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Dalian is the governing sub-provincial city in the eastern Liaoning Province of Northeast China. Dalian is China's northernmost ice-free seaport and is China's most livable city.
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.
Dalian, as a city, is young by Chinese standards, dating from 1898, though smaller settlements had long existed in the area. Like Hong Kong, Shanghai and Qingdao, Dalian's development stemmed from colonial occupation, in this case by Russia. Under Russian rule Dalian, or Dalny as it was known, became the southern tip of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the main port of the eastern Russian empire. Following the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-5, the city was transferred to Japanese control and renamed Dairen. The Chinese government resumed control following the Second World War (though the city was jointly run with Russia until 1955) and in 1950 was again renamed by the newly formed Communist regime, this time to Luda City. There followed a period of relative stagnation until the city (once again named Dalian) was opened up to foreign investment in 1984. This sparked the first period of redevelopment of the city, the second period coming with the appointment of Bo Xilai as mayor. Under Bo's stewardship, the city became a model example of redevelopment, with extensive redevelopment of its infrastructure and open spaces and a new focus on tourism and commerce and away from heavy industry.
Dalian is less reliant on heavy industry than most Chinese cities, especially in north east China, and what heavy industry there is is mostly located in the development zone far outside the city center. This, combined with the city's many parks and green hills, wide thoroughfares and army of street cleaners, make Dalian a more pleasant city to visit and live in than most Chinese cities of comparable size. Though most of the tourist industry in the city is targeted at the domestic, rather than international, market, overseas tourists should still find plenty to do in the city, and the large number of foreign businesses in the city and foreign students and teachers at the city's many universities ensure that there's plenty of companies (from upmarket hotels to bars and coffee houses) that cater to those who do not call China their native home.
Administration
The city administers 6 districts, 3 county-level cities, and 1 county.
Ganjingzi, Zhongshan, Xigang, and Shahekou Districts make up the urban centre. Changhai County is made up entirely of islands east of the peninsula. There are 74 sub-districts and 127 town/townships (11 of which are ethnic). (see Political divisions of China#Levels)
There are, in addition, 4 national leading open zones:
* The Development Zone
* The Free Trade Zone
* The Hi-Tech Industrial Zone
* The Golden Pebble Beach National Holiday Resort
Geography
One of the most heavily developed industrial areas of China, the Dalian administrative district today consists of Dalian proper and the smaller Lüshunkou (formerly Lüshun city, known in western and Russian historic references as Port Arthur), about forty nautical miles farther along the Liaotung/Liaodong Peninsula. Historical references note that the Russian designed city of Dalny (Alt. Dalney), on the south side of Talien Bay was 40 rail kilometers from Port Arthur/Lüshun (known today as Lüshunkou or literally, Lüshun Port).
Dalian is located west of the Yellow Sea and east of Bohai Sea roughly in the middle of the Liaodong/Liaotung peninsula at its narrowest neck or isthmus. With a coastline of 1,906km, it governs the entire Liaodong Peninsula and about 260 surrounding islands and reefs. It is south-south-west of the Yalu River, and its harbor entrance forms a sub-Bay known as Dalian Bay.
Climate
The city's climate is a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (K?ppen climate classification Dwa), characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and harshly cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Average low temperatures in January are at around -6° C, while average high temperatures in July are at around 27°C.
History
Ancient
In the Qin and Han periods (221 B.C.-220 A.D.), the Dalian region was under the jurisdiction of Liaodong county. In the early Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Dalian region was under the jurisdiction of Andong Prefecture in Jili state, and in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), it was under the jurisdiction of Dong Jing Tong Liaoyang county. Dalian was named Sanshan in the period of Weijin (220-420), San Shanpu in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Sanshan Seaport in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and Qing Niwakou in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Qing Dynasty
In the 1880s, the Qing government constructed loading bridges and fortifications with built-in cannons, and set up mining camps on the northern coast of Dalian Gulf, and it became a small town.
Occupation
The settlement was occupied by the British in 1858, returned to the Chinese in the 1880s, and then occupied by Japan in 1895 during the first Sino-Japanese War.
