Dalian 大连, the City by the Sea
I recently visited Dalian, known as the Hong Kong of the North, just as summer ended. After only a weekend, I realized Dalian is one of the nicest cities. With winter skiing available and summer beach life,
When I first arrived that evening, I noticed all the western style architecture buildings at Zhongshan square. The Russian and British occupation left Dalian with historical buildings, similar to that of the ones from the Bund in Shanghai.
On the next day, I was able to see the view from the hills near the Dahei Mountains 大黑山 all the way to the beaches by Jinshitan beach 金石滩, the Golden Pebble Beach, there was natural beauty everywhere.
My family friend took me to the Dalian Development Zone to see the beaches and mountain scenery. One of the unique things about Dalian is the Tram system. Though they are also building an underground subway, the tram spans from Dalian to the development zone. Though, I didn’t get a chance to try the tram.
Also compared to Seattle and Vancouver, I was told the the brisk winters coupled with the temperate summers, Dalian was the top choice for vacationers in China, just before city of Hangzhou. Xinghai Square 星海广场, translated as the Sea of Stars, Xinghai sits right on the ocean front with tall apartment buildings pillared around.
Also got to visit a rock museum. One thing I learned is that the Chinese value great beauty in large rock formations. My family friend, who owns an organic farm getaway, has several large rocks or stones. These stones weigh up to 40 tons each. This museum features several interesting stones, mostly from the provinces in northern China. Interestingly, there was a museum about Mao Zedong 毛泽东. There are several large statues, a brief history about his life and achievements. In addition, there were several different pins and ornaments with his image. It was quite interesting.
