Discover Dalian Self-Tours

Last modified on 2009-12-05 12:00:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Because of the overwhelming popularity and demand for Discover Dalian tours, SongLi has created a selection of self-guided and self-service tour packages. A perfect option for anyone who has a spirit of independent adventure but does not know how to get around in Dalian.

These highly detailed packages offer interactive map-based, step-by-step travel instructions for seeing the city with a personal virtual guide, but without SongLi actually at your guide.

http://www.discoverdalian.com/itour

DALIAN TREK

Last modified on 2009-01-18 23:47:45 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Monday, March 17, 2008: SongLi became the first person to walk from the Southern Bay of Dalian (Xinghai Square) to the Northern Bay (Haizhiyun Park).

A total journey of 22.5 km (14 miles), SongLi walked it in one complete effort in 5 hours. The path was documented in still photography, with a snapshot taken every ten steps (first person POV). The 3000+ images were then made into a 2 minute “Walkthrough of Dalian” movie.

The course is presented here for free as a guide for other interested travelers to follow: from ocean to mountain to historic colonial city to ocean.

View Larger Trek Map | Download Google Map Placemark Set

ACTIVE TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:47:33 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Hero Memorial Park
- Statue Park of Heros
- Martyr Mountain (Light Climb)
- Starburst (Blood Drip) Sculpture
- Cemetery of Fallen Heros
- White Cloud Mountain (Moderate Climb)
- People’s Square View
- Everlasting Love Square
- Pledge Square
- China Netcom View
- Bird’s Nest Scenic Spot View
- Yaowoling Pagoda Peak Climb
- Yaowoling Cliff View
- Ocean Wall Decent and Climb (Vigorous Climb)

Tour Information:
This is the perfect tour for nature lovers, and a chance to see Dalian’s scenic beauty up close. By far the most physically challenging tour offered by Discover Dalian, visitors will have an athletic day of climbing from mountain top to coastal sea side. The geographic splendor of Dalian offers these wonderful panoramic views. There is no better way than to view them than on foot, and perhaps no other way to get to these special vantage points. Although these hikes and descents follow private paths and require no special equipment, visitors should be in good physical condition to take this tour.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

BUDDHA TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:46:03 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Field of Buddha Statues
- Largest Bronze Buddha Statue in China
- Daheishi Museum
- Daheishi Temple
- Daheishi Shrine

Tour Information:
Located in the countryside town outside of Metro Dalian, Daheishi is famous for its hundreds of white Buddha statues. The coastal resort town is an out of the way spot for the average foreign traveler, but well worth the trip to make a connection among this field of amazing spiritual sentinels. Plus, visitors will have an opportunity to see life in rural Dalian, which is not like stepping back in time but a contrast to the bustling city life. Even at the heart of a resort community, it is a chance to see a simpler side of China and its strong Buddhist influences.

Tour Price (USD): $299.00

CULTURAL TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:45:09 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Songshan Buddhist Temple
- Labor Park
- Green Mountain Cable Car Ride
- Green Mountain View
- Dalian TV Tower View
- People’s Square
- Dalian TV Station Area Antique Mall
- Hua Temple and Shrines
- Sun Yat-Sen Park
- Zhongshan Park Pavilion

Tour Information:
Whereas the Historic Tour takes visitors through Dalian’s past, the Cultural Tour is a path to the city’s present. While still rooted on its colonial foundations, Central Dalian has developed its own identity. Visitors will experience a mix of culture and tradition as they see the different sides of this coastal metropolis. It is the perfect blend of viewing grand scenic wonder to being up close and personal with bustling daily life.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

FORBIDDEN TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:48:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Russian Cemetary
- Height 203 (Erling Mountain Climb)
- Lushun Jade Museum
- World Peace Park
- Foreigner Forbidden Drive Thru
- Hengshan Buddha Shrine
- Hengshan Temple
- Longwangtang Park
- Longwangtang Dam

Tour Information:
The Lushun District (known as Dalian’s Forbidden City) is one of the most historic areas in Northeast China. A naval port under two colonial powers, the area was also where Japan destroyed the Russian Fleet at anchor, beginning the Russo-Japanese War, in a pre-Pearl Harbor tactic. Complete with fortifications from the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Czarist Russia, and Imperial Japan, the location is a time capsule of China’s struggle against foreign powers.

