Archive for the ‘Dalian Travel’ Category

Top 10 Attractions in Dalian (Tips, Photos and Maps)

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021
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Plan your Dalian tour?  Dalian is the second largest city in Liaoning Province, in the northeast of China and the largest port in northern China as well as a major destination for Chinese tourists.

The location of Dalian (Google Map)

Compared to some ancient capital cities in China, Dalian is a young city with only an over100-year history. Dalian’s scenic spots are in three major areas: the Downtown Area, the Binhai Road Area and the Xinghai Park Scenic Area. Visitors to the city are often impressed by its distinctly European feel.

Dalian Tourist Map

No.1: Xinghai Square 星海广场

Xinghai Square, the largest square for public use in Dalian, is located to the north of Xinghai Bay. Xinghai Square covers a total area of 45,000 square meters. Its center looks like a star, with two White Marble Cloud Pillars, and 9 giant dings.

As night falls, lamps on the stone pillars lighten the main street. The lamps, every 20 meters each, are in the shape of the navigation light. For 10 days in late July early August, Xinghai Square holds the annual International Beer Festival.

Xinhai Square ( Image Credit: dl.fang.com)

Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: the whole day
Address: Xingwan (between Binhai West Road and Zhongshan Road), Shahekou District, Dalian
How to get there: take Light Rail No. 23 and 202, or Buses No. 16, 406, 711 or 801, and get off at Xinghai Exhibition Center

No.2: Laohutan Ocean Park (Tiger Beach Park) 老虎滩海洋公园

Laohutan Ocean Park is situated in the central part of the southern seashore of Dalian City. With a total area of 1,180,000 square meters and a coastline of more than 4,000 meters, Laohutan Ocean Park is the biggest lido in China.

Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park is a bright place of interest in Bincheng, with an annual tourist amount of more than 200 million. Laohutan Ocean Park is a morden ocean topic park not only showing the beach town scenery, but also for entertainment, science, shopping and culture.

Tiger Beach Ocean Park

Entrance Fee: CNY 220 (Peak); 190 (Low)
Addredd: 9 Mid-Binhai Road, Zhongshan District, Dalian
Opening Hours: 06:00-17:00
How to get there: take Buses No. 2, 4, 30, 403, 402 and 404 from the downtown area

No.3: Bangchuidao Scenic Area 棒棰岛

Bangchuidao Scenic Area is located in the east of the Binhai Road. about 9 kilometers away from the center of Dalian City. The area is shaped like a bangchui (an ancient club-shaped washing tool), hence its name.

Bangchuidao Scenic Area enjoys a temperate climate, thus is a perfect summer resort. Bangchuidao Scenic Area offers a diverse range of attractions both natural and manmade, including islets, scenic hills, cliffs, a beach resort, Bangchuidao Island and Bangchuidao Guesthouse.

Bangchuidao Scenic Area (Image Credit: you.ctrip.com)

Entrance Fee: CNY 20
Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00
How to get there: take Bus No.712 from Youhao Square to Shan Ping Jie Station, then call a taxi (about 20 yuan).

No. 4: Sunasia Ocean World 圣亚海洋世界

Opened in 1994, Sun Asia Ocean World is the first modern amusement park of its kind in China which is located in Dalian. It has three aquariums, Ocean World, Polar World, and Coral World. Stretching over 118 meters in length, Sun Asia Ocean World will be a mind blowing experience amidst the marine creatures.

Being inside the tunnel, one would feel like an aquatic animal himself while observing different types of fish, sea turtles and sharks zooming past them. You can also go for a guided underwater tour of the aquatic environment by shelling out some extra bucks.

The 118 meter-long underwater aquarium tunnel

Entrance Fee: CNY 190
Address: No. 608-6-8, Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian (500 meters west of Xinghai Square)
Opening Hours: 9:00-16:30 (Monday to Friday); 9:00-17:00 (Saturday and Sunday)
How to get there: take Buses No. 22, 23, 28, 406, 711 and 801 to the Sunasia Ocean World.

No. 5: Dalian Forest Zoo 大连森林动物园

Built in 1997 covering an area of 7.2 square kilometers, Dalian forest Zoo is an amazingly extensive animal kingdom. It is well-known for its high quality selection of species and wild raising.

