Dalian, China

Cruises from-to Dalian

Dalian — China's most European-looking city and the main maritime gateway to Northeast Asia. Located at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, where the waters of the Yellow Sea meet Bohai Bay, Dalian is part of Liaoning Province and is one of the country's most important port, industrial, and tourist centers. Unlike most Chinese cities with their classic grid layout, Dalian's historic center was planned along European lines — with wide avenues radiating from several large round squares lined with plane trees and framed by buildings in Russian and Japanese colonial-era style. 
For a cruise traveler, Dalian is a relatively young but highly promising destination. Every year more and more liners depart from here on short voyages around Northeast Asia — to South Korea and Japan. In May 2025, after a five-year pause caused by the pandemic, the port resumed international cruise service, and in May 2026 it welcomed, for the first time in its history, a liner of over 100,000 tons that chose Dalian as its home port. The city is confidently securing its status as the leading cruise hub of Northern China. 🚢

📋 Before setting off on a cruise from Dalian or going ashore for a few hours during a port call, here's what you should know:
🇨🇳 Country: China
📍 Region: Liaoning Province, southern part of the Liaodong Peninsula
👥 Population: about 7.45 million residents according to the 2020 census (within the urban districts — approximately 5.1 million)
📐 Area: 12,574 km² (the entire municipal territory, including suburban districts)
🗣️ Languages: Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) and the local Dalian dialect; English is spoken to a limited extent in tourist areas and hotels
💴 Currency: yuan, or renminbi (CNY)
🕐 Time zone: China Standard Time (UTC+8), no daylight saving time — 5 hours ahead of Kyiv time in summer and 6 hours ahead in winter
☀️ Climate: temperate monsoon, maritime: cool winters (around −3…−5 °C) and warm, comfortably breezy summers thanks to sea winds (+24…+28 °C)
✈️ Nearest airport: Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (DLC) — about 12–13 km from the cruise terminal
⚓ Official name of the cruise port: Dalian Port, passenger terminal — Dalian International Cruise Center
🗺️ Port area: Dalian Port is one of the largest multipurpose ports in Northeast China by cargo turnover; the cruise terminal itself has an indoor area of about 14,700 m² and can accommodate more than 1,400 passengers at once

🏛️ The history of Dalian — from the fishing village of Qingniwa to the cruise gateway of Northeast Asia
⏳ Over 125 years as China's «youngest» major city
Dalian's history differs strikingly from that of most Chinese cities: where others take pride in thousands of years of continuous development, Dalian takes pride in its rapid transformation from a fishing village into a metropolis in under a century and a half. Until the late 19th century, a modest settlement called Qingniwa stood where the modern city center is now — just a handful of fishermen's huts on the shore of a convenient natural bay.
Everything changed in 1898, when the Russian Empire, taking advantage of the weakened Qing dynasty, leased the southern part of the Liaodong Peninsula and founded a commercial port town here named Dalny — the source of the modern Chinese name Dalian. Russian engineers designed the city after the model of European capitals — with large circular squares from which wide avenues radiated outward. It was then that the foundation was laid for the central square known today as Zhongshan Square.
⚔️ From colonial possession to an open port metropolis
After Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, control of the city and the neighboring Port Arthur (today's Lüshunkou district) passed to Japan, which renamed the city Dairen and held it as part of the leased Kwantung Territory until 1945. In August 1945 the city was liberated by the Red Army, and until 1950 it remained under Soviet administration — only then did the USSR hand Dalian over to Chinese sovereignty free of charge. The merger with neighboring Lüshun and several renamings were completed in 1981, when the city's name was finally fixed as Dalian.
A new era began in 1984, when Dalian was included among the first 14 coastal cities of China opened to foreign investment. Since then the city has become one of the country's leading port, shipbuilding, and technology centers, earning it the nickname «the Hong Kong of the North.» Dalian has hosted «Summer Davos» — the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions — since 2007, when the first meeting took place, and does so on average every other year, alternating with Tianjin: in 2026 the city hosted the event for the ninth time. 🏙️

⚓ Port of Dalian — the gateway to Northeast Asia
📊 Scale and structure of the port
The modern Port of Dalian is not a single pier but a vast port complex spread along the city's coastline: the historic harbor in the central Zhongshan district, the Dayaowan bulk-cargo terminal, and the new port area in Dalian Bay. By cargo turnover, the port ranks among the leading ports of Northeast China and holds one of the top positions among the world's ports.
Cruise passenger ships are served by a separate, dedicated facility — the Dalian International Cruise Center, located in the central part of the city near Zhongshan Square. In 2025 the terminal underwent a major upgrade: waiting halls, baggage claim areas, boarding galleries, and border and quarantine services were all renovated. The terminal's indoor area is about 14,700 m², and it can serve more than 1,400 passengers simultaneously. ✨

