Things to do & places to visit in Dalian, Liaoning, China

Dalian city in Liaoning, China. Timezone: Asia/Shanghai, current date and time: Wednesday, May 08, 2024, 5:15.

Dalian Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

62°F - 54°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Moderately chilly and breezy

Feels like

18%

Chance of rain

82.0 millimeters

Amount

16.8 mph

Wind speed

62%

Humidity

14.3

Daylight length

4:42 AM

Sunrise

6:57 PM

Sunset

57%

Cloud cover

Sweater

What to wear

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

4.5 Xinghai Square (839 reviews)
- The trip in Dalian during the winter vacation.
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

We went to the square during the Spring Festival.By my father's invitations and luckily, I had a amazing expereience in the Dalian city. The view was definitely awesome.There was a lot of things to do. We really did enjoyed the afternoon.To my surprise, we saw the seagulls beyond the beach,which was a very beatiful scene.We join in the crowds of people and we took a lots of photos. The place is absolutely a must-going on your travel list. As for supper,we had excellent Dalian seafood. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the food was georgeous.The seafood dumplings were really delicious which is beyond my expectation. But I think it might be a little expensive for 48 dollars (each prson)for a meal even though the dishes were served in high quality. But all in all, we had a great day though.I'd like to give a positive rating to the one of the greatest square in China. See more..
4.5 Dalian Forest Zoo (414 reviews)
- Wear some good walking shoes - this is a BIG zoo!
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Zoos

There are so many different animals and their enclosures are awesome! Of course the Panda exhibit is always very crowded. Bring good walking shoes. This day I walked over 10 miles just in the zoo alone and I'm not sure I saw everything. Plan for a full day. This is not a quick excursion. You want to see it all because it's awesome. See more..
4.5 Ji Di Guan - Pole Aquarium. (311 reviews)
- Good Dolphin Show
Aquariums

The aquarium offers many attractions including a dolphin show, polar bears, seals, penguins, etc. I though the price was a bit high for what the park offers. It is worth a visit. See more..
4.5 Binhai Road (229 reviews)
- Scenic drive
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Scenic Drives

We enjoyed our sightseeing along this winding road. It is nice to see how the people live in the area, the crops they grow, and the peaceful lives they live. See more..
4.5 Dalian Laohutan Square (123 reviews)
- Sculptures are worth the visit
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Neighborhoods

Binhai Road is very long and a little complicated to find the attractions but well worth the visit. The Tiger sculpture is impressive, when you read about the quantity of materails used to construct it. Opposite is the Bird Park which meanders up the mountain along the waterfall and it also worth visiting. There are many free ranging birds and you can feed them. Because of this, they make for good photo opportunities.The area is tree covered so can be chilly if the weather is cool or raining, so take a jacket along. Wear walking shoes. There is a curio shop which seems expensive but did have some interesting items. Just outside the Bird Park is a quaint coffee shop with a bird theme. See more..
4.5 Bangchuidao Island (114 reviews)
- Bangchuidao Island & Dalian seaside view
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Walking Areas • Islands • Beach & Pool Clubs

Good seaside views. Water was on the chilly side for me, and the beach rocky. Very good for a day-trip outing. See more..
4.5 Grand Black Mountain of Dalian (112 reviews)
- Great Destination
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Mountains

It is my favourite place to go in Dalian area. There are two most common ways to get to the top. One is to take stairs to the temple, second is to take a road from the village few hundred metres further up the road Both cost 10yuan for car park and both cost 20yuan at the gate. However, the stairs close after 6pm while the road becomes free of charge in the night. You cannot drive to the top without permission. The views from top are amazing and you can see both Bohai Sea and Yellow sea. It takes about 1h45min to get to the top. The views especially during night are amazing. See more..
4.5 Haizhiyun Park (75 reviews)
- This place is so cool!
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Parks

I wish there were translations of what the saying were on all the various monuments - but it was a very cool place to see. See more..
4.5 Dalian West Forest Park (51 reviews)
- Scenic beauty
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Parks • Forests

I find the root system of some of the trees ton be very fascinating. Nice walking, hiking, jogging, and biking trails. See more..
4.5 Lushun East Jiguan Mountain (35 reviews)
- Historical place
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Mountains

If you are interested in history (Chinese - Japanese), where the Japanese lynched the entire city... See more..
4.5 Dalian Coast National Geological Park (27 reviews)
- Fabulous
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM National Parks • Geologic Formations

