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Xigang District (西岗区; Xīgǎngqū), the smallest of Dalian's four districts, takes up the western half of the city centre and is the home of most of the city government. As with government districts in most cities there is not a huge amount for tourists to do in the central part of Xigang aside from gawking at the centres of power, though the stadium, and the nearby bar area, do provide alternative attractions. The southern half of the district offers more for visitors, with the forest zoo for panda watchers and Fujiazhuang beach for sun lovers. Bargain hunters may find a trip to the central market rewarding, provided their haggling skills are up to scratch.

[edit] Get in

For those arriving by air, all three airport buses stop in central Xigang. The express shuttle stops at the municipal government (just north of People's Square), bus 701 stops at the stadium, while bus 710 stops at People's Square. Those arriving at the central train station, meanwhile, can catch bus 16 or 22 to People's Square and the stadium. Those arriving by boat, bus 16 also stops just in front of the passenger ferry terminal.

[edit] Get around

Getting around in the central part of the district is little trouble given that most of the areas of interest are clustered around People's Square and the Stadium which are no more than 10 minutes walk from one another. To get to the central market catch bus 16 or 22 from the stadium or People's Square to Qingniwaqiao, head to the railway station and walk through the pedestrian tunnel on the left hand side. The Forest Zoo can be reached by catching bus 4 (terminating at Tiger Beach) from the stadium. To get to Fujiazhuang Beach head to Qingniwaqiao then take bus 5.

[edit][add listing] See

• Russian Street. (俄羅斯風情街; Éluósī Chuíqíngjiē) – Across Shengli Bridge to the northeast of the train station, Russian Street is one of the few places it's still possible to get a glimpse of Dalian's colonial past. Most of the old Russian and Japanese buildings were razed in the many bursts of redevelopment the city has seen over the years, but the old architecture is "preserved" along Russian Street. "Preserved" in the sense that many of the buildings along the road are actually modern facsimiles of old Russian buildings rather than the genuine article. The old buildings that do remain are worth examining, however, and more genuine examples lie along the side roads to the east of the main street. Stalls and shops along the road sell various trinkets and souvenirs, but the same items can generally be found for much less elsewhere in the city. A similar Japanese Street exists in the south of the city centre, near the Children's Park, but it is almost wholly fake, with empty shells of buildings lining the road. Those interested in real examples of Japanese houses would be better served exploring the area around Gaoerji Lu (Gorky Road) to the south of People's Square and the football stadium.

• Dalian Art Gallery, +86 411 82540584. 9AM-4PM – At the southern tip of Russian Street in a spectacular old Russian building dating from 1910, the Dalian Art Gallery contains a varied and changing selection of works from local artists, ranging from traditional Chinese styles to works of modern art. The gallery also periodically hosts touring shows from prominent artists both Chinese and foreign.

• People's Square (人民广场; Rénmín Guǎngchǎng) – The other main square in the centre of Dalian, People's Square is the seat of the city government and it is housed in old Russian-style buildings around the square. Like Zhongshan Square, People's Square is well worth a visit for the architecture alone, but the kite flyers and fountain at the southern tip of the square are also worth seeing. Here, there are regular performances. The best time to see the fountain is probably during the evening show (8PM) when the fountain is illuminated.

• The Forest Zoo (森林动物园; Sēnlín Dòngwùyuán), 60 Nashidao Street, +86 411 82495072 [1]. 8AM–5PM. Nestled along the hillside south of the city centre, the Dalian Forest Zoo is a major attraction for Chinese tourists primarily because of its pandas (both red pandas and great pandas live in the zoo), although many other exotic species are also represented. The zoo is essentially split into two parts, with a walking section at the top of the hill and a safari area at the base near Fujiazhuang. The two sections are joined by cable car and a foot path, with the pandas housed in the upper section. While not perhaps up to the quality of western zoos, the zoo has passed numerous international inspections and is of high quality by Chinese standards. It can seem somewhat forlorn during outside of peak times, however. 30 RMB for walking section, ¥60 for walking section + safari section.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Take in a Dalian Shide game – Among the many things Dalian is famous for, one of the most prominent is football (soccer). Dalian's football side, Dalian Shide FC, is the most successful in China, having won the Chinese league 8eight times (most recently in 2005) and . They have also produced a number of Chinese internationals, including Sun Jihai of Manchester City and Dong Fangzuo of Manchester United. Home matches are played at the People's Stadium just next to Olympic Square (奥林匹克 广场 Àolínpǐkè Guǎngchǎng) on alternate weekends from early March to early November. The 60,000 seater stadium is rarely even half full and even the biggest matches (against the Beijing, Shanghai or Shenyang teams) don't sell out so obtaining tickets is never a problem. Despite this the atmosphere is still pretty unique. Ticket prices vary according to the quality of the opposition, with the biggest games costing around ¥20 while entry to matches against lesser teams can sometimes be had for nothing if you're willing to wait until just before kick-off.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Dalian central market – North of the train station, this is the best place to go for bargains. There are many different halls offering pretty much everything under the sun, but the main hall is the most useful to visitors, with foodstuffs on the ground floor, clothes and bags on the next couple of floors and trinkets and souvenirs on the next floor up. If you are willing to haggle hard, goods can be purchased here for a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere.