🚢 How many liners the port receives
In 2019, the last pre-pandemic season, the terminal served about 88,500 cruise passengers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international cruise service in Dalian was suspended for five years, and it was only on May 27, 2025, that the port once again welcomed an international liner departing on a voyage. The 2026 cruise season opened on May 12 — when Dalian was called at for the first time by a 105,000-ton liner, the first vessel over 100,000 tons to choose the city as its home port; around 3,300 passengers were on board its maiden voyage. In total, the 2026 season includes 10 scheduled turnaround departures plus two additional port-of-call visits.

🏢 Which cruise lines operate from Dalian
Today the main operators using Dalian as a home port are Chinese cruise companies — Adora Cruises (the liners Adora Magic City and Adora Mediterranea) and the Tianjin Oriental International Cruise Company (the liners Vision and Dream). Historically, international brands also called here, including Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and MSC Cruises. The main routes today are short 4-night cruises to South Korea (Incheon, Jeju), while in previous years liners also visited ports in Japan. 🌏

💡 Interesting facts about Dalian and its port
Getting to know the city is more complete once you learn a few less obvious details:
🏙️ Dalian is one of the few major Chinese cities designed «from scratch» by foreign urban planners: instead of the typical rectangular street grid, it has circular squares and radial avenues in the spirit of European capitals.
🎡 Zhongshan Square, laid out by the Russians in the late 19th century, has ten streets radiating from it like the spokes of a wheel — surrounded by buildings ranging in style from Russian classicism to Japanese art deco.
🌊 Xinghai Square is considered one of the largest city squares in the world — significantly larger even than Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
⚽ Dalian is known as China's «football capital»: the clubs Wanda and Shide, essentially one football dynasty of the city, won 8 Chinese championship titles between 1994 and 2005 — the best record in the history of China's top division, later matched only by a club from Guangzhou.
💻 Thanks to its well-developed software park and outsourcing IT industry, the city is informally known as «China's Silicon Valley of the North.»
👗 Since 1988 Dalian has hosted an annual International Fashion Festival — one of the earliest and best-known fashion events in China, which earned the city a reputation as the country's «fashion capital.»
🌍 Dalian has hosted the World Economic Forum's «Summer Davos» more often than any other city except Tianjin — the forum has been held here since 2007.
🎫 The neighboring district of Lüshunkou (the former Port Arthur) is still a restricted naval area: foreign tourists need special police permission to enter, so visiting it independently during a short port call is practically impossible.
🛂 Ukrainian citizens can take advantage of China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit: Dalian's airport and sea passenger port are included in the list of entry points granting this transit privilege throughout Liaoning Province, provided you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country.

📍 Top sights of Dalian — must-sees for the cruise traveler
A cruise ship's stay in Dalian usually lasts between 6 and 10 hours, so it's worth setting priorities in advance. A detailed list with photos, addresses, and opening hours can be found in the «Sights and Places of Interest» section; below is a brief overview of the landmark locations that shape the city's character.
🎡 Zhongshan Square — the historic heart of Dalian, a round square with ten radiating streets and a complex of Russian and Japanese colonial-era buildings, now home to banks, hotels, and municipal institutions.
🌊 Xinghai Square — one of the largest city squares in the world, with a park, a museum, and nearby China's longest bridge across a sea bay.
🐯 Laohutan Park («Tiger Beach») — an oceanographic park on the coast with an aquarium, coral and polar pavilions, and panoramic views of the bay.
🇷🇺 Russian Street — a quarter of early-20th-century buildings erected by the first Russian settlers, today a pedestrian zone with souvenir shops and cafés.
⚓ Lüshunkou (Port Arthur) — a historic district at the tip of the peninsula, site of key events of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905; visits are possible only with special permission.
🐚 Dalian Shell Museum — one of the world's largest collections of sea shells and corals, housed under a shell-shaped roof.
🏛️ Dalian International Conference Center — a landmark modern building shaped like a sea shell on the Xinghai Bay waterfront.