This area covers only about a city block but I could have stayed for hours. A great spot for photos and for kids and adults alike. Majestic rock formations with a pond and crevices and caves to explore. The very small price of admission was well worth it!! See more..
4.0 Laohutan Scenic Park (535 reviews)
- Great place to take young kids
Wednesday: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Parks

This 295 acre park is actually a collection of four attractions: Tiger Park, Singing Birds Woods, Tiger Square and an Aquarium. See more..
4.0 Dalian Zhongshan Square (371 reviews)
- Cool Architecture
Parks

The Zhongshan Square is surrounded by some architecturally interesting buildings. Some of the tallest and most brightly lit towers are around this square as well. There are quite a few restaurants nearby and it is conveniently located. The square is not too large so plan to spend less than an hour here and maybe a little longer walking around. Zhongshan Square metro station is here and exit B will get you right into the square but be careful if you want to cross the road as traffic is quite chaotic here. Exit B1 will get you on the outer sidewalk of the square. See more..
4.0 Jinshitan Scenic Area (248 reviews)
- Jishitan Beach: Renewed And Developed
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Beaches

Jinshitan Beach has changed enormously and grown in popularity. For the past seven years, I had the pool on the beach to myself, pretty much. Now there are thousands of visitors on the beach. It's still not crowded. And it's still incredibly clean. Lots of attractions have been added: jetskis, paddleboards, swimming areas, boating areas, speed boats, cruise boats, etc. There are restaurants and snack bars right on the beach and across the road in a new mall, too. Millions have been invested in this seaside location and the money was not wasted. The development is creative and the result is dynamic. There are secluded beaches nearby, if that's what you're looking for. If you want to hit a big beach that has become trendy and popular, head for Dalian and then go to Jinshitan Beach. You're gonna love it! See more..
4.0 Sun Asia Ocean World And Polar World (226 reviews)
- Curiosity is good!
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Aquariums

It is interesting to see the variety of aquatic life including plants and animals they have on display. See more..
4.0 Xinghai Park (206 reviews)
- Cool
Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Parks

Nice place but overrated. It is a central square in Dalian with a lot going on around the place. Good to see once. See more..
4.0 Labor Park (205 reviews)
- Chilling out in the fragrant air
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Parks

We came to the the large city-center park for relaxing, unhurried photo taking against the parks varied natural backdrops. It is a clean well-maintained park. See more..
4.0 Dalian People Square (193 reviews)
- 30 Apr 2018 & 3 Dec 2018 visits
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas

Very nice square overall! The municipal government building is here located behind the central garden! In spring flowers blossom and it’s beautiful to see bees and dragonflies there flying. Winter though it’s barren but ok. It rained a lot in December. Since it’s a square, you can expect to find old aunties dancing there in the evening mostly. Moreover, children also fly kites there with their parents! Great place to hang out See more..
4.0 Victory Square (153 reviews)
- Renovated, Clean, Good Lighting
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Victory Square is now a clean, wee-lighted, place. The underground shopping mall is famous for its maze of small shops in Dalian. It has been renovated over the past few years so now it looks like a new mall, in mant places, with new shops and a fresh look. See more..
4.0 Japan-Russia Prison Site of Port Arthur (112 reviews)
- You really needs to visit here.
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites

I didn't mean to but got happened to visit this place on 15th, August, which was the day Japanese surrendered. It made my visit more meaningful and unforgettable. When i looked around the prison inside out, I couldn't help feeling anger and sadness. Many of my ancestors not only got a deathh penalty here, but also got literally killed at this place, on the day before 15th, August. This was such a tragedy that happened in human history, and more tragic thing is that there has not been an apology about it and less and less people remember it over time. For me it was really worth a visit. I was proud that many of my ancestors did not give up our independence in spite of 35 years under Japanese. Thankfully I realized that I am living in the period what they dreamed of, which i did not realize before. I wrote my review in English because i want to share my feelings and thoughts for this place with more people around the world. and hope you can visit here somday in your life. See more..
4.0 Houshi Mountain (103 reviews)
- The best cherry blossoms in China
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Mountains