In 1898, the Russian Empire leased the peninsula from the Qing Dynasty, and a modern city was laid out with the name of Dalny. Linked to the Trans-Siberian Railway, Dalny became Russia's primary port-city in Asia.
Dalny was the main battlefield of the Russo-Japanese War (1905).
Both Dalny (Qingniwaqiao of Zhongshan District, Dalian) and Port Arthur (Lüshunkou) were developed and heavily fortified by the Russians in the period prior to 1904. Consequently, some historians blame the fall of Port Arthur, a world shaking event of epic proportions, during the siege of Port Arthur on January 2, 1905 for the failure by Admiral Eugene Alexeieff, to concentrate on the naval base and its fortifications, instead splitting precious resources shipped 5,000 miles across the single tracked Trans-Siberian Railway and Manchurian railways.
After the Russo-Japanese war Port Arthur was conceded to Japan (Treaty of Portsmouth), who set up the Kwantung Leased Territory or Guandongzhou. Since the foundation of Manchukuo in 1932, the sovereignty of the territory moved from China to Manchukuo. Japan still leased it from Manchukuo. In 1937, the modern Dalian City was enlarged and modernized by the Japanese as two cities: the northern Dairen (Dalian) and the southern Ryojun (Lushun).
Post-World War II
With the unconditional surrender of Japan in August of 1945, Dalian passed to the Soviets, who had taken possession of the city in advance of the end of hostilities and remained in the city until 1955. During this period the Soviets and Chinese Communists cooperated in the further development of the city, its industrial infrastructure, and especially the port. The city had been relatively undamaged during the war.
After the departure of the Soviets, China made Dalian into a major shipbuilding center. In the 1990s the city benefitted from the attentions of Bo Xilai (son of the important first generation Party elder, Bo Yibo) who was both mayor of the city and provincial party official, who, among other things, banned motorcycles, created large, lush parks in the city's many traffic circles, and generally built things up very attractively. He also preserved much of Dalian's interesting and attractive Japanese and Russian architectural heritage. His legacy, however, also includes the usual quota of empty buildings built with questionable loans, over-development, and corruption. He is now Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic.
Economy
Agriculture and Aquaculture
Dalian was originally an agriculture and aquaculture-based area, which, after the opening of the ferry between Yantai and Lüshun during the early 20th century, began to be populated by the farmers and fishermen of Shandong, across the Yellow Sea. Corn, vegetables, fruit such as apples, cherries and pears are Dalian's typical agricultural products. Aquaculture is well developed in Dalian, exporting seaweed, scallops, sea urchins and others to Japan, Korea and other countries.
Heavy, Light and Distribution Industries
Even before and during the Sino-Japanese War, the shipbuilding and locomotives industries were a thriving industry, such as the companies which later became Dalian Shipbuilding Co. and Dalian Locomotive & Roll Stock Works (DLoco). After the War, Dalian became an important center of the heavy and light industries, including companies such as Dalian Heavy Industry Co., Dalian Chemical Group, and Wafangdian Bearing Co.; and of the distribution industry, including such as Dashang Group. Overseas retailing giants, such as Wal-Mart from U.S.A., Carrefour from France and Metro from Germany have recently opened stores in Dalian. Mycal, the Japanese retailing chain store, was bought out by its Chinese partner, Dashang Group, and is operated as Mykal.
Dalian Port is emerging as a very important port for international trade. A new harbor for oil tankers, at the terminus of an oil pipeline from the Daqing oilfields, was completed in 1976. Dalian is the largest petroleum port in China, and also the 3rd largest port overall. Accordingly, Dalian is a major center for oil refineries, diesel engineering, and chemical production. Also completed recently is a newer port on Dagushan Peninsula on the northern suburbs, specializing in import/export of mining and oil products. Together with its Dalian Railroad Station, Dalian International Airport and two major express roads ro Shenyang-Changchun-Harbin in the north and to Dandong to the east, Dalian has become an important distribution center.