✨ Why choose a cruise from Dalian
Dalian is a destination for those who want to see a completely different, less familiar side of cruise geography.
First, it's a convenient starting point for short cruises around Northeast Asia: liners depart from here on four-night voyages to South Korea, and previously called regularly at Japanese ports as well. 🌏
Second, the city itself is an unexpected surprise for visitors: instead of the typical Chinese cityscape you might expect, you'll find circular squares, old European façades, and well-tended waterfronts, making a stroll before boarding or after disembarking a cultural experience in its own right. 🏙️
Third, for Ukrainian citizens the trip is made easier by China's 240-hour visa-free transit, available through Dalian's airport or sea port, while the terminal itself, following its 2025 upgrade, meets modern comfort standards. 🛂

The cruise specialists at Four Gates Group will help you choose the optimal liner, route, and cabin, take care of airport transfer details and transit paperwork, and advise on how to profitably combine a Northeast Asia cruise with other destinations we work with as a priority partner in Ukraine. 🤝

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for general reference and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises from the Professionals

How to Get to the Cruise Terminal in Dalian

Dalian is the main maritime gateway to Northeast China, and the route to its cruise terminal has its own specifics: this is not Europe with a single Schengen area, but a separate customs and border jurisdiction with its own entry rules. The cruise terminal is located in the port area of Zhongshan District, a few kilometers from the city center, and after a large-scale renovation in 2025 it now welcomes liners at two large berths. Below is a verified step-by-step guide with all transfer options, approximate prices, and tips from the Four Gates Group cruise specialists. 🎯

📍 Where exactly is the Dalian cruise port located
The terminal's official English name is Dalian International Cruise Terminal, and its Chinese name is Dalian Port International Cruise Center (大连港国际邮轮中心). It is part of the large multipurpose Port of Dalian — the biggest ice-free port in Northeast China.
📌 Address for GPS: No. 1 Gangwan Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
🚶 Distances: about 4.8 km to People's Square (Renmin Square), approximately 2.7 km to the main railway station
🏗️ 2025 upgrade: the port completed a new berth for liners of up to 150,000 gross tons (bringing the total to two large cruise berths), and the passenger terminal building was expanded to 14,700 m², with capacity for more than 1,400 passengers at a time and dedicated customs and border-control zones.
🚢 After a five-year break, the port resumed welcoming international cruise liners in May 2025 — today it is once again one of the main turnaround (homeport) ports for cruises around Northeast Asia and Korea.
❗ Important: the exact berth and terminal for your liner are always stated in your cruise voucher. Border and customs formalities in China are stricter than in Europe, so check your boarding details in advance and carry all the necessary documents with you.

✈️ From Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport (DLC) to the cruise terminal
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport (DLC) is located approximately 12–13 km from the cruise port. There are no direct flights from Ukraine to Dalian — you can only get there via a connection, most often through Istanbul, Doha, Beijing, Shanghai, or Seoul. When planning your route, allow enough time for connecting flights within China or Asia, since domestic flights and customs procedures may take longer than in Europe.

🚕 Taxi — the simplest option
Official taxis wait in the designated area outside the arrivals terminal exit.
• Distance: 12–13 km
• Travel time: 25–35 minutes depending on traffic
• Approximate cost: around 30–35 CNY (metered fare)
• Payment: cash (yuan) or local payment apps; drivers rarely accept international bank cards
💡 Tip from Four Gates: keep the terminal address written in Chinese characters (港湾街1号, 大连国际邮轮中心) — this makes communicating with the driver much easier.

🚇 Metro — the budget option
Metro Line 2 connects the airport with the city center and runs close to the port area, from where the pier can be reached via Zhongshan Square and the Qingniwaqiao shopping district.
• Travel time: about 40–50 minutes including the transfer and the walk to the terminal
• Fare: a few yuan depending on the number of stations
• Then: from the nearest station — on foot or by a short taxi ride to the pier

🚐 Private transfer — the most comfortable option
If you are traveling with family, a group, or heavy luggage, a driver will meet you in the arrivals hall with a name sign and take you straight to the terminal.
🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private transfers for its clients — simply share your flight number when booking your cruise.

🚆 From the railway station to the cruise terminal
Dalian has two main railway stations, and the difference between them matters for cruise passengers.

🚉 Dalian Railway Station (main station) — located in Zhongshan District, the closest to the port:
• Distance to the terminal: about 2.7 km
• Taxi: 8–10 minutes, approximately 10 CNY (metered fare)
• Public transport: about 20 minutes by bus

🚄 Dalian North Railway Station — the high-speed rail station (serving Beijing, Shenyang, Harbin), located in Ganjingzi District, noticeably farther from the port than the main station:
• Recommended option: taxi, or metro with a transfer in the city center
• Tip: allow at least 15–20 minutes more transfer time than from the main station, and budget the fare by the meter, as there is no fixed rate
⚠️ If you have a choice, arriving at the main Dalian Railway Station is significantly more convenient for a cruise passenger than at Dalian North.

