Weekend Trip to Dalian

Previously, I watched a Dalian photography Vlog by a photographer (see references at the end of the article) and was deeply captivated. This inspired me to plan this trip. The main goal of this trip was to see the sunrise and sunset. We departed from Shanghai on Saturday morning and returned from Dalian on Monday evening, making it a 3-day, 2-night trip.

Most of the photos in this article were taken straight out of a Sony A7C2 with FL2 filters, while a few were shot on an iPhone, so you can notice the difference in color styles between the two.

Itinerary

Day 1 the Sunset

Departed at 5:00 AM and arrived at the airport by 5:30 AM, entering through Gate 21. I checked in via the mini-program and used the electronic boarding pass at Domestic Departure Security 2. Took the airport metro to H162, and after a while the airline changed the gate to H176. Luckily, I had plenty of time, so I walked leisurely.

The flight took off at 8:00 AM. The visibility in Shanghai was quite good today, and Dishui Lake was clearly visible from the air. I always prefer a window seat to enjoy the aerial view. There was a bit of turbulence along the way.

Dishui Lake

I also spotted the Links same-style island, which will appear again later in the trip. According to the map, it seems to be called Ertuozi Island.

Landed at 10:00 AM, then took the metro to the hotel. Since I wasn’t familiar with the map, I grabbed a meal at KFC first. After eating, I went to the hotel to store my luggage, then took the metro to Heishijiao Park.

The weather wasn’t very good—thick clouds made it look gloomy, so the sea didn’t appear very blue. But up close, the water was quite clear (clear, but with lots of small seaweeds).

Xinghai Bay Bridge

Walked along the coastal trail all the way to Xinghai Park. Judging from the photo angles, the red sunrise by Guo Cheng’an was probably taken here. Took a break on a bench by the shore. Encountered several cats along the way.

Such cute cats.

The people of Dalian are so relaxed and elegant—truly graceful!

The RV campsite at Xinghai Park.

Continued walking to Luckin Coffee. It’s the afternoon—time for some tea!

Took a taxi to the lobby entrance of Yifang Castle. Once inside, took the low-floor elevator (1–5) up to the Sky Garden.

The garden is beautiful, and the views are amazing. The sky gradually cleared up, and the blue peeking through the clouds gave a sense of crisp autumn air.

Spent a while daydreaming here, quietly enjoying Dalian from above.

Xinghai Square

Shell Museum

The hotel interior is very luxurious.

After leaving Yifang Castle Hotel, I took a taxi to Haida Cable Car – Lotus Hill Station. The road was a bit congested, and the driver mentioned that locals also like to visit Lotus Hill and the zoo.

The pointed building at the top of the hill is the observation deck.

The cable car costs 60 RMB one-way, 120 RMB round-trip, with no discounts. I only bought the uphill ticket, planning to walk down afterward, as it’s said you can see sika deer along the way.

Descending from the cable car, the roadside was lined with wish plaques.

At the top of Lotus Hill, I purchased a ticket and a drink combo to enter the observation hall. It has air conditioning and panoramic windows with fantastic views. Took a short break and charged my iPhone.

Originally planned to wait for the sunset at FuJiaZhuang Beach, but looking at the stunning sea view from the window, I decided to stay at the observation deck until dark. When the sunset appeared, it was breathtaking! Took tons of photos.

It felt a bit surreal.

Each showing their own skills.

Took a bus partway down the hill for 30 RMB, covering roughly half the descent. Decided to walk the remaining half back (about 3 kilometers to Xinghai Square). It took me an hour, and along the way I could enjoy the night view of Xinghai Bay Bridge.

Arrived at Xinghai Square just in time to see a notice that there would be a light show at 7:30 PM, so I followed the crowd down to the seaside.

The lights turned on—so cool!

The 10-minute light show ended. There was another one at 8:30 PM, but the 7:30 PM show was enough for me. Time to find somewhere for dinner. Xinghai Square is huge, and I couldn’t find any affordable restaurants nearby— even KFC had a tourist-area menu.

Returned to the hotel to check in, freshen up, and wash away the day’s fatigue. Checked the weather forecast: tomorrow will be a perfect sunny day. Planning to wake up early for the sunrise. Tonight’s sunset was so beautiful; even reminiscing about it is moving.

Day 2 the Sunrise

Woke up at 4:10 AM, got ready, and left for a taxi at 4:35 AM.

After a half-hour taxi ride, I arrived at the North Gate parking lot of Hai Zhiyun Park. The sky was already brightening, and many people were waiting for the sunrise along the seawall corridor. Even the driver who brought me down had stepped out to watch the sunrise.

