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Facts
Phone Code: 0411
Postal Code: 116000
Area: 13,237 Sq km (5110.8 Sq miles)
Population: 6,690,432 (in 2010)
Nationalities: Han
Neighboring Areas: Jilin and Hebei Provinces; Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Location: Located at the east coast of the Eurasian Continent, Dalian is at the southernmost point of Liaodong Peninsula, with the Yellow Sea to its east and the Bohai Sea to its west.
Physical Features: Sitting on mountains and hills, Dalian is high and wide in the north, low and narrow in the south. Its terrain leans from inland down to the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea in the southeast and northwest, with the Qianshan Mountains winding through. There are some plains and low lands distributed at the influx of the river into the sea and between the mountains. Karst and marine abrasion landforms are also common.
History: The history can trace back to the Bronze Age over 6,000 years ago, with the Dazuizi Site excavation as proof. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476BC), Duke Huan of Qi moved groups of people to Dalian to develop the local productive forces, which caused the commerce and handicrafts to develop rapidly. Later, King Zhao of the Yan State of the Warring State Period (476 - 221BC) set up Liaodong Shire at Dalian. After that, the social economy was under development for along time, and the Closing-Door Policy of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in northeast China even made it a sparsely inhabited area. In 1987, Russian designers, carrying the city construction drawings of Paris, went to Dalian and built the city with squares predominating.
Attractions: Enjoying the fame as ‘Pearl of North China’, Dalian has more than 80 squares of all sizes, including Zhongshan Square, Youhao Square, Xinghai Square, Renmin Square and Olympic Square. There is also a Russian-flavor Street in the city where 18th and 19th century Russian-style buildings line both sides. Along the zigzag coast are distributed scenic spots such as Jinshitan Scenic Area, Bangchuidao Scenic Area, Xinghai Park and Laohutan Ocean Park. Lushun (Port Arthur), in the west end of the city and the south edge of the Liaodong Peninsula, is an important heritage site under state protection for its historic and natural attractions such as Russo-Japanese War Site on East Crest Hill, Lushun Museum, Cemetery of Soviet Martyrs, the Garden of Lions and Tigers, the Island of Snakes and the Bird Station. The local government planted groups of maple trees in Xiajiahe Seaside Park to build a red maple scenic pot. Additionally, Discoveryland, a large theme park, built a 40-meter-high (131.2 feet) and 900-meter-long (984.2 yards) roller-coaster whose height and length both rank the first in Asia. For clothing lovers, the annual International Fashion Festival in September shouldn't be missed.
Transportation: As one of the 14 open coastal cities in China, Dalian is an important international shipping and distribution center in northeast China, with a developed transport system of air, railway, sea and road.
Air: Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport has opened a total of 121 air routes to 89 domestic and foreign cities. Buses no. 516, 532, 610, 701, 710 just run between the airport and the downtown area, at a cost of CNY1 and duration of 40 minutes. Taxis are usually waiting on the right side of the airport’s entry gate.
Train: Dalian Railway Station, the terminal of Harbin-Dalian railway, is located at Qingniwa Bridge in the downtown. In addition to the areas in northeast China, trains from this station also run to Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and other large and medium sized Chinese cities. At the same time, there are special tourism trains from this station to Beijing, Shenyang, Harbin and Changchun.
Ship: There are 5 passenger ports in the city – Dalian Port serving ships to Yantai, Weihai and Inchon, Dalian Xianglujiao Port with ferries to Yantai, Pikou Port for ferries to the islands in Changhai County, Dalian Bay Xingang Port with ferries to Yantai, and Lushun New Port for ferries to some costal cities along the Bohai Sea such as Penglai, Dongying and Longkou.
Bus: There are 5 major long-distance bus stations in the city. Jianshe Street Bus Station and Gangwanqiao Bus Station mainly operate buses to the areas outside Dalian. Liujiaqiao Bus Station and Heishijiao Bus Station’s buses mostly head for Lushun. Buses from Beigangqiao Station are to Lushun and other towns and cities within Liaoning Province. Visitors can just make a self-guided tour by public buses which cover almost all of the scenic spots in and nearby the city. There are also two double-decked sightseeing buses specially operated for the convenience of visitors. The bus fare is generally CNY1 or CNY2 one way.
Taxi: The minimum fare of the taxis is CNY8. After 3 km (1.9 miles), an additional fare of CNY2 per km will be charged.
Weather: Most visitors go to the city to escape the heat in the cool sea water, so the peak visiting time is in summer from May to September. However, for seafood lovers, try to avoid July and August, since it is the sea-closing period.
Dining and Shopping
Neighboring the sea, the city is productive of fish, shrimps, crabs seaweeds and other seafood, so most dishes are made of seafood. The famous dishes are Hong Kao Quan Xia (Grilled Whole Shrimps), Qing Zheng Jia Ji Yu (Steamed Red Porgy), Wu Cai Xue Hua Shan Bei (Steamed Scallops and Vermicelli with Garlic) and Dalian Shrimp Sauce. There are countless dining areas in the city, of which the most famous seafood restaurants are Tiantian Fishing Port, Wanbao Seafood Restaurant, Fuge Seafood Restaurant, Zhongshanyuan Baochi Dunpin Dian and Maji Seafood Restaurant. Local snacks and popular restaurants, such as Shengli Square underground and Bayi Road Food Street, are mainly located near to Dalian Railway Station. Barbeque in the city, like the characteristic Squid Grilled on a Sizzling Iron Plate, is also popular. The Barbeque Street in front of Dalian Railway Station Square is a good place to taste the authentic barbeque.
When shopping in the city, seafood, fruits, handicrafts and clothing should be your first choice, including the 'Eight Sea Treasures' (abalone, sea cucumber, scallop, clam, prawn, crab, blood clam and oyster), apples, hawthorn fruit, yellow peaches and shell carvings. The main shopping areas are Dalian Pedestrian Shopping Street infont of Dalian Railway Station, Qingniwa Bridge, Xian Road, Heping Square and People’s Road.