🏙️ From central Dalian to the cruise terminal
If you spent a night or a few days at a hotel in the city center, there are several ways to reach your liner:

🚕 Taxi from your hotel — 15–20 minutes, approximately 15 CNY from People's Square. The fastest and most convenient option with luggage.

🚇 Metro Line 2 — runs close to the pier and links the port area with Zhongshan Square and the Qingniwaqiao district. From there, a short taxi ride or a walk, depending on the weather and how much luggage you have.

🚌 Free port shuttle — the port authority runs a free shuttle bus to Zhongshan Square on days when cruise liners call. Check the schedule at the terminal information desk or with your cruise specialist.

🚌 City buses — routes No. 7, 11, 13, 16, 30, 31, 526, 701, 708, and 710 serve the port area. Stops are located near the terminal; payment is by cash or transport card.

🚶 On foot from the central squares to the terminal is impractical due to the distance and busy port roads — a taxi, the metro, or the shuttle is a better choice.

🚗 By private or rented car
If you are heading to the port in your own vehicle, aim for the port interchange in Zhongshan District — Gangwan Street leads directly to the terminal. Car parking is available on the port grounds, but exact rates and space availability should be checked in advance, as they may vary depending on the day and number of liners calling.
💡 Tip: car rental in China has its own requirements for foreigners (a local or international driving permit with a Chinese translation is needed), so for a one-off transfer it is more convenient and reliable to book a taxi or a transfer through your cruise specialist.

♿ Accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility
The terminal, renovated in 2025, was built to modern standards and is equipped with elevators and ramps for passengers with reduced mobility. That said, the level of accessibility of public transport and streets in the port area may differ from European standards, so passengers with reduced mobility should notify their cruise line of their needs in advance and choose a private transfer over public transport whenever possible.

⏰ When to arrive at the cruise terminal
It's important to distinguish between two situations here.

🕐 If Dalian is a port of call (you are already aboard the ship):
Going ashore is possible once border and customs clearance for the crew and vessel is complete, usually shortly after docking. Return to the ship at least 60–90 minutes before the stated departure time — the «all aboard» rule is strictly enforced, and the ship will not wait for latecomers.

🕐 If Dalian is your port of embarkation or disembarkation (homeport):
Check-in usually opens 3–4 hours before the ship's departure. Because of the additional border and customs formalities in China, it's best to arrive at the terminal well in advance — the exact check-in time is always stated in your cruise voucher. The boarding deadline is typically around 60–90 minutes before departure.
❗ Important: every Four Gates Group voucher includes the exact check-in time for your specific cruise.

🛂 Visa and border considerations
Unlike European ports within the Schengen area, entry into China and going ashore during a port call are governed by separate rules that depend on your nationality, the length of the port call, and the terms of your specific cruise (including possible visa-free transit programs for organized groups). These conditions can change, so it's worth confirming them in advance — already at the cruise-booking stage.
🤝 Four Gates Group cruise specialists help clients navigate China's visa requirements and prepare all the necessary documents before the trip.

💡 Tips from the Four Gates Group experts
Over years of working with Asian destinations, our cruise specialists have gathered tips that will save you time and stress in Dalian:

🌅 Fly in a day before your cruise if Dalian is your port of embarkation. Arriving on boarding day itself, especially with connecting flights, is risky — a flight delay could cost you the entire cruise.

💼 Book your transfer in advance. Negotiating with a taxi driver in Dalian on your own is harder than in Europe due to the language barrier — a pre-arranged transfer removes that worry.

💶 Carry cash in yuan. International cards are not accepted everywhere in China, especially in taxis and at smaller public transport stops.

📱 Download an offline map and a translator app in advance. Some familiar apps may work with restrictions in China, so an offline city map and a translator that handles Chinese characters will come in handy.

🪪 Bring a photocopy of your passport and your cruise Ship Card — border control at Chinese ports is generally stricter than in Europe.

🏨 Choose a hotel in Zhongshan District. From there it's 10–20 minutes to the port by taxi, with the central squares and railway station nearby.