There are six functional sections in the park: garden-like herbivorous animal section; tower-like lions and tigers section; crane-like chimpanzees and baboons section; the mountain-like bears section; the special Asian elephants section; and the natural protection section where pandas, smart squirrel monkeys, and fire-like flamingos reside. On top of the West Hill with sea level of 259.6 meters, you can oversee the entire forest and zoo area.

The entrance to Dalian Forest Zoo (Image Credit: tianqi.moji.com)

Entrance Fee: CNY 120
Address: 60 Yingchun Road, Xigang District, Dalian
Opening Hours: 08:00-16:30
How to get there: take Buses No. 5, 541 and 702 to the Dalian Forest Zoo; or call a taxi from the train station

No. 6: Binhai Road 滨海路

Dalian Binhai Road, which, originally built in 1970s as a combat road, became a premier tourist attraction of Dalian in 1980s. The uniqueness of Binhai Road lies in the fact that it boasts of the rare blend of mountain and the sea.

Binhai Road covers an area of 35 km bordering Xing Hai Square in the west and Dong Hai Park in the east. There are totally 12 major attractions along Beihai Road.

While passing through the road, you can also enjoy the clear and fresh air coming from the sea. Binhai road has already become a paradise for nature lovers and also a must watch attraction for all the tourists visiting the Dalian.

Binghai Road ( Image Credit: power.baidu.com)

Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: the whole day
How to get there: There are four entrances for Binhai Road: Xinghai Square entrance, Fujiazhuang entrance, Laohu Beach entrance and Bangchuidao entrance, you can take a taxi to any entrance you like.

No. 7: Zhongshan Square 中山广场

Zhongshan Square in Dalian, is the most famous of the many squares in Dalian, originally designed by the Russians in the 19th century.

Zhongshan Square is 213 meters in diameter. Inside the five-lane round-about, there is a green zone and the paved area where people gather together to dance in summer evenings, participate in foreign language corners, or do other things.

Zhongshan Square is especially famous because of the several classical buildings located on the square, which were built during the first half of the 20th century by the Japanese.

Zhongshan Square (Image Credit: jianshu.com)

Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: the whole day
Address: 552 Zhongshan Road, Zhongshan District, Dalian
How to get there: There are many buses to the Zhongshan Square, including Buses No. 7, 15, 16, 19, 23, 30, 405, 409, 701, 703, 706, 707, 708, 710 and 801.

No. 8: Dalian Natural History Museum

Dalian Natural History Museum is a leading natural museum in China. It displays fossils, animals and plants from western Liaoning area and other various places in the world.

The museum is a modern European-style building located in the seaside. The exhibition hall is mainly divided into four floors, with 12 theme exhibition halls, including earth, dinosaurs, Marine life, northeast forest animals, wetlands, species diversity, and western Liaoning paleontological fossils. The museum houses nearly 200,000 specimens, featuring Marine specimens and fossils.

Dalian Natural History Museum (Image Credit: you.ctrip.com)

Entrance Fee: free
Address: No. 40, Heishijiao Xicun Street, Shahekou District, Dalian (west of Xinghai Park)
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 16:30 ( closed on Monday)

No. 9 Russian Style Street 俄罗斯风情街

Russian Style Street is the oldest street in Dalian. The street comprises eight renovated Russian era buildings and six new buildings were constructed according to the given “Russian façades” to match the street’s theme. 

The old Russian buildings on both sides of this street were built more than 100 years ago, and they are still intact today. Walking all the way through the street, you feels like being in a European city street. Tourists who like to photograph old buildings should not miss it.

Russian Style Street (Image Credit: miniimg.eastday.com)

Address: 19 Tuanjie Street, Xigang District, Dalian
Opening Hours: the whole day
Entrance Fee: free

No.10 Japan- Russian Prison Site Museum 日俄监狱旧址博物馆

The former site of the Japan-Russia Prison is a historical attraction in Lushun, Dalian. The Japane-Russia Prison was originally built in 1902 by the Czarist Russia, and was expanded by the Japanese after the Russo-Japanese War.

This was the place the Japanese invaders imprisoned and mutilated Chinese patriots and international anti-war activists. Here you can see the complete and huge prison facilities, including cells, torture facilities and so on, to remind the history of humiliation, but also to remind the people not to forget the national humiliation.

