The largest port in Liaoning Province of northern China, Dalian is a cosmopolitan city with a recent but noteworthy history. Its blessings of nature such as a mild climate, a picturesque coastline and alluring seascapes offer a haven for lovers of the sun, sea, and sand. Its unique karst formations complement this beauty offering rugged charm to the area. Explore many other reasons why so many visitors are attracted to this charming city.

Dalian has been inhabited as far back as 221BC according to historical records and had been a strategically important location due to its proximity to the sea. It provided an entry point to China and acted as the Chinese city to safeguard the capital Beijing during the 19th century. Dalian was free of foreign occupation at the end of WW II in 1945. The maritime port of Dalian was created thereafter, and it became an important shipbuilding centre. Unlike other ancient cities of China like Beijing Dalian’s history is recent due to these factors.

Therefore, having started with humble beginnings as a small fishing village, Dalian has grown and matured into a major maritime port as well as a burgeoning cosmopolitan city with many other industries and attractions. Its tremendous development has made Dalian a centre for trading and finance in Northeastern Asia drawing visitors from all over the world for business and to discover more of this fine Chinese city whilst using different types of Dalian accommodation.

Dalian Liaoning China Shell-Museum | Image via Wikimedia Commons

This square covers a massive area and is considered much bigger than the famous Tiananmen Square in Beijing and the largest city square in the world covering 1.1 million sq m. Modelled similarly to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the centre of the square carries 999 pieces of red marble carrying various Chinese symbols including the zodiac signs. Visitors are fascinated not only by the sheer size and the labour involved in completing the square, but they also love to see the musical fountain here which is the largest one of its kind in Northeast China.

Close to the square is the Shell Museum, designed by Tsinghua University resembling a shell. This futuristic venue exhibits over 5,000 different varieties of shells from around the world and attempts to have the exhibits current.

One of the best features of Dalian is Golden Pebble Beach, just a short drive of 45 minutes from hotels such as Somerset Grand Central Dalian, this is a picturesque beach with a fine shore with pristine white sand, clear waters, and lovely cliffs. Note the karst formations washed so constantly by the waters of the sea taking different forms and earning names like, turtle-shell rocks, dinosaurs swallowing the sea etc. Due to these formations, this beach is also called the Marvellous Sculpture Park. It’s not surprising to see locals and visitors enjoying this sea, lazing around, swimming, boat rides etc.

Dalian is famous for its exciting festivals, and visitors plan to be in Dalian to visit some of these beautiful, engaging, and educational festivities. Find the more notable ones,

Dalian Spring Fireworks Festival – Early January

Dalian Chinese Scholar Tree Blossom Affairs – Mid-May or later

Dalian International Beer Festival – From late July or August and usually lasts a month

Dalian International Fashion Festival – September

Dalian International Marathon – Last Sunday of October

Dalian International Skiing and Hot Spring Festival – December

Various industries are flourishing in Dalian out of which the IT industry is one of the best. Dalian is the hub of outsourcing and IT industries with many globally reputed firms being present.

Starting on a small scale about a decade ago, the industry has grown to cover 7 massive business parks in the city with about 70,000 people being employed in about 700 companies’ half of which are foreign-owned. The mature port city has diversified much, and this is just one example of the industrious mindset of Dalian which fascinates visitors.