It is also for this reason, that foreigners are forbidden to visit many of the more sensitive areas. Even with the restrictions, this unique Forbidden Tour offers visitors a chance to stand on the hallowed ground that decided the fate of Manchuria, and eventually expanded the Second Sino-Japanese War into a direct conflict with America – which formally began the Second World War.

Tour Price (USD): $299.00

GHOST TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:40:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Winter Park Ghost Child
- Cries from the Bridge
- Merchant Lost at Sea
- Mysterious Railway Accident
- British Criminal Punishment
- War Sorrow
- Russian Fire
- Prostitute Suicide
- Thin Ice Tragedy
- Bath Drowning
- Haunted Hospital by German
- Coolie Graveyard
- Shinto Shrine Ghost
- Buried Treasure in Graveyard

Tour Information:
The city of Dalian has always had secrets. Its colonization and occupation brought external cultures and languages to the area. British, Russian, and Japanese dominated the region for nearly a century (1854-1955). Yet supernatural tales have survived here for a century. This information was collected from oral sources, and lacks written documentation. No claims are made to the validity or authenticity of any story. It is presented here for entertainment purposes only.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

GOLF TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:41:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Golf
- Dalian Shide Soccer Camp (*)

- (*) Off-season features when Soccer Camp is closed:
- Golden Pebble Beach
- Famous Rock Spot
- Zhenzhu Zodiac Square

Tour Information:
A short ride by light rail to Dalian’s new Economic Development Zone, will whisk visitors to the famous Dalian Golden Pebble Beach National Resort. Named for its signature feature, the area offers one of the best golf courses in China. Of particular note is the 7th hole, called “Devil’s Path” because to reach the next hole players must clear a large expanse of open sea with their drive.

As the first National Resort in China, it has long been an obvious destination for foreign business executives and the political elite in Beijing. This tour is offered for any golf enthusiast. What better bragging trophy than to say you played 18 holes on a coastal green in China? And with the training camp of the number one ranked soccer team in China nearby, this tour is perfect for sports fans.

Tour Price (USD): $299.00

HISTORIC TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:38:32 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Peking Opera House (former Japanese Temple)
- Old Japan Colonial Era House Walk
- Original Dairen Hospital
- Zhongshan Square Historic Buildings
- Former South Manchuria Railway Headquarters
- Dalian World Trade Center View of City
- Old Post Office Building
- Russian Street Shops
- Russian Historic Museum
- Original Russian Capital Building of Dalny
- Old Russian House Walk
- Old South Manchuria Railway Pier Office
- Original Port of Dalian

Tour Information:
By far the most popular if hidden attractions in Dalian, the Historic Tour takes visitors back in time to the city’s foundation. First colonized by Russia, then ruled by Japan for nearly half a century, Dalian has many treasured architectures from its colonial era. While the majority of the common structures have been torn down as the city modernizes, preserved links to its historic past still remain.

This all day walking tour showcases a time when Colonial Dalian was an economic and political center for Manchuria (Northeast China). The city’s signature vintage structures give a testimony of how the city evolved in the late 19th Century. It is not a complete stroll back in time, but very close to it.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

KUNG FU TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:34:23 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Chinese Martial Arts Center
- Golden Pebble Beach
- Famous Rock Spot
- Mao Pin Museum
- Wax Museum
- Zhenzhu Zodiac Square
- Kaifaqu Shops

Tour Information:
A short ride by light rail to Dalian’s new Economic Development Zone, will deliver visitors to an important cultural center in Dalian. From Martial Arts, to wax panorama scenes of Chinese life, to relics of the Red Guard. This tour offers a diverse look at Chinese culture in Dalian, appealing to fans of Kung Fu and sociologists alike.

Tour Price (USD): $299.00

MUSEUM TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:33:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Binhai Street Ocean Drive
- Water Buddha Shrine
- Shell Museum
- Xinghai Square Zodiac Marker
- Modern Museum
- Trolley Ride
- Sun Asia Ocean World (option 1)
- Natural History Musuem (option 2)
- Xinghai Ocean Park
- Heizhou Street Shopping

Tour Information:
All of Dalian’s world-class museums are combined for this tour. Take a step back in time to the city’s colonial past, or marvel at the wonders of local sea life. Centered around the largest square in China, Xinghai (Star Ocean) Square is another main attraction of the city. Even though this tour has a slower pace, it continues to offer a diversity of experiences for the curious visitor.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

