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Dalian is one of those rare cities that have the look of a major metropolitan hub, but the mindset of an island resort. Its fringe of sea and mountains surrounds it with enough geographical awe-areas to produce nine months worth of programming for the Discovery Channel. Sunbathing, fishing, boating, hiking and camping are all within minutes from downtown. Urban fun options abound too, and include Grade A museums, swanky nightclubs, and major festivals. Boredom, as all first-time visitors quickly learn, has no relevance in Dalian.
Festivals in Dalian are few in number but massive in scope. The Chinese New Year (fluctuates between January and February) rates as one of the area’s biggest happenings. Streets get jammed with dragon dancers and the skies explode with fireworks. The Acacia Flower Festival (late May) is one long human applause break to the joys of summer. The annual International Fashion Festival (September) attracts the world’s top models, designers, musicians, and artists, transforming Dalian into a temporary Asian version of the French Riviera.
Dalian’s wealth of beaches makes summer its main season of human enticement. Tiger Beach, located just southeast of the city in the aptly named Tiger Beach Park along the shores of Laohutan Bay, is excessively popular. In addition to sand, it also offers dining, shopping, and access to China’s largest aquarium. The beach at Fujiazhuang Park, the fourth largest beach in the area, is only five kilometers from downtown. Besides shore-fun, there is also hiking and golfing. Golden Pebble Beach, another favorite, is spiced with a strange mix of weird rock formations. And Star Sea Bathing Beach, the largest man-made beach in China, is massive in size and massive with people.
City-escape options fan the surrounding mountains. The Jinzhou District’s Daheishan Forest Park ranks as one of Mother Nature’s more creative efforts. More than 500 plant species glut this national park’s interior creating the ultimate setting for hiking and camping. Both White Cloud Mountain and Baiyu Hill feature the type of high mountain views that can cause calluses on the fingers from snapping so many pictures of the surrounding panoramic beauty. The Xianrendong National Natural Reserve ups the human awe-factor to new levels with caves and wild rock formations.
The more than 700 islands that hem the coast are all high in entertainment content. Birds Island looms three miles offshore and is extremely popular with bird watchers. Hundreds of different winged species pause in its craggy cliffs during migratory season. Sanshan Island is an immensely popular summer destination. Tiny villages along its rocky coast are full of maritime charm and always busy with beach parties and festivals. And the Changshan Archipelago in the North Yellow Sea consists of 112 islands full of secluded coves and reefs. Beach bonfire parties are common summer happenings.
If the body is in need of muscle-soothing relaxation, numerous hot springs offer the perfect bubble balm, including the Anbo Hot Springs. However, for it is extremely tourist heavy.
The Lushun Exhibition Hall offers a nice indoor alternative. Revered by locals as a huge symbol of cultural pride, this hall is packed with more than 30,000 artifacts including ancient Chinese paintings, sculptures, and Buddhist figurines. The Vangxin Crocodile Garden specializes in crocodiles from around the world. More than 400 of these ancient beasts wade in a replicated Tropical Rain Forest, giving visitors rare up-close access.
For something out of the normal the appropriately named Feel Flying Zip Cord Jump offers heart-thumping bungee jumping. Or take in a Dalian Shide soccer game if in season. Dalian prides itself as being known as China’s "soccer city." The Shide have won the national title six times in the last eight years so tickets to the games sell fast. If you cannot snare a ticket wander into Olympic Square and watch the game on large screen TV with hundreds of other soccer crazed fans.
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