Dalian Development Zone
Dalian has been given many benefits by the Chinese government, including the title of "open-city" (1984), which allows it to receive considerable foreign investment (see Special Economic Zone). The Development Zone was established in Jinzhou District, to which many Japanese manufacturing companies, such as Canon, Mitsubishi Electric, Nidec, Sanyo Electric and Toshiba, followed by Korean, American and European companies (such as Pfizer. In March 2007, Intel announced plans to build a semiconductor fabrication facility (commonly known as a fab) in the Development Zone, Dalian. It is Intel's first fab to be built at an entirely new site in over 15 years. The fab at Dalian will make the chip sets that support Intel's microprocessors and is expected to begin operation in the first half of 2010.
Financial Industry
There are the Dalian branches of China's five major banks: Bank of China, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Agricultural Bank of China. Dalian Commercial Bank is now called Dalian Bank, which among other things handles processing of the Dalian Mingzhu IC Card for public transportation. Foreign banks, such as HSBC, Bank of East Asia, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and Mizuho Corporate Bank also have branch offices.
Dalian Commodity Exchange is the only one of its kind in China, expanding the futures market beyond soybeans. A "Financial Street" around the new Commodity Exchange building is now being planned.
IT Industry
Since the 1990s Dalian City has emphasized the development of the IT industry, especially in Dalian High-Tech Zone and Dalian Software Park in the western suburbs near Dalian University of Technology. There, there are not only Chinese IT companies, such as DHC, Hisoft and Neusoft Group, but also American, European and Japanese IT companies, such as Accenture, Dell, (a General Electric company), HP, IBM, SAP AG, Alpine, CSK Holding, Panasonic, NEC and Sony.
Dalian has recently become the world's important center of IT Outsourcing (ITO) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), after Bangaluru (Bangalore) of India, as aptly written in "The World Is Flat" by Thomas Friedman (2007). In another way, Dalian is the forerunner of China's "Re-Development of the Old Industry Bases in Northeast" National Project, which began in 2002.
Viewing Dalian's Modern Industries
The Dalian Modern Museum in Xinghai Square is a good place to quickly view Dalian's present-day industries, with displays of the products and services of the major companies.
Also good are the city-wide festivals: China International Software & Information Service Fair (June), Dalian International Beer Festival (July-August) and Dalian International Auto Show (August) and Dalian International Fashion Week (September).
Tourism
Dalian is a very popular destination among Chinese tourists and foreign visitors, especially from Japan, Korea and Russia. Its mild climate and multiple beaches as well as its importance in the modern history of China make it an especially nice place to visit. Some of the most famous beaches are Tiger beach, Xinghai beach, Jinshitan beach and Fujiazhuang beach.
Four Inner-City Districts
* Zhongshan Square and Friendship Square
* Tiger Beach and Fujiazhuan Beach
Tiger beach is a good place to see natural scenery. There is Seabed World, Bird Sing Wood and the recently completed Polar Region Museum, where a dolphin show is a big attraction.
* Xinghai Square, Shinghai Park and Heishijiao
* Xinghai Square was built at the centinary of the City of Dalian (1998) and is slated to be East Asia's largest square. Xinghai beach is in side Xinghai Park. It is about 800m long and is an excellent place for swimming.
Jinzhou District and Development Zone (in the northern suburbs)
* Dahei Mountain
* Jinshitan Sightseeing Area
Jinshitan beach, the Golden Pebble Beach is a tourist attraction with splendid coves and rock formations. There is also a golf course (Jinshitan International Golf Course), cross country motorcycling, an amusement park (Discovery Kingdom) and a hunting forest. It is a good place for someone who wants silence and peace and it is excellent for swimming too.
Lüshunkou District (in the western suburbs)
* Lüshun Museum
* Lüshun Railroad Station
* 203 Highland and Shuishiying Meeting Place
The fiercest battle site and the signing site of the cease fire treaty, of the Battle of Lüshun during the Russo-Japanese War 1904-05.
Three Northern Cities of Greater Dalian
* Anbo Hotspring and Ski Course, in Pulandian City
* Zhangxing Island International Golf Course, in Wafangdian City
* Binyugou Scenic Area and Buyun Mountain Hotspring, in Zhuanhe City
For a thorough review of the major attractions, see the Dalian wikitravel page and Discover Dalian.
