Dalian
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Northeast China (东北) » Liaoning (辽宁) » Dalian (大连)
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[edit] Overview
Dalian is situated at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula. It is the largest seaport in Northeast China, the second largest city of Liaoning Province (after Shenyang), and one of the major industrial, trading, tourist and hi-tech cities in China.
Dalian is surrounded by beaches with hills as a backdrop, and is well-known as a summer resort. Every year it attracts many Chinese and foreign tourists, especially those from Japan, Korea and Russia. It is a major metropolitan area, yet has every look and feel of an island resort. Dalian enjoys a pleasant climate with ocean breezes and spectacular natural beauty that will take your breath away. Some of the most famous beaches are Tiger beach, Xinghai beach, Jinshitan beach and Fujiazhuang beach.
Dalian hosts several trade fairs every year. The most famous one is the week-long Dalian International Fashion Festival that starts mid-September every year with great fanfare at the city stadium. Throughout the carnival week, thousands of dazzling dancers, performers, designers, pop stars and clothing merchants from around the world, gather together to stage fashion shows and cultural performances at various locations around the city.
[edit] History
Dalian was originally established by Russia after the Qing government ceded Lushun Port (Port Arthur) as a colony to Russia in 1897. Later it was occupied by Japan after the Russians lost in the Japanese-Russian War. The Chinese government took over the sovereignty of Lushun in 1955.
[edit] Map
Click here to open Dalian map.
[edit] Weather Forecast
Dalian is of a typical nautical climate due to its physical location in a moderately tempered zone in the North Hemisphere. Its weather pattern is also shaped by its location in the Qianshan Mountain range of the Changbaishan Mountains.
Dalian has a distinctive four seasons. Summer here is not too hot, and winter is not too cold. The average yearly temperature usually hovers around 11°C.
Current Conditions (2010-09-03 20:00:00, local time)
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Dalian |
Temp: 69°F (21°C) |
Dalian Weather Forecast
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| Weather averages for Dalian | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg high °C (°F) | 0 (32) | 2 (36) | 7 (45) | 15 (59) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 24 (75) | 18 (64) | 10 (50) | 3 (37) | |
| Avg low °C (°F) | -6 (21) | -4 (25) | 1 (34) | 7 (45) | 13 (55) | 18 (64) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 18 (64) | 11 (52) | 3 (37) | -3 (27) | |
| Rain cm (inches) | 0.62 (0.2) | 0.48 (0.2) | 0.67 (0.3) | 2.13 (0.8) | 3.69 (1.5) | 5.91 (2.3) | 8.63 (3.4) | 10.72 (4.2) | 4.53 (1.8) | 2.26 (0.9) | 1.45 (0.6) | 0.51 (0.2) | |
| Source: per MSN 2008 | |||||||||||||
[edit] Map
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[edit] Video
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[edit] Getting in & Getting out
[edit] By Air
Dalian is serviced by the Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (大连周水子国际机场). A total of 23 airlines provide both domestic and international flights. Most major Chinese domestic carriers serve the airport while Air China, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airlines provide international flights. The airport offers 65 domestic air routes, 10 international air routes, and 2 air routes to Hong Kong and Macao.
[edit] By Train
Dalian Train Station (大连火车站) is located next to Victory Square (胜利广场) in downtown Dalian.
Search Train Schedule at Dalian Train Schedule for detailed train info.
[edit] By Bus
Long distance buses are available and serve most destinations in the vicinity of Dalian. The main long distance bus station is on Jianshe Jie, outside the northern entrance of the main train station. Smaller stations serving mainly local cities,are located next to the passenger ferry terminal, to the west of the city centre at the intersection of Anshan Lu and Xinkan Lu (běi gǎng qiáo station (北岗桥汽车站)) and in Heishijiao, next to Xinghai square.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Ship
Dalian passenger ferry terminal (大连湾新港客运站) (phone: 0411—82625612) provides ferry services to other port cities in the area including Tianjin (天津) (temporarily out of service due to seasonal and volume reasons), Yantai (烟台), Weihai (威海), and Incheon (仁川) of South Korea. There are about 25 to 28 sails every day.
It takes about 6 hours for the regular ferry to get to Yantai and 7 hours to Weihai. There is an express ferry running between Dalian and Yantai for 3 hours. Typically for regular ferries, first class berths come with a two-beds room and a shower, second class offers a four-beds room with a wash basin, and lower class has only a bunk in a large shared area, or just a hard seat. The ticket price range between about 1000 RMB (first class to Weihai), 900 RMB (first class to Yantai) to 120 RMB for a hard seat to Weihai or Yantai.
The terminal is located at No. 1 Harbor Street, Zhongshan Disctrict (大连市中山区港湾街1号). Bus line 708, 13, and 801 stop at the terminal.
[edit] Getting Around
[edit] By Public Bus
Buses are the main form of public transport in Dalian and most services run very frequently. The typical wait between buses is only about five min. Seats are generally hard and, even with very frequent services, buses on major routes can still get crowded at peak times. Most routes offer no air conditioning or heating systems in the buses which can make for uncomfortable journeys in the height of winter or summer. Services start early in the morning (anywhere from 4:30AM-7AM) and usually finish around 10PM, although some services finish earlier/later depending on the popularity of the line. Fare is ¥1.
