Skip to main content
nihaovisit
DestinationsToolsVisa GuideContact
Check your visa
nihaovisit
DestinationsToolsVisa GuideContact
Check your visa

3-Day Dalian Itinerary

3-Day Dalian Itinerary

TL;DR — Three days in Dalian (大连) covers the city's three signature experiences: Xinghai Bay (星海湾), Laohutan Ocean Park (老虎滩海洋公园), and Bangchui Island (棒棰岛), plus a half-day Russian-era architecture walk. Dalian sits on the Liaodong Peninsula in northeast China; summers are warm but not hot (22–28°C), winters are cold (-5 to 5°C). Best months: June and September.

Day 1: Xinghai Square & Coastal Walk

Morning (09:00–12:30): Xinghai Bay

  • 09:00 — Metro Line 1 to Xinghai Square Station (星海广场站), exit A.
  • 09:30 — Xinghai Square (星海广场): the largest city square in Asia (1.76 million m²), built in 1999. The Centennial Sculpture (百年城雕) by edge of the sea is the photo spot.
  • 10:30 — Walk the Xinghai Bay seawall (星海湾跨海大桥观景台) for views of the Xinghai Bay Cross-Sea Bridge (星海湾跨海大桥) — China's first offshore land reclamation bridge, opened 2015.
  • 11:30 — Dalian World Expo Square (大连世界博览广场) if the rotating exhibition is on; otherwise head to lunch.

Lunch

  • 12:30 — Lunch at Lüshun (旅顺) restaurants on the square: try Dalian Menzi (大连焖子) (jellied mung-bean noodles, the local street food) and Seafood Hot Pot (海鲜火锅).

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Forest Zoo OR Sun Asia Ocean World

  • Option A — Dalian Forest Zoo (大连森林动物园), ¥120. Recommended if traveling with kids. Spread over 7 km², 200+ species, Panda Hall (熊猫馆). 3 hours.
  • Option B — Sun Asia Ocean World (圣亚海洋世界), ¥190. Recommended for rainy days. Indoor aquarium, 4 themed zones including a 118-m underwater tunnel.
  • 17:00 — Sunset at Binhai Road (滨海路), Dalian's 30-km coastal road. The "northern section" between Xinghai and Fujiazhuang is the most scenic.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Zhongshan Square (中山广场): try Salt Field Shrimp (盐田虾) and Dalian Grilled Squid (烤鱿鱼). ¥80–150/person.
  • 20:30 — Walk to Russian Street (俄罗斯风情街), 200 m of Russian-style buildings from the colonial era. Most shops close by 21:00 but the street itself is photogenic.

Day 2: Laohutan Ocean Park + Bangchui Island

Morning (08:30–13:00): Laohutan Ocean Park

  • 08:30 — Bus 2 or 4 from Zhongshan Square to Laohutan (老虎滩), 30 min, ¥2.
  • 09:00 — Laohutan Ocean Park (老虎滩海洋公园), ¥220 (peak) / ¥180 (off-peak). The 5 themed zones: Polar Marine World, Coral Hall, Bird World, Happy Theater (sea lion show), and the legendary Whale & Dolphin Hall. 4 hours recommended.
  • 12:00 — Park-side lunch.

Afternoon (13:30–17:30): Bangchui Island

  • 13:30 — Taxi to Bangchui Island (棒棰岛), 20 min, ¥40.
  • 14:00 — Bangchui Island Scenic Area (棒棰岛风景区), ¥40. A 1.5-km crescent beach on a peninsula, the closest "resort beach" to downtown. Walking the loop takes 1.5 hours; you can swim in July–August (water 22–25°C, but cold for some).
  • 16:00 — Tea at the Bangchui Island State Guest House (棒棰岛国宾馆) grounds, originally built for Mao Zedong and still used for visiting dignitaries.
  • 17:00 — Return to downtown.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Dinner at Tianxing Street (天兴罗斯福) or the Donggang (东港) waterfront: try Mantis Shrimp (皮皮虾) in season (April–June) and Dalian Sea Urchin (大连海胆).
  • 20:30 — Donggang Musical Fountain (东港音乐喷泉), free, 30-min show at 19:30 and 20:30 (summer only).

Day 3: Lüshun (Port Arthur) Day Trip

Morning (08:00–13:00): Lüshun Historical Sites

  • 08:00 — Light rail 12 from downtown Dalian to Lüshun (旅顺), 1 hour, ¥8.
  • 09:00 — Lüshun Naval Museum (旅顺海军博物馆), ¥40. 1.5 hours. Submarines and ship models from the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars.
  • 10:30 — 203 Height (203高地), ¥20. A hilltop viewpoint of the 1904–1905 Russo-Japanese War battlefield.
  • 12:00 — Lunch in Lüshun Old Town.

Afternoon (13:30–17:00): Lüshun Museum + Snake Island

  • 13:30 — Lüshun Museum (旅顺博物馆), free. One of China's oldest and best regional museums, 80,000+ items, especially strong on the Liao-dynasty ceramics.
  • 15:00 — Optional: Snake Island (蛇岛), 1.5 hours including boat ride, ¥120. 20,000+ venomous pit vipers on a 1-km² island. Skip if squeamish or traveling with kids under 10.
  • 16:30 — Return light rail to Dalian.

Evening

  • 19:00 — Farewell dinner at Ri Yue Tan Seafood (日月潭海鲜), a 20-year Dalian institution. Try the Steamed Mackerel (清蒸鲐鱼) and Braised Sea Cucumber (红烧海参).

Practical info

  • Airport: Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC) — light rail Line 5, ¥2, 30 min to downtown.
  • Hotels: Stay near Zhongshan Square (中山广场). Mid-range: ¥350–550/night. Important: book early for July–August; Dalian is a popular domestic summer resort.
  • Best season: June and September. July–August is peak domestic season (hotels 2x, beaches packed). December–February has the Dalian Ice & Snow Festival (大连冰灯旅游节) at Xinghai Square — a worthy alternative to Harbin's.
  • Transport: Metro covers most of the city (¥2–6). Taxis are cheap (¥10 base + ¥2/km). Didi works.
  • What to skip: The "Japanese Street" near Dalian Station is mostly modern and touristy.

Budget estimate

| Item | Per person (CNY) | |---|---| | Hotel (2 nights, mid-range) | 700–1,100 | | Food (3 days) | 350–500 | | Transport (metro + bus + light rail to Lüshun) | 100 | | Tickets (Laohutan, Bangchui, museums) | 500 | | Total (excl. international flight) | 1,650–2,200 |

Verify with: 12306.cn for trains, dl-airport.com for flights, and Dalian Metro (dlmetro.com) for any service changes during typhoon season (August–September).