Transportation
Local Transportation
Dalian is one of the few cities in China where there are not many bicycles, because the area is full of slopes, and where there are few motorcycles, because their sale is prohibited. The number of cars on Dalian streets has increased dramatically in recent years, causing traffic jams. The city has a comprehensive bus system and an efficient light rail mass transit system, usually called Qinggui, which connects Dalian Development Zone and Jinshitan with downtown Dalian.
Domestic and international
Dalian has a modern and recently (2006) expanded international airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, with direct flights to the most major cities in China, and to the selected cities in Japan, South Korea and Germany.
The city's location means that train trips to most Chinese cities outside China's northeastern region require changing trains in Shanghai or Beijing. Most of the direct city to city express trains are overnight trips. In August 2007 construction started on a Harbin-Dalian high speed passenger railway, which is expected to be completed in 2013, connecting Harbin, Dalian, Changchun, and Shenyang. The New Dalian Station will be set up at Nanguanling, in the northern suburbs, on the way to Dalian Development Zone.
In addition to local and express bus service to Beijing and other areas in the northeast, Dalian is connected by passenger ship service to neighbouring coastal cities, such as Tianjin and Yantai, as well as Incheon, South Korea.
Life and Cultur
Dalian is the most livable city in China according to China Daily.
Dalian Dialect
Jiao Liao Mandarin is spoken in Dalian, along with some loanwords from Japanese and Russian.
Sports
Sports play a big role in the local culture. The city's mayor, a young princeling (member of the ruling cadres) encouraged a top league soccer team with foreign aid and a lot of city cash to increase the city's image in the country and bring local fame. They have been caught out several times though and the heyday of the Super Team has passed. The city's soccer team has dominated the sport in China and Asia by winning 7 titles out of the past 9 years of Chinese professional soccer league. The city is also a powerhouse producing numerous track and field champions.
The Dalian's soccer club is Dalian Shide, one of fifteen teams in the Chinese Super League. Prior to 2000, they were known as Dalian Wanda. Dalian Shide achieved success as:
* Premium A Champions 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002
* Asian Club Championship Runners-Up 1997
* Asian Cup Winners' Cup Runners-Up 2001
* Chinese Super Cup Winners 1997, 2001, 2003
* China FA Cup Winners 2001
City-Wide Festivals
Xinghai Square, the Xinghai Conference Center, the Dalian World Expo Center and the hotels on Renmin Rd. are the places where Dalian's major annual events are held: Fireworks Displays (Chinese New Year, May 1 and October 1), Dalian International Walking Festival (May), Dalian Locust Flower Festival (May), Dalian International Marathon (June), China International Software & Information Service Fair (June), Dalian International Beer Festival (July-August), Dalian International Auto Show (August) and Dalian International Fashion Week (September).
Every September Dalian hosts the Dalian International Fashion Festival. This festival is a chance for many major foreign companies to showcase their new products and sign up buyers. Before the festival, the city holds an opening ceremony attended by government officials as well as famous stars of the entertainment world.
Zoo and Museums
Dalian is the home of three zoological parks: Dalian Forest Zoo, Shengya Ocean World, and Polar World. The Forest Zoo has a free-range animal section as well as a more traditional zoo. Shengya Ocean World includes an underwater conveyor through a transparent tunnel. Polar World is the only park devoted to polar animals in China. Dalian is also home to a number of public squares, including Xinghai Square.
Food and Restaurants
The local cuisine heavily depends on variety of fresh seafood and fruits, both of which are abundant in the area.
Inter-Governmental and People-to-People Communication
Japan maintains a Consulate General office and a JETRO office in Dalian, reflecting a relatively large Japanese population.
Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry has about 700 corporate members. Those Japanese who had lived in Dalian before the War have organized the Dalian Society. There are such voluntary groups as the Lilac Society (for women) and the Dalian Mountaineering Association. Foreigners' webboards include Dalian Xpat (English), Mixi (Japanese) and Runsky (Chinese).