📞 Contacts
China emergency services: police — 110, ambulance — 120, fire brigade — 119
Four Gates Group cruise specialists (24/7 for clients): +38 097 653 05 53

The logistics of a cruise from Dalian are more complex than in Europe only at first glance — the main difference from Barcelona or other Mediterranean ports is that different border rules and a language barrier apply here. The Four Gates Group cruise experts help our clients at every stage: from choosing the best flight route to Dalian, to arranging a private transfer with a name sign in the arrivals hall, to preparing all the necessary documents. Contact our manager — and your cruise from Dalian will start without any stress. 🛳️✨

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for general guidance and is accurate as of the publication date. Prices, schedules, routes, visa conditions, and visiting arrangements may change without notice. Please confirm up-to-date details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals

Top Attractions and Places in Dalian: A Complete Guide for Cruise Travelers

Dalian — the largest port in Northeast China and one of the country's most scenic coastal cities, where three eras have intertwined over the past 130 years: the Russian concession of Dalny, the Japanese colony of Dairen, and the modern Chinese metropolis. The city sits at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, surrounded by the sea on three sides, with more than 1,900 km of coastline and roughly 260 offshore islands. For a cruise traveler, Dalian is a blend of early-20th-century European architecture, endless seaside boulevards, the largest city square in the world, and pandas at the Forest Zoo. A cruise call here usually lasts 8 to 10 hours, so below is a tested guide to the main sights, complete with up-to-date prices, opening hours, and precise directions from the cruise port to every location. 🎯

⭐ 1. Xinghai Square (星海广场)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Xinghai Square is the largest city square in the world, created entirely on reclaimed land using construction waste and soil dumped into Xinghai Bay. 🌊
🔹 Total area: 1.76 million m² (176 hectares), of which 850,000 m² (77%) is covered with lawn.
🔹 North-south diameter: 1,010 meters; northeast diameter: 630 meters.
🔹 The central area is paved with 999 slabs of red marble from Sichuan Province, carved with symbols of Chinese cosmology.
🔹 Nine bronze tripods bear the inscription «Long live the great unity of the Chinese nation.»
🔹 The square features the «1,000 Footprints» sculpture, tracing citizens symbolically from 1899 to 1999, and the «Centennial City» sculpture shaped like an open book.
🔹 The musical fountain, 140 meters in diameter, is considered the largest in Northeast China, with jets reaching up to 88 meters high.

📜 History:
The square opened on June 30, 1997 — on the eve of Hong Kong's return to Chinese jurisdiction, which is why its layout is loaded with symbolism of national reunification. The inner circle, 199.9 meters in diameter, marks Dalian's centennial (1899–1999), while the outer circle, 239.9 meters in diameter, represents a symbolic 500th anniversary of the city in 2399. Until 2016, the square's center held China's tallest huabiao (a traditional ornamental column) at 19.97 meters, which was later dismantled as part of a renovation.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Taxi: 15–20 minutes, approximately 35–45 CNY
• Metro: Line 2 or 12 to Xinghai Square (Xinghaiguangchang) station, then a 5–10-minute walk

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entry to the square: free, open 24 hours
• Musical fountain: shows run in the evening during the warm season (the exact schedule depends on weather and season, so check locally)

🏛️ 2. Zhongshan Square (中山广场)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
This circular plaza, 213 meters in diameter, with ten streets radiating outward, is the calling card of colonial-era Dalian. It is often compared to a scaled-down version of Shanghai's Bund. 🏙️
🔹 The square is ringed by ten historic buildings from the early 20th century, spanning styles from classical columned facades to Art Deco and French Renaissance.
🔹 Among them are the former Yamato Hotel (1914), the Yokohama Specie Bank branch (1909), the Bank of Taiwan (1910), and Dalian City Hall (1919).
🔹 In 2001 the ensemble was designated a national-level cultural heritage site, followed by additional municipal protection status in 2002.

📜 History:
The square was laid out by the Russians in 1898 as Nikolayevskaya Square, part of the city plan for Dalny. After the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese administration renamed it Ohiroba («great plaza») and built most of today's structures between 1908 and 1936. After 1945 it received its current name, honoring Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan), founder of the Republic of China.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Taxi: 5–10 minutes, approximately 15–20 CNY
• Metro: Line 2, Zhongshan Square station — exits directly onto the square
• Walking: about 15–20 minutes from the old passenger port

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entry: free, open 24 hours (it's an open public square)

🏘️ 3. Russian Street (俄罗斯风情街)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
This roughly 470-meter street preserves more than 38 authentic buildings from the Russian concession era, with distinctive towers, carved window trim, and wrought-iron balconies. 🏚️
🔹 It was officially named «Russian Street» only in 2000, when it was restored and turned into a tourist zone.
🔹 Today it hosts shops selling Russian souvenirs, matryoshka dolls, fur, and chocolate, along with cafes serving traditional pastries.
🔹 The street lies 700 meters from Dalian's main railway station, close to the historic Victory Bridge.