SCENIC TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:32:46 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Fujiazhuang Scenic Spot
- Yanwoling (Bird’s Nest) Scenic Spot
- Beida Bridge View
- Bungie Jump (Optional)
- Tiger Park Sculptures
- Tiger Beach View
- Laohutan Bird Sanctuary
- Laohutan Naval Ship
- Hutan Ocean Amusement Park
- Scenic Costal Drive
- Ryhme of the Sea Square

Tour Information:
Dalian’s famous coast is home to many scenic locations and attractions. Visitors can spend their day moving from one breath-taking view to the next, with added amusement along the way. This scenic tour requires no athletic stamina, just an appreciation for Nature’s beauty.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

SHOPPING TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:31:41 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Olympic Square Electronics
- Train Station Antique Mart
- Train Station Wholesale Market
- New Mart / Itokin
- Shengli Underground Shops
- Tibetian and Buddhist Crafts
- Shangrila Antiques
- Xinhua Book Store
- Erqi Square Discount Shops

Tour Information:
With such close proximity to Japan and Korea, Dalian is the perfect shopping hub. If it can be bought, it can be found here. From electronics to Manchurian relics, the city has numerous specialty markets. The challenge for most visitors is find the right place to find what they want to buy, and to negotiate a fair price. This escorted Shopping Tour will keep visitors from being cheated, and covers a vast range of product offerings that will appeal to even the most diehard of shoppers. Remember to bring an empty steamer trunk to carry back everything you buy.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

SPIRITUAL TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:21:10 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Dahei Mountain Village
- Daheishan Scenic Climb
- Shigu Temple
- Dahei Mountain Top Shrines
- Dianjiang Tower Panoramic View
- Chaoyang Temple
- Xiangshui Temple
- Yaoqin Cave

Tour Information:
No visit to China is complete without a mountain climb to a spiritual temple. While Dalian is not home to the legendary fighting monks of Southwestern China, it does boast several highly enlightened locations. Dahei Mountain, with the temples at its summit and base, are among the most treasured sights in the Provence. The national park is a required visit for spiritual pilgrims.

After a light rail ride to the Dalian Economic Zone, Dahei Mountain only is a short ride from the commerce district but literally worlds away. Visitors should be prepared for a physically active day. While the mountain path is clearly step with carved stone steps, some spots are quite challenging. For example, near the top is an almost 70 degree row of 200 steps. But enduring the ascent is part of the spiritual cleansing process, as visitors arrive at the temple gates in a state of inner peace.

Tour Price (USD): $299.00

ZOO TOUR

Last modified on 2009-01-18 02:25:07 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Tour Length: one (1) day
Tour Features:
- Lianhua Mountain Temple
- (formerly the Dalian Jade Museum)
- Dalian Forrest Zoo
- Zoo Mountain Skylift
- Zoo Mountain Observation
- Xinghai Bay View
- Dalian Wildlife Safari Zoo
- Dalian Botanical Gardens
- Afternoon Tea
- Xinghai Bay Shops

Tour Information:
The mountains here are hailed as containing the strongest source of spiritual energy in Northeast China, and an obvious spot for an honored worship. So from this perspective, building the area into a Zoo is not the most logical step. However, the Zoo certainly benefits from the scenic vantage and is one of the city’s favorite tourist spots for locals and visitors alike. Recently, a Jade Museum Temple complex was added in a non-religious attempt to establish a spiritual site at this special location.

Tour Price (USD): $199.00

VIRTUAL DALIAN

Last modified on 2009-11-05 06:58:17 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Walk around the streets or ride the vintage electric trolleys, while exploring this virtual world as an avatar – your digital self. Journey back in history to Russian or Japanese areas, or visit the modern locations that have transformed this vital seaport into a center for technology development.

Full scale construction of the city is currently underway, with extensive time spent on ensuring accurate and historic architectural details. Until completed, visitors are welcome to enter the finished locations, which function as 3D museums. Virtual travel guides, maps, brochures, and other digital gifts are also offered free to the public.

Just as Dalian is a historic venue in Real Life, Virtual Dalian is becoming an equally famous landmark in the Metaverse. The Virtual Dalian project was created exclusively by SongLi. The 3D experience provides another way to introduce the city to the world, for people unable to visit in person. Login to Second Life from your computer and enter a simulation of Dalian, all from the comfort of home.

Login: Virtual Dalian in Metaplace
Placemark: secondlife://Dalian/80/8/80
Maplink: Virtual Dalian in Second Life