Religion
Five religions (Taoism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam) are "officially approved" by the Chinese government. Taoist temples are not found in downtown Dalian, but in Lushunkou District (Longwang Temple), and in Jinzhou District (Jinlong Temple in Daweijia, Xiangshui Temple at the foot of Dahei Mountain, and Zhenwu Temple in Liangjiadian). Buddhist temples are in downtown Dalian (Songshan Temple on Tangshan Street), on the northern side of Anzi Mountain (Anshan Temple), at Daheishi (Thousand-Hand Buddha & 500 Luohan Statues), in Lushunkou District (Hengshan Temple at Longwangtan), and in Jinzhou District 'Guanyinge-Shengshui Temple on Dahei Mountain). Dalian Islamic Mosque is on Beijing Street.
Dalian Catholic Church (built in 1926) is in downtown Dalian, west of Dalian Railway Station. Protestant churches are near Zhongshan Square (Yuguanjie Church, built in 1928 next to the British Consulate General's office, by the Anglican Churches of Britain and Japan jointly), on Zhangjiang Street (Cheng-en Church, a former a Danish Lutheran church, which now also houses the Dalian branch of China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee), on Xi-an Road (Christian Church for the Korean Minority), east of the airport (the newly built Harvest Church, which can seat 4000 people), in Jinzhou (the newly built Jinzhou Church) and Lushunkou District (Lushun Church, a former Danish Lutheran church). There are many other underground Christian fellowships ("house churches").
For foreigners, there are Dalian International Christian Fellowship (English) and other fellowship groups.
Colleges and Universities
* Dalian Fisheries University
* Dalian Jiaotong University
* Dalian Maritime University
* Dalian Medical University
* Dalian Polytechnic University
* Dalian University
* Dalian University of Foreign Languages
* Dalian University of Technology
* Dongbei University of Finance and Economics
* Liaoning Normal University
* Neusoft Institute of Information
Some universities are undergoing relocations from the metropolitan area to the suburban districts. In 2007, Dalian University of Foreign Languages (except for its Schools of Chinese Studies and Continuous Education) and Dalian Medical University (except its Hospital) were moved to Lüshunkou District, just east of Baiyin Mountain Tunnel.
Research Centers
* Dalian Institute of Chemistry & Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences
Sister cities of Dalian
The following are sister cities of Dalian:
* Szczecin, Poland
* Glasgow, UK
* Kitakyūshū, Japan
* Le Havre, France
* Vancouver, Canada
* Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia
* Bremen, Germany
* Incheon, South Korea
* Oakland, California, USA
* Rostock, Germany
* Maizuru, Japan
* Vladivostok, Russia
* Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo
* Adelaide, Australia
* Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Urban planning
Dalian is considered a "model city" in China's urban planning; since the mid-1990s, it has inspired many other cities in their respective "make-overs".
Environmental protection
Dalian is considered one of the cleanest cities in China. Dalian frequently ranks Grade 2 for air pollution according to SEPA.
Get in
By air
Dalian International Airport (pinyin: dàlián zhōushuǐzǐ guójìjīchǎng), (IATA: DLC), +86 411 8665 2071, to the north-west of the town centre, offers direct flights to Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chaoyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Hong Kong, Jinan, Kunming, Luoyang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Qiqihar, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Tianjin, ürümqi, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Xian, and Yanji.
Daily international flights are available to Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong and regular direct flights to Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Osaka, Sendai, and Toyama in Japan, Pusan in South Korea, and Pyongyang in North Korea. Most other major international destinations can be reached through flights via Beijing or Shanghai.
Air China, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airlines provide international flights and most major Chinese domestic carriers also serve the airport. A regular airport bus departs after every flight lands and runs to the main train station (it also stops at the smaller Shahekou train station so be careful not to get off too soon) as well as Renmin Lu. Tickets cost 5 RMB. Public buses #701 and #710 also run from the airport to the train station, #701 terminating at Zhongshan Square and #710 going on to the harbour, Sanba Square and Erqi Square. Both buses cost 1 RMB. Tickets for outward flights can be booked in advance from the airport ticket office on Zhongshan Lu, just opposite Xiwang Square in the centre of town.