This is the most famous cherry tree site in Dalian and North-east China. The cherry blossoms I saw were simialr to those I saw earlier this year in East Lake of Wuhan and the major difference is that in East Lake the blossoms were dark pink and those in 203 Highlnad were mostly drak pink but there were also trees with white blossoms and others with white and shallow pink blossoms. The intermingling of blossoms with all 3 different colours within a very short distance made very good subjects of cherry blossom photos indeed. Relatively speaking cherry trees in 203 Highlnad and Eats Lake are much shorter and smaller than those in South Korea even though looking at the blossoms themselves (but not the overall tree looks and shapes and the imposing landscape with rows of cherry trees from a distnace away) I do feel the cherry blossoms in 203 Highland are the best and faultless. I do not like about the layout of cherry trees in 203 Highland in that the site gives you more a feeling of a cherry plantation than a beautiful site with magnificebnt landscape. That appears to have something to do with the historic background as to why the Japanese planted cherry trees there in the first place during the era of Japanese occupation. I hope to see that some day the relevant authorities will improve the facilites, design, layout, etc of 203 Highland to make it an even better world-class cherry blossom viewing site. Though people keep repeating the history that the cherry trees were planted by the Japanese with seeds and budding trees from Japan, many people including modern visitors who pay a lot for viewing cherry blossoms in Japan do not know that China is a nation where cherry trees were native plants but Japan is just a nation where cherry trees were shifted from China for plantation in the first place. See more..
4.0 Dalian Natural History Museum (82 reviews)
- Interesting if you are fan of natural history
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Natural History Museums

This place is nice to visit either when you are fan of natural history or if it is too hot outside and you want to spend couple hours. Take metro line 1 to Heishijiao station and than take bus 523 to the terminal station - Natural history museum. Museum is free, you should show your passport at entry. Nice exhibition of marine mammals, fishes, as well as small exhibition of dinosaur. Most of the labels are in English. Museum is not too large, you can spend 1-2 hours in there. There is also a small area for kids when they can play. See more..
4.0 Baiyu Hill (Baiyushan) (75 reviews)
- Nice views from the top of the hill
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Mountains • Historic Walking Areas

On a good day, you could see the view of Lushun. You could either take the cable car to climb to the top or walk up the stairs to the viewing platform. At the platform, there is a tower/lighthouse where you can enter with a fee of 60 yuan to have a better view. See more..
4.0 Lushun Museum (71 reviews)
- Pitty not many Chinese and expats in Dalian visit this place.
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Speciality Museums

An excellent museum in two 1915-style buildings constructed by the Japanese during their occupation of Manchuria. One building houses a brilliantly displayed range of Chinese and other Asian ceramics and the famous mummies from Central Asia collected by the brilliant Otani Kozui. Two of the six mummies of the Otani Collection are here. Also worth looking at are the jade and cloisone collections. The other building contains a very good display on the local area and one on the Silk Road - However few of the labels are in good English. See more..
4.0 Port Athur (66 reviews)
- Nice beach area
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bodies of Water

Nice place to stroll. It takes approximately 15 minutes to walk from one end to the other. There are a few canons on the site. Not worth to walk into the souvenir shops. The history of the place is all written in Chinese along the area. See more..
4.0 Dalian Modern Museum (44 reviews)
- best museum in Dalian
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Speciality Museums • History Museums

I have been there a couple of times and always something new and fresh. The entrance is free and although everything is in Chinese but still there is a lot about past and present Dalian. See more..
4.0 Lushun (Port Arthur) (33 reviews)
- Historical
Military Museums • Historic Sites

The place has a historical value for locals & there is barely any development in the area with old houses & fisherman village lifestyle. See more..
3.5 Dalian Train Station (171 reviews)
- Inexpensive, reliable, fast, & efficient train service
Public Transportation Systems

We arrived by train. The trains we saw at the station seemed relatively new, and the station looked good. We found the service to be friendly, reliable (leaving and arriving exactly on schedule), efficient and fast. It can be a challenge to buy tickets if you can’t speak Chinese. See more..
3.5 Japanese Style Street of Dalian (107 reviews)
- A nice photoshoot place
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

Many European architectures in this vicinity. Many couples come here to take wedding photos. If you like old buildings, this is a place for your to visit See more..
3.5 Friendship Square (92 reviews)
- Nice
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Parks

Better visit in the evening when the huge ball lights up.Many shopping malls and restaurants nearby.One surprising restaurant is the KFC in a church-like building. See more..