyu Valley (bingyu gou), this is a twisting river valley, winding though steep cliffs, in a relatively unspoiled countryside just outside Zhuanghe City and about 250 km (155 mi) north of Dalian city. Entry costs RMB 100 but is well worth as there is hiking, boat rides (which cost extra) and enjoying a bit of nature. There are also a number of Buddhist and Taoist temples to explore along the river. It's theoretically possible to visit the valley in a day, but it's perhaps better to stay overnight. The local hotel costs RMB 300 for a double room, or you can stay in a local farmer's house for as little as RMB 10 (definitely an experience worth having, provided you have someone in your party with a good level of Mandarin). To get to Bingyu Valley on weekends or holidays simply catch the direct bus that leaves from Victory Square at 7:30AM. Tickets cost RMB 45 and the journey takes about 2 hours. The rest of the time you'll need to get a bus (2 hours, RMB 34) or train to Zhuanghe City then transfer to a local bus to the valley (1 hour, RMB 8).
Lushun - Formerly known as Port Arthur, is a historically significant city located on the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, about 40 km (25 mi) south west of Dalian city center. While it's possible to visit the various sites on your own (plenty of buses run from Dalian to Lushun and a taxis near Heshijiao will also make the journey) the risk of straying into the forbidden areas (typically current or former Soviet or Chinese military outposts) means a guided tour is a more sensible option. Most hotels will be able to offer either tours or advice on agencies who could provide them. It can be difficult for non-Chinese to gain entrance to many of the sights--even if traveling with locals. Significant fines for both the foreigner and any accompanying national citizens can result if an official notices a non-Chinese visiting sites. (If you happen to be from North Korea or Cuba, entrance is allowed.) Snake Island boasts a great reptile center.
Dalian's spring begins in late March or early April when the warm southeast ocean winds bring the temperatures up. You need to wear jackets, sweaters, shirts and jeans to protect yourself from the last of the winter's cold.
The best time to travel is from May onwards when the Dalian Chinese Scholar Tree Blossom Affairs and Commodity Export Fair open in the city. They run through to mid-September. These mild and comfortable months welcome huge numbers of tourists from different areas in China and the world. The summer period from July to early September has an average temperature of around 20 C (68 F) and in the hottest month of August thousands of people come to the southern seashore in the city to enjoy the sunshine, the sea and exciting water sports. Bring T-shirts, shorts, skirts, sandals, sunglasses, hats and suntan oil with you. The summer is also the rainy period in Dalian, however most rain falls at night. You will still need to take an umbrella or rainwear with you in the evenings.
In late September, Dalian welcomes autumn and the cold air begins to control this area. The average temperature drops down to around 15 C to 20 C (59 F to 68 F). Whilst tourist crowds retreat from the seashores, it is a perfect time for fishing as it is the migrating season for fish.
From late November, the cold north winds become stronger and dominate the city till the following February. January is the coldest month and you need to wear an overcoat, sweater, jeans, gloves and warm shoes.
January -2 C to -9 C
February -1 C to -7 C
March 5 C to -2 C
April 13 C to 5 C
May 19 C to 11 C
June 23 C to 16 C
July 26 C to 20 C
August 26 C to 20 C
September 23 C to 16 C
October 17 C to 9 C
November 8 C to 1 C
December 1 C to -6 C
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (Pinyin: Dalian Zhoushuizi Guoji Jichang) (IATA: DLC, ICAO: ZYTL) is an airport in Ganjingzi District, Dalian, China. The airport is listed as a military base but is also open to the public and jointly operated by the Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Co., Ltd.
On May 7, 2002, China Northern flight 6136 was en route from Beijing to Dalian when it crashed into a bay near Dalian, killing everyone aboard.
In 2007, the airport handled 7,281,084 passengers, and became the busiest airport in Northeast China and the 16th busiest nationwide.
Located about 10km (6 miles) northwest of the city, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport serves as an important transportation hub in the Bohai area. It is about 10km (6 miles) from Dalian Railway Station, 5km (3 miles) from the Shenyang-Dalian Freeway and 35km (22 miles) from Lushun.
Thirty international routes connect Dalian to over 30 cities in 14 countries including Vladivostok, Hiroshima, Irkutsk, Osaka, Sendai, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Delhi, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Fukuoka, Khabarovsk, Nagoya, Dubai, Seoul, Toyama, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Phuket and Sydney. There are regular charter service between Dalian and regions in Southeast Asia, Europe, American and Russia.
In addition, 69 domestic flights leave from the Zhoushuizi International Airport, roughly 10 kilometers northwest of the city center, taking passengers to most of the major Chinese cities including Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Haikou, Kunming, Shenyang, Wuhan, Dunhuang, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Zhuhai, Xian, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Lanzhou, Luoyang, Shanghai, Tianjin and so on.
Service Complaint: 0411-83885372 (daytime) 0411-83886482 (nighttime) Inquiry: 0411-86652071, 0411-83885933
Airport Transportation
Transport between the airport and the city center is quite convenient. Taxi service is available outside the airport. A taxi from the airport to the city center takes about ten minutes and costs RMB 20.
Regular airport buses leave for the city center after each flight arrival. A single ticket is RMB 5. In the city center buses leave for the airport from the Civil Aviation Building at No. 143, Zhongshan Lu, Xigang District.
The bus route is Airport -> Chunliu -> Shahekou Railway Station - > Wuyi Square -> Civil Aviation Building -> Shengli Square (Victory Square) -> Renmin Lu
The public buses 532, 701 and 710 also travel between the airport and the city area - a ticket is just one Yuan.
Air Ticket Booking
Airport Central Ticket Office:
Location: at the airport
Inquire and booking: 0411-83612222
Seat reservation Tel: 0411-83886047
For travelers with special requirements, including elderly infirm, disabled, pregnant women and children, please dial 0411-83886908 to obtain 'one stop' service for checking in, waiting and boarding.
Airport Air Ticket Service Department: Located in the terminal of Zhoushuizi Airport, allows you to collect your ticket at the airport and buy your ticket up to one hour before boarding.
Airlines and other destinations of Dalian
The following airlines have scheduled services to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (as of December 2008):
Domestic
Air China (Beijing-Capital)
China Eastern Airlines (Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai-Pudong)
China Southern Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Changsha, Changchun, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Jinan, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen, Shijazhuang, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xi'an, Yanji, Zhengzhou)
China United Airlines (Beijing-Nanyuan)
Dragonair (Shenyang)
Hainan Airlines (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Tianjin)
Shenzhen Airlines (Guangzhou, Harbin, Nanning, Shenzhen, Wuxi, Zhengzhou)
Shandong Airlines (Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai)
Shanghai Airlines (Shanghai-Pudong)
Sichuan Airlines (Jinan, Xuzhou)
Spring Airlines (Shanghai-Pudong)
United Eagle Airlines (Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang)
Xiamen Airlines (Hangzhou, Nanchang)
International
Air China (Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hong Kong, Osaka-Kansai, Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita)
All Nippon Airways (Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Narita)
Asiana Airlines (Seoul-Incheon)
China Southern Airlines (Sapporo-Chitose, Fukuoka, Toyama, Hiroshima, Irkutsk[1], Osaka-Kansai, Nagoya-Centrair, Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita)
Hainan Airlines (Taipei-Songshan)
Dragonair (Hong Kong)
Japan Airlines (Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Narita)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
To be able to travel to Dalian you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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