By train
Dalian Central Train Station (pinyin: dàlián huǒchēzhàn) +86 411 8260 3331 is located next to Shengli (Victory) Square in the town centre. Direct trains serve most cities in Dongbei as well as Beijing and Tianjin, but longer journeys usually involve a change at Beijing. A special daily express train also runs to Shenyang. Tickets can be booked up to 7 days in advance from the station, though this requires a degree of Chinese proficiency (or access to someone with Chinese proficiency) as well as a tolerance for Chinese queuing habits. Local travel agents and major hotels should also be able to book tickets in advance, often further than is possible from the station, for an extra charge. For further details on train travel in China, including details on the various classes available, see the main China article.
By bus
Long distance buses are available, and serve most destinations in the vicinity of Dalian. The main long distance bus station is located on Jianshe Jie, outside the northern entrance of the main train station, while 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 ( pinyin: běi gǎng qiáo station) and in Heishijiao, next to Xinghai square.
By boat
Ferry services run from the passenger ferry terminal (pinyin: dàlián gǎng kèyùn zhàn) in the centre of Dalian (Gangwan Jie, east end of Renmin Lu) to cities along the Bohai Sea as well as to Incheon in South Korea. A fast ferry runs to Yantai and takes around three and a half hours. Previous services to Shanghai and Qingdao no longer operate. Tickets can be purchased either from the ferry terminal or from a kiosk at the train station. On long haul domestic ferries (excluding fast ferries) first class berths typically offer a two bed room with a shower, second class offers a four bed room with a wash basin while lower classes may offer only a bunk in a large, shared area, a hard seat, or no reserved place at all.
Get around
By 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 5 minutes. Seats are generally hard, however, and even with very frequent services, buses on major routes can still get crowded at peak times. There are also 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-6:30AM) and usually finish around 11PM, though some services finish earlier. Fare is 1RMB.
The main place to catch buses from the centre of town is at the Qingniwa area (pinyin: 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 RMB 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 RMB, though earlier stops cost less (the minimum being 5 RMB). #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 RMB.
By tram
Dalian has a number of trams and trolleybuses, a legacy from the years of Japanese occupation, and which add character to the city in addition to being a practical means of transportation; the hilly streets, trams and colonial buildings combine to give Dalian an almost San Franciscan feel in places. There are three tram routes, #201 runs from the central railway station to Shahekou Railway station, #202 runs from the Xi'an Lu shopping area to Heishijiao and beyond via Xinghai Square and #203 runs from the railway station along to Donghai Beach via Russian Street. Tickets for all trams cost 1 RMB, with the exception of the modern trams on route #202 which cost 2 RMB.
By taxi
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 RMB for the first 3 kilometres and 2.0 RMB for each additional kilometre, after 10 though rates rise to 10RMB for the first 3 kilometres and 2.6 RMB for each additional kilometre. Drivers are usually friendly and willing to help out foreigners, and are less likely to take needless long routes caompared to other tourist cities in China. Very few understand English, however, so either a knowledge of Mandarin or written directions to the destination is a must.
By rail
Though there are a number of small urban and suburban rail stations in Dalian they are unlikely to be much use as they tend not to be in useful locations for tourists and services are more costly and less frequent than buses. The light rail line is of use to tourists and business travellers, however, as it is by far the most convenient way to get to the Dalian Economic Development Zone and Golden Pebble beach resort. Taking a taxi from the Economic Development Zone to downtown can be 60-80RMB; using the light rail, however, is just 4RMB. The cars are air conditioned and the waiting stations are sheltered from rain or snow.
See
* 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.
* The Forest Zoo - Dalian has a wide range of tourist attractions, but most of them are geared for the local market and to overseas visitors would seem more traps 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.