📜 History:
Construction began under Russian architects in the late 1890s as a residential quarter for officials of the Dalny concession. After the city passed to Japanese and later Chinese control, most buildings survived nearly intact, though their purpose changed — today they mainly house shops and cafes.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Taxi: 5–10 minutes, approximately 15–20 CNY
• Walking from Zhongshan Square: 10–15 minutes

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Entry to the street: free, open 24 hours
• Shops and cafes: generally open roughly 9:00 AM–8:00 PM

🐬 4. Laohutan Ocean Park / Tiger Beach (老虎滩海洋公园)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
The park's name translates as «Tiger Rock» — according to legend, the coastal hill resembles a tiger crouching toward the water. 🐅
🔹 It is one of China's oldest and largest marine theme parks, operating for more than four decades and holding the country's top tourist-site rating (AAAAA).
🔹 The grounds include several pavilions: the Polar Ocean World with polar bears and penguins, the Coral Hall, the Bird Sanctuary, a hall of sea creatures, and a theater with dolphin and sea lion shows.
🔹 The park stretches along scenic Binhai Road, one of Dalian's most beautiful coastal drives.

📜 History:
The park was founded in the early 1980s on the site of a natural rocky bay and gradually expanded over the following decades with new pavilions — the Polar Ocean World was added in the 1990s, followed later by the Coral Hall and Bird Sanctuary. Today the complex is one of the symbols of seaside Dalian.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Taxi: 15–20 minutes, approximately 30–40 CNY. Address: 9 Binhai Middle Road, Zhongshan District
• Scenic bus along Binhai Road: runs along the coast, approximately 10 CNY

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Combined ticket (Polar Ocean World + Theater + Coral Hall + Bird Sanctuary + sea-creature hall): approximately 150–230 CNY depending on the combination of pavilions
• Opening hours: open daily year-round; check the exact schedule before your visit
⚠️ Tip: tickets to individual pavilions can be bought on-site, but the combined package offers better value

🐼 5. Dalian Forest Zoo (大连森林动物园)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
One of Northern China's largest zoos, combining classic enclosures with a safari zone where animals can be observed straight from a bus window. 🚌
🔹 The zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals across 200+ species.
🔹 The main attraction is the Giant Panda Pavilion, home to pandas named Jin Hu and Feiyun, along with an enclosure for red pandas.
🔹 The safari zone houses predators — tigers, lions, and bears — viewed from a dedicated safari bus.
🔹 The children's petting zoo lets visitors feed alpacas and other gentle animals.

📜 History:
The zoo was established on forested slopes in the city's southern district, designed as a hybrid of a traditional zoo and a safari park — unlike China's older caged zoos, a large share of the animals here live in spacious, semi-open enclosures that approximate natural conditions.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Taxi: 25–35 minutes, approximately 50–70 CNY
• Public transport: metro to the nearest station plus a bus transfer, roughly 1 hour total

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Adult ticket: approximately 100–130 CNY
• Children (height 1.2–1.4 m): discounted ticket; children under 1.2 m and seniors 70+ — free
• Opening hours: April–October 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, November–March 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

🏝️ 6. Bangchuidao / Club Island (棒棰岛)
💡 Interesting facts and background:
The island's name comes from the shape of a coastal rock resembling a «bangchui» — a traditional wooden laundry beater. 🪵
🔹 The roughly 500-meter beach is split into two zones: a sandy stretch for barefoot walks and a pebble section perfect for hunting smooth stones and shells.
🔹 The water here is among the cleanest along Dalian's coast, and the views are some of the most postcard-worthy in the city.

📜 History:
For decades, the hotel on the island served as an exclusive state guesthouse for the country's top leadership and honored guests — Premier Zhou Enlai, among others, once stayed here. The area was closed to the public for a long time and was only relatively recently opened as a resort zone.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Taxi: 25–30 minutes, approximately 45–60 CNY

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Admission: approximately 20 CNY; free for children under 1.3 m
• Opening hours: daily 8:00 AM–7:00 PM
• Recommended visit length: 2–5 hours

🌊 7. Jinshitan — Golden Pebble Beach
💡 Interesting facts and background:
A national tourist resort stretching along an 8-kilometer coastline of unusual rock formations that, after millions of years of erosion, have taken on shapes resembling animals and fantastical creatures. 🪨
🔹 It's home to one of the region's most famous geological landmarks — the so-called «Longevity Rock,» a large sedimentary boulder with a clearly defined layered structure.
🔹 The resort offers a 36-hole golf course, a wax museum, an exhibition of Sino-Soviet-era badges, the China Martial Arts Museum, and other entertainment venues.
🔹 It's a popular spot for yachting and beach relaxation — the resort is considered one of the best places to swim near Dalian.

