Liaoning Province – Dalian & Dandong

Liaoning – Dalian & Dandong

With Japanese and Russian influences, parts of Liaoning have a coastal, cosmopolitan
vibe. This province is also the home to Dandong, which shares the Yalu river
with North Korea and has a section of the The Great Wall.

Itinerary Highlights

`/ dalian mini venice`

If you’ve ever lived in China, you might have heard about the fake, mini cities. Dalian is home to a rather impressive mini Venice, fit with Gondola rides run by striped-shirt gondoliers.

`/ gold coast`

Much like the Gold Coast in Australia, this is a coastal tourist hub with sand beaches and warm ocean water. Though it doesn’t compare to its Aussie namesake, this is a great beach holiday option in China.

`/ sino-north korea friendship bridge`

Constructed by the Japanese during occupation, the bridge has a railway and roadway connecting China to North Korea. You can walk along the broken bridge to a point and peak into North Korea.

Suggested Itinerary

Recommended time (3-4 days)

*NOTE: You cannot enter North Korea via Dandong without
an organized tour that you’ve booked in advance.

Day 1

Arriving at Dalian North, get on Metro Line 3
to the Gold Coast.
1 hour

RECOMMENDED ACCOMODATION
Gap Year Sea Youth Hostel

(It is tricky to find with an entrance through a shopping mall doorway.)

Walk down to the beach and enjoy a dip in the ocean. The sand is coarse, so be prepared with a towel or blanket to sit on.

The main beach is called Golden Pebble Beach and is a lively spot in the evening for drinks and meals.

The coastline is gorgeous, so you can end your day with a sunset stroll.

You can spend a few days here for a relaxing getaway.
There are nearby mountains, a theme park and kms of coastline to explore.

Day 2

Get on Metro Line 3 and head back to Dalian Railway Station.

Stay somewhere close to the Railway as most activities are accessible from there.

Both buses and the Metro in Dalian city are very accessible, but you need cash to use them.

Take Metro Line 2 from Youhao Road to Conference Center and then walk to the yacht wharf. Here you’ll find Mini-Venice which is free to walk around, with 60rmb gondola rides.

If you continue along Ganpu Road 5km you will eventually find Bangchui Island Scenic Area.
This is a lovely hike with the world’s longest wooden walkway in the world.

As for restaurants, Dalian is known for its seafood and due to historical ties, a lot of Russian spots.

Again, you could stay longer and visit the Bingyu Valley which resembles the rolling mountains in Guilin.

Day 3

To head to Dandong, I suggest buying your train ticket at the Railway in Dalian on a previous day.
115rmb
~2.5 hours

RECOMMENDED ACCOMODATION
Letu Hostel
(Not on trip.com – find it on the map and book on entry. It’s the cheapest in the area.)

Leave your things in your accommodation and then head to the Friendship Bridge (cycle or walk).
30rmb

After that, do the river cruise that leaves from the dock below the bridge.
60rmb
~30 mins

If you stay another day and wish to get closer to NK – you can book a full day tour with the hostel including lunch in a village, the old Sino-Korea railway museum, a hour cruise along NK banks and a performance by NK restaurant employees.
450rmb

FURTHER TRAVEL TIP

If you have more time to travel after Liaoning, I suggest catching the ferry to Shandong (or doing this in reverse to get to Liaoning). It saves you a lot of time compared to land travel, and will probably be cheaper than a flight.

If you love boats and the ocean, you can catch these stunning sunsets from the ferry. Read more about how to do this on my Shandong page.