The former site of the Japan-Russia Prison

Between 1942 and 1945 alone, more than 700 people were hanged and tortured to death here, so this hell on earth has become known as the “Auschwitz of the East”.

Address: No. 139, Xiangyang Street, Lushun District, Dalian
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours : 9-16:30 (closed on Monday

Tip:  Hassle-free Northeast China Escorted Tours

Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for Northeast China guided tours with English-speaking tour guides:

Dalian Tour
Dalian Cruise Port Day Tour
Dalian Car Rental with Driver
Dalian Tailor-Made Tour
Northeast China Tour

Harbin Tour
Harbin 3 Day Tour Package
Changchun Tour
Shenyang Tour
Dalian Tour
Dandong Tour
North Korea Tour
Northeast China Tour

Further Readings


Top Attractions in Northeast China
Top 10 Attractions in Harbin
Top 6 Things to Do in Heilongjiang
Top 10 Attractions in Shenyang
Top 10 Attractions in Dandong
Top 10 Attractions in Ji’an
Top 10 Attractions in Panjin
Top 10 Attractions in Dalian (Tips, Photos and Maps)

Best Time to Visit Harbin
Where to Stay in Harbin
Harbin West Railway Station
Top Things to Do in Winter in Harbin
Harbin Ice and Snow Happy Valley
Harbin Ice and Snow World
Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo
Harbin Winter Swimming
Madieer Popsicles in Harbin
Harbin Jihua Ski Resort
Suan Cai Jiaozi – New Year’s Soul in Dongbei
What to see in Harbin, things to do in Harbin

Yabuli Ski Resort

China Snow Town
Scenic Drive from Harbin to China Snow Town

Shuttle Bus from Harbin to China Snow Town
Harbin – Yabuli – China Snow Town Shuttle Bus
Sunrise Glow over China Snow Village
Night View of China Snow Village

Qiqihar Taxi: Qiqihar Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Mudanjiang Taxi: Mudanjiang Taxi Fares, Tips and phones
Harbin Taxi: Harbin Taxi Fares, Tips and Phone
Yanji Taxi: Yanji Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Jilin Taxi: Jilin Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Changchun Taxi: Changchun Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Dandong Taxi: Dandong Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Shenyang Taxi: Shenyang Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones

Any questions, just drop a line.



When is the best time to visit Dalian?

Monday, August 16th, 2021
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Plan your Dalian Tour? Dalian, which has gained the name “Hong Kong of Northern China”, is a young city located at the tip of China’s Liaodong Peninsular. Dalian is a very popular destination among Chinese tourists and foreign visitors.

The four seasons of Dalian are distinct with neither extremely cold weather in winter nor extremely hot weather in summer.

When planning a trip to Dalian, one of the frequently asked questions is “When is the best time to visit Dalian?” The best time for traveling Dalian is from May to September in each year when the weather is comfortable.

If not putting the weather into a consideration, then there is no good or bad time to tour Dalian. Every season has its own feature. Check out below to have some information on each season:

Dalian in Spring (March – May)

Spring in Dalian begins in Early March. Springtime is also a nice season to visit Dalian although it’s a little more prone to rain. Spring in Dalian is a season of recovery. The flowers and trees are in blossom.

If you visit Dalian in April, don’t miss the Cherry Blossom Festival in Longwangtang Reservoir at Lvshun of Dalian.

 Cherry Blossom Festival in Longwangtang Reservoir
Cherry Blossom Festival in Longwangtang Reservoir

Dalian in Summer (June, July and August)

Summer in Dalian is not that hot. The number of day that highest temperature surpasses 30℃ is only 12 or so. For tourists who like eating seafood, July and August are not the good time. because the sea is closed at this time.

But for tourists who like jumping into the Xinghai Bay Beach or Golden Pebble Beach to have a bath, enjoying the cool overwhelming, it’s just in time. Unfortunately, since Dalian is a port city, it is sometimes plagued by monsoon in summer.

Important notice: from July to August, there is a yearly beer festival known as Dalian International Beer Festival that is held at Xinhai Square.  Don’t miss the festival to drink like a fish!