📜 History:
The area was designated a national tourist resort in 1992 thanks to its unique combination of sandy beaches, rocky coastline, and geological landmarks. Since then, infrastructure for family and active recreation has been gradually built up.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Distance: about 50 km northeast of central Dalian
• Taxi/transfer: 50–70 minutes, approximately 150–200 CNY one way
• High-speed rail: a Jinshitan station is available, cutting down travel time

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Coastal Geopark: approximately 40–60 CNY depending on season
• Wax Museum: approximately 80 CNY
• 3D Fantasy Art Museum: approximately 50–60 CNY
• Opening hours: April–October 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, October–April 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
⚠️ Important: given the distance from the port, this excursion only works with a longer call (9–10 hours or more) and requires advance transfer planning

⚓ 8. Lushun / Port Arthur
💡 Interesting facts and background:
Lushun sits at the very western tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, surrounded by sea on three sides, and remains an important Chinese naval base to this day. ⚓
🔹 It was here, in 1904, that some of the fiercest battles of the Russo-Japanese War took place — notably on Jiguan Hill (East Crest Hill), where the Russians had built a fortress after leasing the territory in 1898.
🔹 The Lushun Museum, founded in 1917 in a European-style building, houses more than 100,000 cultural relics.
🔹 White Jade Hill, 130 meters high, holds a war memorial tower and several themed museums.
🔹 China's largest foreign cemetery — the Cemetery of Soviet Martyrs, covering 48,000 m² — is also located in Lushun.

📜 History:
Port Arthur, as Lushun is historically known in Western languages, changed hands repeatedly: first leased by the Russian Empire in 1898, then controlled by Japan after its victory in the 1904–1905 Russo-Japanese War, and home to the Soviet navy from 1945 to 1955. In 1950 the city was merged with Dalian into a single administrative district.

🚢 How to get there from the cruise port:
• Distance: about 45 km west of central Dalian
• Taxi/transfer: 60–80 minutes, approximately 150–180 CNY one way

💶 Cost and opening hours:
• Lushun Museum, Cemetery of Soviet Martyrs, Jiguan Hill battle site: free admission

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Lushun is a restricted border and naval zone. Foreign visitors need special permission from the local Public Security Bureau, arranged in advance — without it, entry may be refused. An independent visit is not recommended: this destination should only be booked as part of an organized tour with the proper permits.

🎨 9. Other Sights Worth a Look
• 🌉 Victory Bridge — a historic railway viaduct near the central station, one of the symbols of old Dalian.
• 🏙️ People's Square — one of the city's largest central squares, home to the municipal government building, fountains, and lawns, and a popular spot for evening strolls.
• 🚡 Labor Park — a hillside forest park in the city center featuring a cable car, rides, and scenic viewpoints.
• ⛳ Fujiazhuang Beach and Resort Area — a quiet bay between Tiger Beach and Bangchuidao Island, with a golf course and a fishing village.
• 🐚 Binhai Road seaside promenade — a scenic route along the cliffs and bays of the southern coast that links most of the city's seaside attractions.

---

🗺️ Three Self-Guided Dalian Itineraries for a 9-Hour Call
A cruise call in Dalian usually lasts 8–10 hours. Realistically, you can see 3–4 top sights if the route is planned well. Below are three options depending on budget and preferences.

🥉 Route #1. Budget — approximately 100–150 CNY per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 100–150 CNY + food

🕘 8:30 AM — Leave the cruise port
On foot or by a short taxi ride (15–20 CNY) to Zhongshan Square.

🕘 9:00–10:00 AM — Zhongshan Square
A free stroll among the early-20th-century historic buildings.

🕙 10:00–11:00 AM — Russian Street
A 10–15-minute walk. Browse the architecture, souvenirs, and coffee with pastries.

🕚 11:00 AM–12:30 PM — Metro to Xinghai Square
Line 2, roughly 15–20 minutes. Walk the largest city square in the world and take photos by the sculptures.

🕐 12:30–1:30 PM — Lunch
A set-menu lunch at a local cafe — approximately 30–50 CNY.

🕜 1:30–3:30 PM — Stroll along Binhai Road
Free, with scenic coastal views.

🕞 3:30–4:30 PM — Return to the port
Taxi or metro plus a short walk.

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Taxi/metro round trip: 30–40 CNY
• Metro to Xinghai: 5–10 CNY
• Lunch: 30–50 CNY
• Buffer: 20–30 CNY
💸 TOTAL: approximately 100–150 CNY per person

🥈 Route #2. Optimal — approximately 350–450 CNY per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 400 CNY + food

🕘 8:30 AM — Leave the port, taxi to Xinghai Square
35–45 CNY, 15–20 minutes.

