Dalian(1187 views)

Release date:2009-10-09 16:06:43

Dalian lies snugly on the Liaodong Peninsula in Liaoning province, surrounded by the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea. North Korea lies on the east, just across the Korea Bay. The most modern city in relatively rural northeast China, Dalian is well-connected to many major Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing. There are even weekly ferries plying the route to Incheon in Korea as well.

The beaches of Dalian are its main attraction, with scores of both local and foreign visitors thronging the shore. In summer, endless rows of brightly coloured umbrellas streak across the peppery sands, celebrating the simple joy of relaxing by the sea. Jinshitan (Golden Stone Beach) remains one of the nearest beaches from the city, located just 60km north. Other popular destinations include Fujiazhuang Beach at the south (a five-hour ride away) and Bangchuidao Beach at the east. For non-swimmers who just want a natural view, Tiger Beach Park (Laohutan Leyuan) provides a good vantage point for crashing waves and jagged cliffs.

When the weather gets too hot, go shopping at one of the many malls. Tianjin Street Market along Changjiang Road is a fine example of an authentic night market, while New-Mart Shopping Mall near Zhongshan Road provides air-conditioned comfort as you browse through the levels of shops. An underground mall also lies beneath Triumph Plaza, near Dalian Train Station. Despite the level of development in Dalian, it still retains its distinctive 20th century architecture in certain buildings and maintains considerably large patches of greenery in its city parks.

Many locals gather at Zhongshan Square at night, making it the perfect venue for basking in its lively ambience. The Centre of the city, Zhongshan Square has ten major roads radiating from its roundabout. This makes it a good point to navigate from the train station.

Being a modern city, Dalian has many eateries spanning a range of cuisines to whet your appetite. For a taste of the sea, try Tian Tian Yu Gang, a chain of seafood restaurants that offers fresh catches from the many tanks on display. Otherwise, heading for any local eatery would not let you go far wrong.

South of Dalian lies a mysterious area, Lushun. Occupying the tip of the peninsula, it is out of bounds to foreigners due to its status as a military zone. Other than that, the rest of the seaside city of Dalian is ripe for exploring.

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