Dalian, a coastal city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, is at the southernmost point of Liaodong Peninsula. The Bohai Sea is to the west οf Dalian; the Yellow Sea, to the east. Dalian, given its beautiful scenery and pleasant environment, has long been a famous summer resort — and a popular tourist destination — in China.
Dalian, which faces the sea and is bordered by mountains, is surrounded by stunning scenery. The city enjoys a moderate climate; the summer days are never scorching hot, and the winter days are never freezing cold. Dalian is also known for its superior natural ecological environment, which is suitable for growing plants and raising animals. The city's extensive coastline, which spans more than 2,200 kilometers, weaves through serene bays and dramatic cliffs. The coastline nurtures a rich marine ecosystem, and incredibly beautiful scenery.
Jinshitan National Tourism Resort
Jinshitan National Tourism Resort, bordered by the Yellow Sea on three sides, and which boasts more than 30 kilometers of coastline, was recognized in 2011 as a national, 5A-level scenic area, which is China's highest ranking for tourism areas. The resort is located in northeastern Dalian, and it covers 130 square kilometers, which include 78 square kilometers of land and 52 square kilometers of sea.
Jinshitan is famous for its rocks; the resort's landscape features steep cliffs, highlighting different shapes and sizes of rocks, believed to have been formed during the Sinian (around 600 to 800 million years ago) and Cambrian (over 500 million years ago) periods. Many of the rocks dotting the cliffs resemble humans and animals, including monkeys, dinosaurs, huge birds, crabs and even the bust of famous composer Beethoven (1770-1827). Some have suggested the resort is a natural geological museum, while others have argued it is a park οf sculptures created by nature.
Mud-Crack Stone, also known as Tortoise-Back Stone, is one of the most remarkable features of Jinshitan. The huge stone is a rare sedimentary rock, which displays a wonderful mud-crack structure. There are two schools of thought held by scientists about the site's origin. Some believe the mud crack occurred when calcic silts were deposited, and then exposed aerially in the dry and hot weather, about 540 million years ago. The other school οf thought holds the site was formed when an earthquake caused cracks perpendicular to the rock bedding.
Bingyu Valley Scenic Area
Bingyu Valley Scenic Area, which covers 110 square kilometers, is located in northern Zhuanghe, a county-level city administered by Dalian. The area is a mountain-type scenic spot characterized by beautiful natural landscapes, with many strange peaks, deep valleys, clear streams and pools, numerous forests and flowers, and pleasant scenery — all year long. The organic combination οf mountains, rivers, forests, streams and springs forms a primitive, quiet, simple and natural scenery, which has come to be known as "Oriental Miniature Switzerland."
Yingna Lake and Xiaoyu River are like two dragons entrenched in Bingyu Valley. Their water is clear, mellow and pleasant, inexhaustible all year long, with a beautiful color of blue and dyed green. Visitors can experience roaming Yingna Lake by boat, and they will enjoy different sceneries along the two sides of the river.
The scenic area has an abundance of wildlife, and it preserves the world's largest natural, and original, ecological red pine and oak forest ecosystem. The area's forest coverage rate surpasses 90 percent, and the green virgin forests of the mountain eclipse the sky, as the natural arboretum bewitches the onlooker. There are thousands of plants, which help provide an oxygen-rich environment. The scenic area is also a habitat for hundreds of animals, such as otters, roe deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels and birds, especially indigenous robins.
The mountain range is the southern extension of Qianshan Mountains. It embodies both bold and unconstrained grandeur of northern landscapes, and it also displays the delicate and graceful charm of southern mountains. Lanma Peak is the highest peak in the scenic area. Visitors can take a cable car to the peak to enjoy the panoramic view οf Bingyu Valley.
The balanced coexistence of land and sea not only fosters biodiversity, but also elevates Dalian's reputation as a city that seamlessly harmonizes nature and urban life. As such, it invites locals and travelers to explore its coastal trails, botanical gardens and wildlife reserves, all while savoring the fresh, ocean-kissed air that defines its unique charm.
Photos from Tuchong
(Women of China English Monthly August 2025)
Editor: Wang Shasha