🕘 9:00–10:00 AM — Xinghai Square
A relaxed walk across the world's largest city square.

🕥 10:00–10:30 AM — Transfer to Tiger Beach (taxi, 30–40 CNY)

🕥 10:30 AM–1:00 PM — Laohutan Ocean Park (Tiger Beach)
Combined ticket, 150–230 CNY: Polar Ocean World, Coral Hall, dolphin show.

🕐 1:00–2:00 PM — Lunch at a seafood restaurant on the coast
Approximately 60–100 CNY.

🕝 2:00–3:15 PM — Zhongshan Square and Russian Street
Taxi, 15–20 CNY. Stroll the historic center and shop for souvenirs.

🕞 3:15–4:00 PM — Return to the port
Taxi, 15–20 CNY.

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Taxi (several rides): 100–125 CNY
• Laohutan Ocean Park: 150–230 CNY
• Lunch: 60–100 CNY
💸 TOTAL: approximately 350–450 CNY per person

🥇 Route #3. Premium — private tour from 1,500 CNY per person
⏱️ Total time: 9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: from 1,500 CNY + tickets

🏆 What's included:
• ✅ Meet-and-greet with a private driver holding a name sign right at the gangway
• ✅ Comfortable car/minivan for the whole day
• ✅ Professional English- or Ukrainian-speaking licensed guide
• ✅ Skip-the-line tickets to every attraction
• ✅ Table reservation at a seafood restaurant
• ✅ Flexible route — adjusted on the fly

Book through your cruise manager, or reach us directly through any convenient channel:

Phone numbers:
• Office: +38 (044) 337 82 01
• Mobile (LifeCell):    +380 93 653 05 53
• Mobile (Vodafone): +380 66 653 05 53
• Mobile (Kyivstar):   +380 97 653 05 53

Email us

Contact us

🕘 8:30 AM — Meet your driver and guide at the terminal

🕘 9:00–10:15 AM — Xinghai Square with your guide
Private tour explaining the square's symbolism.

🕚 10:30 AM–1:00 PM — Laohutan Ocean Park (VIP, skip-the-line)
Full combined ticket, dolphin show, Polar Ocean World.

🕧 1:15–2:30 PM — Lunch at a premium seafood restaurant
Fresh Yellow Sea seafood, from 150–250 CNY per person.

🕝 2:45–4:00 PM — Zhongshan Square, Russian Street, and Victory Bridge with your guide
Private walking tour of the city's colonial-era center.

🕟 4:15 PM — Return to the port in a comfortable car

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Private guide (9 hrs): from 600 CNY
• Driver with car (9 hrs): from 500 CNY
• Skip-the-line tickets (Xinghai + Laohutan): approximately 230–280 CNY
• Lunch at a premium restaurant: from 150–250 CNY
💸 TOTAL: from 1,500 CNY per person (for 2+ people — calculated per group, not per person)

🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private tours of Dalian with licensed guides, gangway pickup, and a guaranteed return to the ship on time. Contact your cruise specialist — and your day in Dalian will be perfectly planned to your taste. 🛳️✨

⚠️ What to Know Before You Go Ashore
🕐 The «all aboard» rule: be back on the ship 60–90 minutes before departure — the exact time is always printed on your boarding pass.
🪪 Documents: bring a copy of your passport, your Ship Card, and, if relevant, a printout of your visa-free entry details.
🛂 Visa policy: organized cruise groups of two or more people qualify for visa-free entry of up to 15 days within China's coastal provinces and Beijing, provided the trip is arranged through a licensed travel agency. Separately, citizens of 54 countries also qualify for visa-free transit through Dalian — check the current duration and conditions with your cruise specialist before traveling, as the rules change periodically.
💴 Cash and cards: in China, the vast majority of payments run through the Alipay and WeChat Pay apps, which are hard to set up without a local phone number. Carry cash in Chinese yuan (CNY) for small purchases and an international bank card for larger ones.
👟 Clothing and footwear: comfortable shoes for long walks, light clothing in summer (up to +30 °C/86 °F), and warmer layers in spring and autumn.
📱 Connectivity: download offline maps and a translation app in advance — English isn't widely spoken, and some popular apps may work unreliably without a VPN.
🔐 Safety: Dalian is considered one of China's safest major cities, with a low level of street crime.
☀️ Seasonality: the cruise season in Dalian runs roughly from May to October, with the most comfortable weather in September.

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for general reference and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes, and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please confirm current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant venues.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by professionals

Add a review