Dalian Travel Guide

Dalian is a port city at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula in southern Liaoning. Sea wraps it on three sides, and the city spreads along the coastline. Because the town was built up under Russian and Japanese influence from the late 19th into the early 20th century, Western-style buildings survive in numbers to this day.

Xinghai Square in the south is a vast urban square facing the sea. Promenades and parks surround it, and at dusk people gather to watch the sun sink into the water. The Binhai Road, running south along the coast, threads cliffs and coves in a scenic drive that links coastal sights such as Laohutan and Yanwoling.

Along the coast, beaches and viewpoints look out over the sea, and in summer the shore fills with people seeking cool air. Old districts preserve corners of Russian-style buildings and shop-lined streets that recall the port's history. Seaside aquariums and amusement parks are popular with families.

Seafood from the Bohai Sea is the center of Dalian's food — sea urchin, abalone and shrimp among the catches. Seafood restaurants are plentiful, and steamed and grilled dishes are favorites. Rail and air links connect the city with Shenyang and Beijing, and many visitors come for the summer cool and the sea's bounty.