Tours

Dalian's mix of past and present, urban and rural offer visitors a dilemma. With so many things to see and do, it is difficult to decide what to explore first. The beaches or the surrounding mountains? The hectic downtown or the slower paced but equally fascinating outer parts of town? With world-class shopping and dining options interspersed with 24 public squares and 70 gardens, Dalian is known as China's "Hong Kong of the north" yet the trams and hills lend it comparisons to San Francisco. Come discover yourself just how many places in the world are reflected in Dalian.

To ease traffic congestion and cut down on lost tourists, the city operates three special tour bus routes that go to most of Dalian's major attractions. The 801 starts at Victory Square and makes a loop that includes Laohutan Park, Fujiazhuang and Xinghai. The 801(B) route starts at the Passenger Port and loops through Heishijiao Street, Xinghai Park, Heping Square, Olympic Square, Renmin Square, the Railway Station, Zhongshan Square and the Furama Hotel. The 901 bus starts at Xinxin Villa and covers the southwest part of the city up to Youhao (Friendship) Square. The tour buses are an affordable way to see the main sites if one is strapped for time yet eager to experience Dalian's full spectrum of allurements. The tours last about two hours. Exact change (CNY2-5) is required for each leg of the tour.

DOWNTOWN

If you prefer to explore on your own, Shengli (Victory) Square serves as a prime starting point. Located directly across from the rail station it is Dalian's version of Tianamen Square and serves as downtown's main landmark. Try to visit at dawn and catch hundreds of people practicing tai chi or limbering up to practice ballroom dancing. Depending on your interests, you can either venture a few blocks north and visit Dalian's Natural History Museum and massive harbor area, or turn east down Zhongshan Road to Zhongshan Square, the city's predominant square. Colonial-style buildings built in the early 1900s surround the square creating a regal aura. Many of the scenes from the film "The Last Emperor" were shot here. Some of Dalian's trendiest boutiques and restaurants surround this square.

From here you can easily find Dalian's famous Russian Street. Nineteenth Century Russian architecture lines both sides of the street and Russian acrobats and musicians add to the authenticity. This is a good street to find foreign restaurants and shops selling European goods.

If a break from the city is needed, head 10 minutes south on Jiefang Lu to Tiger Beach Park. Or for a more secluded beach setting ramble four kilometers (2.5 miles) west on scenic Binhai Road to Fujiazhuang Park. In addition to sunbathing there is also hiking, fishing and golfing.

Xinghai

Amble southwest down Zhongshan Road to Xinghai Square, China's biggest public square at 45,000 square meters (480,000 square feet). The square was built to commemorate Hong Kong's return to China in 1997. The star-shaped center is only one of the things to see here. Other attractions include the 1,000 pairs of footprints of the citizens of Dalian as well as plenty of sculptures and statues. The square leads down to the sandy shores of the Yellow Sea and Xinghai Bay where there is a beach, shops and plenty to eat. Nearby Sun Asia Ocean World is one of China's best aquariums. It was one of the first aquariums to feature an underwater tube for visitors to explore the bay without getting wet. After wards head for the nearby Museum of Prehistoric Life to cool off between exhibits from pre-civilization China.

Lushun

This harbor-town is steeped in its colonial past. Its streets display an architectural mosaic of Russian, Japanese, and European styles shedding insight on to Lushun's turbulent past when nations fought over access to its ice-free harbor. The Lushun Railway Station rates as Lushun's greatest architectural wonder. Built by Russia in 1898 as the last stop on South-Manchuria Railway, its elliptical roof is protected as a national historical relic. For an inspiring view of Lushun go up Baiyu Hill. Located on the north bank of Lushun Bay, you can hike, drive, or ride a tram to the top. Or for something with a more historical bent wander up Monkey Stone Hill. Its summit houses the Soviet Army Tomb, underscoring Lushun's strategic significance during both the Sino-Japan and Russia-Japan wars.

Lushun also serves as the perfect exit point to the many islands that freckle the area's coast. She Dao, located in the Bohai Sea, is one of the more famous islands. Towering cliffs and a snake population of over 13,000 shrouds it with mystique. Boats to the Changshan Archipelago can be hired here.