Do
* Relax on one of the city's beaches. There's a number of beaches clustered along the southern and eastern sides of the Dalian Peninsula, the largest of which are Xinghai Beach, Fujiazhuang Beach and Bangchuidao Beach. Of these beaches Xinghai beach is almost invariably overcrowded and Bangchuidao beach is hard to get to and expensive (located as it is 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 from Xinghai Square to Fujiazhuang, Binhai Middle Road from Fujiazhuang to Tiger Beach, and Binhai South Road and Binhai North Road 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, both local and international. 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), or the Ownar Cineplex in the He Ping shopping centre north of Xinghai Square (Shahekou District). 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.
Learn
Dalian has a large number of universities, a number of which offer undergraduate and graduate courses in a variety of majors for foreign students, as well as Chinese classes of varying levels of proficiency. The universities below all offer course for overseas students, see their websites for details on available courses and requirements.
* Dalian Foreign Languages University
* Liaoning Normal University
* Dalian Maritime University
You can try to stay at the International Maritime Training Centre Hotel DMU. It is located on the Dalian Maritime University Campus. Tel: +86-411-84729710; Fax: +86-411-84729350. Registration: +86-411-84729345, 84729346, 84727951. The hotel has english speaking stuff on reception. Rates start from 150 RMB for a room.
* Dalian University of Technology
Buy
There's a large number of souvenir stalls around the main tourist sights in Dalian, however the typical local souvenirs are Russian-themed items and dried seafood, neither of which are particularly of interest to foreign travellers (the first would be a strange thing to bring back from China and the second would violate customs regulations). There's plenty of other shopping areas that would be of more interest, however, either for general Chinese souvenirs (jade sculptures, shadow boxes with shell mosaics, calligraphy scrolls, Peking Opera masks and so on) or for day to day essentials. As with the rest of China haggling is pretty much mandatory outside of department stores and supermarkets.
Eat
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 flavours, with buns, pancakes and dumplings as staples rather than rice or noodles) and the city 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 scratched the surface of what is on offer. Individual exploration of the restaurants available 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.
Budget
Travellers on a budget will be spoiled for choice in Dalian, with low cost restaurants on literally every street corner especially in the more residential areas outside of the main city centre. It would be impossible to even begin to list them all, so only a couple of options available near the centre have been listed in the district articles. The quality of the restaurants can be highly variable; a good rule of thumb when searching for a decent place to eat is if the decor looks shabby but the place is packed the food is almost always good. Ordering can be tricky for non-Chinese speakers as English menus are incredibly rare in cheaper restaurants, and English speaking staff are even rarer. Those with no Mandarin ability and no access to someone with Mandarin ability can either point at other customers' dishes, or try the roadside snack stalls which offer pancakes, rolls, skewers of barbecued meat and candied fruits for around 1-2 RMB.
Mid-range
As with budget restaurants there are plenty of mid-range restaurants to choose from in Dalian (differentiated from budget restaurants usually by being larger and having better decor), so experimentation is the key. The restaurants listed in the various district articles are just a couple of particularly noteworthy examples. The same caveats as for budget restaurants apply as regards language, though quality is less variable.
Splurge
The more expensive end of the restaurant market in Dalian is generally occupied by non-Chinese, mainly western, Japanese and Korean, restaurants though there are also a few Chinese restaurants with particularly high reputations in this price bracket. English menus and English speaking staff are more likely in these restaurants, especially western ones, but there are still no guarantees.
Drink
Dalian offers a wide selection of bars and nightclubs catering to a mixture of locals and foreign businessmen, teachers and students. Most of them, especially 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, which offer very cheap draught beer (1-3 RMB for a large glass) and barbecued meat, tofu, vegetables and breads in an informal outdoor setting. 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 July/early August, is worth checking out if you're in the city at the time.
Contact
The local dialing code for Dalian from within China is 0411 (outside of China +86 411). The main local telephone operator is China Netcom [8]. Internet access at home is increasingly widespread, and most people living in the city should be able to get a broadband connection if one is not already present, while almost all hotels have at least a perfunctory business center offering Internet access (though usually at a far higher price than at an Internet café).