The main place to catch buses from the centre of town is at the Qingniwa area (青泥洼桥 qīngníwā qiáo) which has two main stations, one just in front of and slightly west of the train station and the other beside Zhongshan Hotel between Qingniwa pedestrian street and Jiefang Lu. Most buses also pass through People's Square and/or Zhongshan Square, but the stops are more spread out in both places and so finding the right stop can be difficult. Bus routes that may be of use to visitors include #2 (from Qiniwa station to Tiger Beach), #4 (from Olympic Square to Tiger Beach), #5 (from Zhongshan Lu near Qingniwa to Jingsha beach via Fujiazhuang), #13 (from the west side of Victory Square to the ferry terminal), #16 (from Zhongshan Lu near Qingniwa to the Xinghai conference centre) and #22 (from the railway station to Xinghai Square). Ticket prices for all these routes, as with most buses in Dalian, are ¥1 regardless of distance and exact change must be given.
In addition to the regular public buses there are also three air-conditioned tourist buses. #801 runs a circular route from the railway station and takes in People's Square, Xinghai Square, Fujiazhaung Beach, Tiger Beach, Labour Park and Zhongshan Square along the way. The entire journey takes about an hour and costs ¥20, though earlier stops cost less (the minimum being ¥5). #801B runs from the ferry terminal to Heishijiao via Zhongshan Square, the railway station, People's Square and Xinghai Square while #K901 runs from the Foreign Languages University to the south-western edge of Dalian via Zhongshan Square, the Railway station, Xinghai Square and Heishijiao. Tickets for both buses are ¥2.
also there is a bus service for ¥10 which covers the Binhai Lu from 8AM-4PM. It starts from near the railway station and covers the Conference & Exhibition Center, Dalian sea-shell Museum, Forest zoo, FuJiazhuang beach, Yan Woling, Birdsong forest, Tiger beach paradise, Harbour square and Zhongshan square. There is a bus for every 40 mins and through out the day you can travel in this bus, if you don't get down it take only 90 mins to cover the whole circle.... --from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Tour Bus
[edit] By Metro
[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car
Taxis are plentiful in Dalian and flagging one down is rarely a problem except in the remotest parts of the city. Rates start at ¥8 (¥10.40 after 10PM) for the first 3 km and ¥2 for each additional km. Round all taxi fares to the nearest whole number (¥11.60 means a fare of ¥12) as drivers don't accept any coinage less than ¥1. Drivers are usually friendly and because Dalian has a small non-Chinese population, they can be keenly interested in where you originate from or other small talk. On the good side, they are less likely to take needlessly long routes compared to other tourist cities in China as Dalian is a relatively small city with a limited number of major highways/thoroughfares. Hardly any understand even basic English, however, so either a knowledge of Mandarin or written directions to the destination is a must. If a driver is looking to pick up additional passengers along your route, encourage him or her to keep on driving unless you're comfortable with what might ensue.
Many taxi drivers smoke and play their radios. Some may also hesitate to start the meter so be sure you let them know to start it if you think they've forgotten or up to their tricks. Few use the A/C during the summer so if you suffer from respiratory problems, be sure you're well prepared when coming to Dalian. The nicest thing about the taxis and size of Dalian is that ¥20 can go a long ways in getting around.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Hotels
[edit] Budget
[edit] Mid Range
[edit] Luxury
[edit] Restaurants
The local cuisine of Dalian is influenced by Dongbei regional style of cooking (which has a not wholly unjustified reputation for being big on portions and relatively low on flavors. Buns, pancakes and dumplings are staples rather than rice or noodles. The city also has a very good reputation for seafood dishes which are well worth trying. Overseas travellers should be aware, however, that in China seafood has different connotations than elsewhere. In China seafood literally means anything that is edible from the sea. Those unwilling to try sea slugs or fish heads should take care when ordering. Fish dishes invariably contain plenty of small bones that must be navigated around or crunched through (the local method).
The range and number of restaurants is huge, and the listings provided should be considered as merely scratching the surface of what is available. Individual exploration of the restaurants is recommended. Reservations are generally not necessary, so phone numbers have only been provided for those restaurants where tables may need reserving. Those wanting to stick to the familiar will find a large number of western and Japanese and Korean restaurants available, and international fast food chains are well represented.
For good eats, try the recommendations in Zhongshan District and in Xigang District.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Shopping
There are many souvenir stalls around the main tourist sights in Dalian. The typical local souvenirs are Russian-themed items and dried seafood, neither of which are of particular interest to foreign travellers (the first would be a strange thing to bring back from China and the second would violate customs regulations). There are plenty of other shopping areas that would be of more interest. Some general Chinese souvenirs include jade sculptures, shadow boxes with shell mosaics, calligraphy scrolls, Peking Opera masks, etc. Day to day essentials are also available in these shopping areas. As with the rest of China, haggling is pretty much mandatory outside of department stores and supermarkets.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Night Life & Entertainment
Dalian offers a wide variety of bars and nightclubs catering to a mixture of locals, foreign businessmen, teachers and students. Most of them, particularly in the centre, are aimed at the Japanese businessman market and are so perhaps best avoided unless overpriced drinks, karaoke and women of dubious virtue are your thing. Dalian lacks a bona fide bar street along the lines of Beijing's Sanlitun or Shanghai's Maoming Lu with bars fairly liberally scattered across the city centre (as well as near major universities). There are three main clusters of bars that those wishing to bar hop could concentrate on, however, the first and most centralized along a side street off Wuwu Lu near Sanba Square, the second along Changjiang Lu behind the Shagri-la Hotel and the third along Gaoerji Lu behind People's Square.
