Dalian
Dalian is a mild northeastern port on the Yellow Sea, known for beaches, Russian and Japanese-era buildings and seafood.
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Dalian is a port city at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula in Liaoning province, northeast China, and the second-largest city in the province after Shenyang. Its climate is mild, with no severe winter cold and no extreme summer heat. The downtown grew from Qingniwa, a fishing and mining village on Dalian Bay. Russia built a commercial port there in the late 1890s, and Japan took the area after the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth. Zhongshan Square was laid out by Russians, and most of its classical buildings date from the Japanese period.
Go for the seafront, the old streets and the seafood. Jinshitan has a 16 km beach, and Laohutan Ocean Park has marine animal shows. Lüshunkou, the former Port Arthur, has battle sites from 1904 and 1905 and a museum. Dalian cuisine is known for abalone, sea cucumber and scallops. Spring and autumn are the drier seasons, with autumn cool and dry, while mid-July to late August brings typhoons, so plan a few days around the weather.
Dalian in five
- Arriving by cruise ship?Dalian is one of the 13 ports in the group-only cruise visa-free rule. Independent visitors cannot use it; the China guide has the full rule.China travel guide
- Check your entry rule before flying northEntry depends on your passport: the 30-day list, the 240-hour transit or a visa. The visa checker shows which applies to you, and the China guide explains each route.Visa checker
- Choose summer for the beach, early autumn for walkingDalian's sea breeze keeps July and August milder than inland China, but beaches are crowded then. September and early October are clearer and quieter for coastal paths and the old quarters.
- Link Dalian with Beijing by rail or airBeijing and Dalian are connected by train and by flight, so the northeast coast fits a Beijing trip. Check 12306 and flight times, since the best option depends on your day.Beijing
- Book seafood by weight, and ask firstSeafood restaurants often price fresh fish and shellfish by weight. Ask for the price per unit before they cook it, and ask to see the scale when you order.
Need to know
- Airport
- Dalian Zhoushuizi (DLC)
- Getting there
- Domestic and regional flights; rail from Shenyang and Beijing
- Getting around
- Metro, trams, buses and taxis; pay by QR code
- Best base
- Near Zhongshan Square or Xinghai Bay for sea and sights
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with Lüshun
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh1°Low-3°Cold, dryJanuaryClear
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- FebruaryClear3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh2°Low-2°Cold, dryFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°ChillyMarchClear
Good
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Chilly
- AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low8°Cool, breezyAprilClear
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, breezy
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°MildMayClear
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Warm, fogJuneClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fog
- JulyClear9 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Beach seasonJulyClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- AugustRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Beach, rainAugustRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 196 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, rain
- SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Clear, mildSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh17°Low14°CrispOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp
- NovemberClear4 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°ColdNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- DecemberClear3 rainy daysHigh4°Low0°Cold, dryDecemberClear
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
Average daily high and low in Dalian, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Dalian
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 60%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 4%
Dalian
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today18°10°4%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed18°14°75%Wednesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Thu17°8°78%Thursday: Rain. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Fri9°3°4%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat7°2°33%Saturday: Snow. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sun9°2°64%Sunday: Snow. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 64%.
- Mon13°7°10%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 01:30 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lüshunbus or taxi from DalianA naval port with old fortifications and a quiet harbor.
- Jinshitan coastbus or taxi from DalianA long beach and rock coast for a half-day seaside outing.
- Shenyangby railA provincial capital with imperial palace history, easy to reach by train.
Before you go to Dalian
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Rules for Dalian, checked
- Check visa and entry rules for your nationality on the National Immigration Administration website before you book flights.Source
- Lüshunkou's naval base is not fully open to non-Chinese citizens. Check access before you plan a visit there.
- Most public transport accepts the Mingzhu IC card, so load one for buses and the metro.
- Motorcycles are banned in the downtown core by local law.
Plan around Dalian
Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities
Read the guideHarbinIce festival city in the far northeast
Read the guideBeijingForbidden City and Wall, linked by rail and air
Read the guideChina visa-free entryThe 30-day list and the 240-hour transit
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData, maps and payment apps
Read the guideQingdaoBeer festival and old town on the Shandong coast
Read the guideTianjinOld concessions beside Beijing
Read the guideDalian FAQ
Is Dalian worth visiting?
Yes for a coastal break in northeast China: sea promenades, seafood and Russian and Japanese-era quarters. It is less of a sightseeing hub than Beijing, so it works best as a relaxed two-day stop.
When is the best time to visit Dalian?
May, June, September and October. Summer is the beach season and the busiest, while winter is cold, dry and quiet. Sea fog can hang over the coast in early summer.
How many days do you need in Dalian?
Two days cover the central squares, the seafront and one beach or fishing village. Add a third for Lüshun's fortifications. One day is enough if you are passing between Beijing and the northeast.
Can I enter China at Dalian without a visa?
It depends on your passport. The 30-day list, the 240-hour transit and the cruise-group rule are three different routes. The visa checker shows which one applies to you, and the China guide explains each.
Does Dalian have a strong winter season?
Winter is cold and dry, with sea winds, and few visitors. It suits travelers who like quiet coastlines, not beach holidays. Pack insulated layers and check ferry and bus timetables for coastal day trips.