[edit][add listing] Eat

The range of restaurants is nowhere near as comprehensive in Xigang as it is in Zhongshan District, with the only standout example being the Tapas Spanish restaurant near Russian Street. In the more residential areas there's still the usual range of cheap, hole in the wall and mid-range Chinese restaurants, however.

[edit] Splurge

• Tapas, 35-3 Shengli Jie (2-min. walk west of Russian Street), ☎ +86 411 82549996, [2]. Spanish restaurant specializing in tapas and almost exclusively Spanish wine (nearly all by-the-bottle). Paella can be a good value for those on the cheap. Two tables for drinks on 1F viewable from kitchen, six tables or so on 2F geared for dining. A quieter place livened up by Spanish guitar songs periodically throughout the evening. ¥40 tapas, ¥100 main.  edit

• Zihang Fan Dian (紫航饭店), (intersection of Changchun Lu and Huanghe Lu). Fresh seafood, arguably Dalian's finest.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Bars

• Brooklyn Bar and Restaurant, Bulao Street (5-min. walk north of Olympic Square). 5:30PM-2AM, closed M. 2F is the main bar area with five tables and 3F has a larger seating area with table tennis table (1F is kitchen). Feature a movie night (Th) and quiz night (Su). Owner/manager is Western and has brought his bartending and kitchen skills for locals and expats to enjoy, featuring pizza and hamburgers with homemade buns. Clean spot with free WiFi. ¥30 drink, ¥50 food.  edit

• JDs, Changchun Road (1 block southeast of Olympic Square). Dance club with booths on one side. It is a lively, noisy place with DJs playing a mix of hip-hop, dance and Russian pop tunes until late. Restrooms are very dirty but cheaper prices compared to the bigger dance clubs. The stadium it is attached to is scheduled for demolition sometime in 2009. ¥30.  edit

• Noah's Ark Bar (挪亚方舟酒吧; Nuóyàfāngzhōu Jiǔba), Wusi Road (South side of People's Square). Good place to go for a relaxing drink, especially in summer when the patio in front is open. The main bar is downstairs, where there's live music and eclectic themed décor with about 10 tables/booths. Owner can not get gruff with customers at times and English level is minimal with staff. Place is perhaps more know for their pizza. ¥30.  edit

• Santiago, Bulao Street (3-min. walk north of Olympic Square). Popular with the locals and those who enjoy live music, mainly vocals with keyboard accompaniment. Very comfortable seats fill up the two floors.  edit

[edit] Coffee shops/teahouses

• All's Well, 13 Wuyi Road (and other), ☎ +86 411 84641419. Slightly cheaper coffee (including free refills of the coffee of the day) and all you can eat buffets at dinner time.  edit

• I-55, 67 Gao'erji Road (Gao'erji Road is one way, 5-min. walk south of People's Square), ☎ +86 411 83695755. Daily 9AM-midnight. A popular place for locals and expats alike enjoying coffee brewed by the cup and a popular weekend morning breakfast buffet (¥85). Try the bakery items and sandwiches. Has an outdoor deck (with a bit of smog since it sits right next to a busy street) that is lit up at night and free WiFi access. ¥25 drinks, ¥50 food.  edit

• Starbucks, 291 Zhongshan Road, Tower A Wanda Commercial Square (across Zhongshan Road from Olympic Square). The only location in the district, with free wi-fi for paying customers. ¥20.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Huanan International Youth Hostel (华南国际青年旅舍; Huánán Guójì Qīngnián Lǚshě), 1 Yingchun Road, +86 411 82496830 – Near the north entrance of the Forest Zoo, this hostel offers more facilities than the Haiyun hostel in Zhongshan District. It includes restaurants, coffee bars and a bike rental service. Because of the extra services, it is slightly more expensive. The location makes it easy to get to the centre, Xinghai Square or Fujiazhuang beach. Rooms range from singles to six person dorms. Part of Hostelling International, so YHA members get discounts. ¥50-200. The hostel has now closed down. You can find the HUAYUE BUSINESS HOTEL here instead. Address is the same: 1, Yingchun Road. Tel: +86 411 82588666, 82588866. You can reach the hotel by taking bus 706 from Zhongshan Road close to Qingniwa Shopping Area and Victory Square. Rates start from ¥118 for a room in high season.

[edit] Mid-range

• Sea Horizon (海天白云大酒店; Hǎitiān Báiyún Dàjiǔdiàn), 81 Binhai Road, ☎ +86 411 82403399. The best thing about the Sea Horizon is undoubtedly its location, on the coast very close to Fujiazhuang Beach and within walking distance of Xinghai Square with some excellent views. Its facilities, lobby bar, seedy nightclub and a few run down tennis courts are nothing to write home about. The hotel does boast a very good restaurant. ¥325-1,355.  edit

• Sweetland Hotel, 171 Changchun Road (2-min. walk southeast of Olympic Square), [3]. Rooms are very clean. Very large hotel with a buffet featuring multiple food varieties (food quality is mediocre).  edit

• Wanda International Hotel, 539 Changjiang Road, [4]. This four star hotel offers excellent facilities for both business and pleasure. It has 350 air-conditioned rooms equipped with a cable TV, mini-bar, IDD telephone, refrigerator, and safe.  edit

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