Dalian International Beer Festival
Dalian International Beer Festival

Dalian in Autumn (Sep, Oct and Nov)

Autumn is the best season to visit Dalian. The seawater is cool and the crowds are faded in September of Dalian, but the beauty of Dalian doesn’t gone together with the weather and crowds.

Fall is the best time to have seafood. The International Fashion Festival is held in the fall.

Important notice: the world famous Dalian International Fashion Festival will be held at the Xinhai Square Exhibition Center in late September every year.  This festival is often nicknamed as a  fashion Carnival.

Dalian International Fashion Festival
Dalian International Fashion Festival

Dalian in Winter (Dec, Jan and Feb)

Winter in Dalian can be very cold and wet, but not nearly as bad as those seen in nearby cities further inland such as in Shenyang.

January is the coldest with an average temperature of minus 5℃.  As it becomes cold, the Ice Lanterns Festival in Bingyugou begins, and the hunting in hunting ground of Jinshitan is also welcome.

Ice Lanterns Festival in Bingyugou
Ice Lanterns Festival in Bingyugou

Tip:  Hassle-free Dalian Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Dalian:

Dalian Tour
Dalian Cruise Port Day Tour
Dalian Car Rental with Driver
Dalian Tailor-Made Tour
Northeast China Tour

Further Readings


Top 10 Attractions in Dalian
When is the best time to visit Dalian
Dalian Taxi

Dalian Taxi: Dalian Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones

Monday, August 16th, 2021
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Plan your Dalian Tour? Basically it is covenient to taxi around Dalian given the present taxi numbers in Dalian. But You still feel not easy to hail a taxi during the rush hours. If you are going to catch flight or train, upfront booking is highly recommended.

If you want to rent a car with driver to travel around Dalian, you may check out the link: Dalian Car Rental.

Taxi Models in Dalian

Traveling around Dalian, travelers will find that most of the taxis here are Zhonghua, Santana, Red Flag and Jetta…

Dalian Taxi Fares:

• RMB8 for the first 3km
• RMB2 per additional km.
Rates for the night service from 22:00-05:00 are 30% higher
•RMB10.4 for the first 3km
• RMB2.34 per additional km

Dalian Taxi Company Bookings

If you need to book a taxi, please make the call as following:
Tel:0411 – 96826
Hailing a Dalian City Taxi
•The best places to hail a taxi is airport, train stations, scenic spots, hotels.
•It is very easy to hail a taxi on the streets. People prefer to hail a taxi near a bus stop instead of those taxi stands.

Dalian Taxi rider’s rights

As a taxi rider, you have the rights below:
Direct drive to your destination and no compulsory car pooling
Go to any destination in and beyond Dalian
Your car driver knows the streets in Dalian and the way to major destinations in Dalian;
Your driver should know and abide by all traffic laws;
Air-conditioning on demand;
A radio-free trip;
No Smoking
A clean passenger seat area;
A clean trunk
A driver uses the horn only when necessary to warn of danger;
No Tipping

Dalian Taxi Stands

With the development of infrastructure , the taxi stands will be all over the streets. Right now, lots of the residents are used to hail taxi along the street as long as it is safe and convenient..

Dalian Taxi Complaints

If you have any problem with a taxi in Dalian, please contact the following:
•Dalian Taxi Complaining No.: 0411-83638119

Dalian Taxi Useful Information

•Using a meter instead of bargaining with the cab driver
• The Pearl Card (Ming Zhu Ka) is a public transportation IC card. Some taxis accept this kind of IC card as a way of payment.
• The taxi drivers in Dalian have a good reputation for their hospitableness and trustworthiness – they are very kind to foreign visitors.
•Dalian Airport –Dalian Railway Station: RMB20-25 at daytime; RMB25-30 at night.
•Dalian Airport-Hotels in Downtown: around RMB40
•Dalian Airport-Dalian Downtown: RMB50 Dalian Cruise Port – Downtown Dalian RMB10

Tip:  Hassle-free Dalian Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Dalian:

Dalian Tour
Dalian Cruise Port Day Tour
Dalian Car Rental with Driver
Dalian Tailor-Made Tour
Northeast China Tour

Further Readings


Top 10 Attractions in Dalian
When is the best time to visit Dalian
Dalian Taxi