There are a handful of public phones, as in standalone phones, in Dalian. These are few and far between, however, and to use them you need to purchase an IC card which can't be used for anything else. More practical, and cheap, are the phones that can be found at convenience stores or kiosks. To use these simply indicate you wish to use one, dial the number and then hand over the money (usually less than 1 RMB for short local calls) to the shop assistant at the end. Not all such phones will allow you to dial outside of Dalian, however, and very few accept international calls (those that do will have the letters IDD on the telephone sign outside the shop/kiosk).
For international calls the best places to go are the phone bars, generally found around residential areas. To make a call simply walk in, choose a vacant phone and when finished indicate which phone you used to the cashier (typically the phones have a number written above them). Prices can be highly variable, but a reasonably long call shouldn't come to more than 50 RMB. A more expensive, though possibly more convenient option is to ask to use the phone in hotel lobbies. Remember to dial 00 + the country code when making international calls.
Calling cards (known as IP cards) are plentiful and, as in the rest of China, offer the cheapest way of calling overseas. Be aware, however, that not all brands of cards offer English instructions, so those not fluent in Mandarin would be best sticking to the two main brands (China Netcom and China Telecom).
Mobile phones, and mobile phone stores, are plentiful in Dalian. If you have an international roaming plan then you should be able to use your phone to call within Dalian, though this can be very expensive. For those staying for longer than a week or two it may be cheaper to buy a local SIM card (expect to pay around 50-100 RMB). The two main operators, China Mobile and China Unicom, operate on different standards so which one you need to go for will depend on your phone. As a rule of thumb China Unicom, which operates via CDMA, is best for many American phones while those with phones from other countries will generally be better off with China Mobile, which uses the GSM standard.
Internet cafés, as in most Chinese cities, are plentiful and on nearly every street corner, especially in residential areas and around universities. Just look for the characters 网吧 (wǎng ba) on shop fronts. In the town center they're less numerous, though there are a few around the railway station and Victory Square. Expect to pay 1-5 RMB for an hour.
Post offices are scattered around the city, with the two main branches located just east of the railway station and on Zhongshan Square. These branches, as with most larger post offices in the city, offer Western Union wiring facilities, though the branch next to the railway station is the only one which can receive funds.
Get out
There's 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 east of the Dalian development zone and around 50 km (30 mi) from the centre of Dalian, Golden Pebble Beach, named after the unique rock formations of the area, is a major 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, though the kung fu museum, which doubles as a school for aspiring Jet Lis, might be worth checking out for those interested in the subject. Outside of the main tourist periods a lot of the beach-side shops and stalls shut down, and it's best to check the forecast before you venture out as travelling 50 km to sit under a parasol in the rain or be buffeted by gale force winds isn't the best of fun. The best way to get to Golden Pebble Beach is to take the light rail from the central station, located between the central train station and the market. . A round trip takes about 25 minutes each way and costs 8 RMB. A tourist shuttle is available to get from the light rail station to the beach.
* Xiangshui Temple +86 411 8764 7565. 8:30AM-5PM. One of the few truly ancient sites in and around Dalian, the Daoist Xiangshui Temple 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 of which give the temple its name ("Water-sounds Temple") and is part of a wider network of temples in the Big Black Mountain area. To get there take the train (from the central train station) or bus (from the běi gǎng qiáo long distance bus station) to Jinzhou then take a taxi to the temple.
* Bingyu Valley - Billed as "Dalian's Guilin" Bingyu Valley is a twisting river valley, winding though steep cliffs, in relatively unspoilt countryside just outside Zhuanghe City and about 250 km (155 mi) north of Dalian city. Entry costs 100 RMB but is well worth it since as well as hiking, boat rides (which cost extra) and enjoying a bit of nature there's 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 RMB for a double room, or you can stay in a local farmer's house for as little as 10 RMB (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 RMB and the journey takes about 2 hours. The rest of the time you'll need to get a bus (2 hours, 34 RMB) or train to Zhuanghe City then transfer to a local bus to the valley (1 hour, 8 RMB).
* Lushun - Formerly known as Port Arthur, Lushun 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 taxi ride would also be feasible) the risk of straying into the forbidden areas means that 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 can result if an official notices a non-Chinese visiting sites.
