Dalian is China's northernmost ice-free seaport, located between the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea. In the 1990s Dalian's 6.2million people became controlled by Bo Xilai who was both mayor of the city and provincial party official. During his order, he banned bicycles, created large, beautiful parks in the city, which were usually swamped by traffic circles, and generally built up the city very attractively. He also worked hard to preserve Dalian's stunning Japanese and Russian architectural heritage still in existence. He is, however, also remembered for the multiple empty buildings he left behind that were built from questionable financial loans.
Dalian is a popular holiday destination for Chinese tourists as its mild climate and multiple beaches make an especially nice place to visit during the summer. Jinshitan beach is one of the famous beaches in the city and features a golden pebble shore and unusual coves and rock formations. The beach includes other amusements for those who enjoy golfing or cross country motorcycling and there's also an amusement park and a nearby hunting forest.
The new Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport has direct flights to most major Chinese cities. The city's location means that most trains to other Chinese cities involve a change in Shanghai or, more probably, Beijing in order to catch a connecting train to your destination. Most of the direct city to city express trains are overnight trips.