Another good place to go for drinks are the night markets that spring up during the summer. These offer very cheap draught beer (¥1-3 for a large glass) and barbecued meat, tofu, vegetables and bread in an informal outdoor setting (some may not even have chairs). (This isn't recommended for those who are staying in Dalian a short time or those whom haven't spent a few weeks in China getting their immune system ready unless you're not worried about having any diarrhea issues.) Those looking for non-alcoholic drinks, meanwhile, can check out the many coffee shops and teahouses around the city.
The Dalian beer festival (a product of Dalian's long running semi-feud with Qingdao), held in Xinghai Square every year around late Jul/early Aug, is worth checking out if you're in the city at the time.
- Maria Coffee (Buy fresh coffee beans.), 大连市西岗区体育场东7号门,Stadium East Gate 7, Xigang District, Dalian (Head to the East side of the stadium next to Olympic Square.), ☎ 12340883338, [9]. 10AM-7PM. This is a tiny store - not a café. They do sell brewed coffee, but the real reason to come here is to get fresh roasted coffee beans for about ¥36/250g. They also have a good selection of coffee brewing equipment and French presses.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Sports & Recreation
- 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 (星海海滨 xīnghǎi hǎibīn), Fujiazhuang Beach (傅家庄海滨 fùjiāzhuāng hǎibīn) and Bangchuidao Beach. (棒棰岛海滨 bàngchuídǎo hǎibīn). 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 {滨海西路 bīnhǎi xī lù} from Xinghai Square to Fujiazhuang, Binhai Middle Road {滨海中路 bīnhǎi zhōng lù} from Fujiazhuang to Tiger Beach, and Binhai South Road {滨海南路 bīnhǎi nán lù} and Binhai North Road {滨海北路 bīnhǎi běi lù} 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.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Excursions & Day Trips
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 (金石滩 jīnshítān), 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 ¥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 (响水寺 xiǎngshuǐ sì) 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 Mountain (大黑山 dàhēishān) area. To get there take the light rail train or bus (from the běi gǎng qiáo 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 ¥60-80/4 person max (¥15-20 each).
- Bingyu Valley - Billed as "Dalian's Guilin" Bingyu Valley (冰峪沟 bīngyù gōu), 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 ¥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 ¥300 for a double room, or you can stay in a local farmer's house for as little as ¥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 ¥45 and the journey takes about 2 hours. The rest of the time you'll need to get a bus (2 hours, ¥34) or train to Zhuanghe City then transfer to a local bus to the valley (1 hour, ¥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.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Tips & Practical Info
Crime, particularly street crime, is low in Dalian as it is in most of China. That said, the people in northeastern China are on average more aggressive than their southern counterparts and fights do happen. (Most often when alcohol is involved.) While foreigners are unlikely to be targeted, one would be wise to avoid any heated exchanges. Additionally pickpockets do operate, so care should be taken with valuables especially in busy shopping areas or on crowded buses or trains.
Probably the greatest safety risk you'll face in Dalian is from the traffic which can be chaotic at the best of times. China has the highest rate of road fatalities in the world and allowances made for pedestrians are practically nonexistent. Marked crossings seem to serve little purpose other than as target ranges. Dalian's many wide avenues may be good for congestion but by creating more fast flowing traffic than in, say, Beijing they make life harder for pedestrians. The best way to cross the road other than over bridges, through tunnels or at traffic lights is to wait for a gap in the traffic and run. Don't under any circumstances expect cars to stop for you.
Health-wise Dalian's relatively low levels of pollution (comparable to London or Paris and better than Los Angeles) mean health problems from bad air are less of an issue than in other Chinese cities. The water, while technically drinkable, is made drinkable via the addition of hefty amounts of chemicals and pipes are seldom kept in the best condition so boiling is pretty much mandatory, and bottled water is usually a safer bet. Tap water should be boiled or filtered before drinking.Tap water should be fine for brushing teeth and washing with, however. The complete lack of any health inspection mechanism means food poisoning is a constant danger, but most restaurants should be OK. Avoid any restaurants that seem strangely quiet (customers tend not to return to places that leave them on the toilet for a week). It's always a good idea to pack a few diarrhea tablets before leaving, just in case. Hospitals are liberally scattered throughout the city with the Friendship Hospital on Wuwu Lu (+86 411 8271 8822) the most likely to have English speaking staff. China's hyper-capitalist health-care system means that payment in cash is required before any treatment is dished out, so make sure to bring a few hundred RMB with you should you need medical attention.
--from wikitravel.org