The sunlight danced on the water like gold.

The sunrise was breathtaking—I didn’t want to leave. This was the clearest sunrise I’ve ever seen. The sun rose from the horizon with not a single cloud in sight. Took a few more moments to savor it before heading to a nearby Lawson for breakfast.

There were Meituan e-bikes available. I rode one to Lawson, and after breakfast, rode back to the North Gate of Hai Zhiyun Park to go up the hill.

Mimi is dozing off.

Planned to visit Huangbai Mouth Beach and Chenxi Beach. Today, I found that the road to Huangbai Mouth Beach was blocked due to construction, so I continued on to Chenxi Beach.

The uphill climb was physically demanding and a real test for my shoes. I was wearing a new pair of NB 2002R sneakers, which felt much easier compared to the Nike AF1s I usually wore on previous trips. The most noticeable difference was the weight—after wearing AF1s, other shoes feel almost weightless.

Reached a turn where there was a MOS Burger, the highest point of my Hai Zhiyun Park route. From there, it’s about a 15-minute downhill walk to Sunrise Square. The views at Sunrise Square are amazing, making it a great spot to watch the sunrise. However, Hai Zhiyun Park currently doesn’t allow external vehicles, so you have to hike up in advance.

Who’s capturing amazing shots again? Oh, it’s me.

Next to the entrance of Sunrise Square, there’s a small path leading down to the cliff-side Chenxi Beach. Although called a beach, it’s actually a small pebble shore.

The downhill trail is quite steep, so be careful. On the opposite side, there’s also a staircase down, which I guess comes from the path near MOS Burger (according to Gaode walking navigation).

Chenxi Sand Beach

There was an elderly man with a “Black Ship” boat (I think it’s a Black Ship), but I didn’t ask about the price.

After finishing the visit and hiking back up to the entrance of Sunrise Square, I was completely out of breath. Woke up too early this morning and feeling sleepy—time to head back to the hotel for a nap.

The tram station at the metro entrance.

After resting, planned to visit the nearest Qixianling Forest Park from the hotel in the evening.

People combing the shore.

Day 3 Leisurely Wandering

Slept in, had breakfast, played on my phone, packed my bag, checked out, and headed to explore the area around Zhongshan Square.

First, headed to Dalian Shopping Mall.

As soon as I walked in, it was all food shops.

Yikou Xiang—let’s see how fragrant it really is. Bought a seaweed scallop bun for 4.5 RMB; it was quite large and delicious.

Inside, it’s a proper shopping mall.

Heading to Zhongshan Square, passed through an underground passage that looked a bit aged.

Shanghai Road—it really does resemble the streets of Shanghai.

The grand Bank of China building.

Suddenly found myself at Oriental Water City. Actually, I just wanted to feel the sea breeze before leaving. It’s the off-season and daytime, so it’s completely empty.

Elegant—truly elegant!

A square by the seaside in Donggang.

A guy is flying a drone.

Returning home on a sunset flight—perfect.

Thoughts

Like a crystal ball.

Dalian feels a bit like a disco ball—once dazzling, now somewhat quiet and subdued.

A City of Mountains and Sea

With both mountains and sea, it truly is a beautiful city.

So Many Seagulls

I’ve rarely seen seagulls at other beaches I’ve visited, but Dalian’s coastline has plenty of them.

Hard to Get a Taxi

After coming down from Lotus Hill, it was hard to get a taxi back to the city (only a few kilometers away). No drivers accepted the ride, and those who did often canceled. Fortunately, my legs are still strong, so walking wasn’t a big problem.

Sunrise and Sunset

The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, but every time I watch a sunrise or sunset, the feeling is different. If there’s a view you want to see, go see it; if there’s something you want to do, just do it. Who knows how long you’d have to “wait”?

Airport Coffee

Zhou Shui Zi Airport is close to the city. The Starbucks inside security accepts coupons or CMB reward points—great!

One Camera, One Lens

For this trip, I only brought a Tamron 28-200 mounted on my camera. I used the same setup last year in Kagoshima, but back then I used Sony’s original strap, which almost choked my neck (slight exaggeration). Recently, I bought a wide, soft strap from Pugongying; it’s easy to adjust and very comfortable. Hanging the camera on my body is effortless, making it convenient to shoot—highly recommended!

Film-Style Filter

All photos taken with the Sony A7C2 on this trip were straight out with the FL2 filter. I really like the color style—it looks very soft and elegant.

Will Come Again

Maybe in winter.

Conclusion

This was the northernmost place I’ve visited—a beautiful coastal city with perfect weather, making it a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Reference