Travel With Me: Have You Been to This Summer Escape on the Bohai Bay? A Complete Dalian Food and Fun Guide

A Few Words Before We Start
Summer's here again, and with the heat cranked up, finding a cool escape is on everyone's mind. China's a massive country, stretching from north to south, so picking a breezy spot for a summer trip is a natural go-to for plenty of folks. Back in April 2020, a stunning coastal city right where the Yellow Sea meets the Bohai Bay caught the spotlight—it made the "2020 China's Top Summer Resorts" list. That city is Dalian.
So many of us dream of the ocean, just like the famous line from the poet Hai Zi: "Facing the sea, with spring blossoms in bloom." Dalian is exactly that kind of place—a city nestled on China's Bohai Bay, where the sea and sky blur into one. You've got to see it for yourself to truly get it. Dalian is a gorgeous seaside town, and if you're someone who lives inland, always pining for the ocean, arriving here means you can't wait to dive straight into the waves.
About the Itinerary
This trip was all about kicking back, relaxing, and feasting on seafood, so we kept it simple and stuck to spots that were easy to reach from the city center. Two main stops: Xinghai Square and Sun Asia Ocean World.
Where We Stayed
We booked a room at the Heyi Zhishang Hotel on Xi'an Road, just a hop away from Xinghai Square. This area's one of Dalian's top shopping districts, packed with malls to wander through and snack at. Plus, it's super close to the airport—about fifteen to twenty minutes by car. The stay was super comfy: the bedding was just right, not too soft or too firm, perfect for anyone with neck or back issues. There was even a capsule coffee machine in the room, so every morning I'd brew a cup and start the day feeling energized. The bathroom had great water pressure too—after a workout at the hotel gym, a hot shower felt amazing.
Given the current situation, when I was booking, I picked a hotel tagged as a "Safe Stay" on the BTG Homeinns app. From the front desk to the lobby, public areas, and rooms, they had disinfectant supplies everywhere, and even offered free protective gear. Honestly, that level of care really stood out.
Opening the app's homepage, I also spotted a "BTG Homeinns Travel With You" campaign page, featuring guides for hot summer destinations and discounted hotel deals. This summer, the journey to freedom starts right at the hotel.
Getting Around
We flew into Dalian, and since the hotel was so close to the airport, that was a breeze. Once we were there, we relied entirely on public transit and taxis. Our planned spots weren't far apart, so getting around was a piece of cake.
Xinghai Square
Xinghai Square sits in Shahekou District, Dalian, Liaoning Province. It's an open-air plaza in the city's southwest, built as a major project to mark Hong Kong's return to China, and it's one of Dalian's signature landmarks. Apart from the paved areas, the square is covered in lawns dotted with neatly trimmed hedges shaped into traditional Chinese patterns. It's a fantastic place to cool off—after dinner, we'd stroll over, let the sea breeze hit us, and just soak in the vibe.
The square is packed with sculptures, mainly a centennial memorial, bronze figures, and modern sports-themed pieces. The one that grabs everyone's attention is the row of bronze footprints right in the center. Stretching 80 meters, these footprints belong to people born between 1899 and 1999. Among them, there's a pair of prints—one tiny, one even tinier—from a grandmother with bound feet born in 1899 and a baby born in 1999. It's deeply meaningful.
Xinghai Square isn't just Dalian's landmark; it's also the largest city square in Asia. Oval-shaped, it's bigger than two Tiananmen Squares combined. A grand avenue runs through its center, where you can catch musical fountains, admire the sculptures, take in the sea views, and see the cross-sea bridge. You can even feed the seagulls. Strolling across the plaza or standing by the shore, gazing out at the water and the stunning coastal skyline—this is Dalian, and it's the kind of place where you'd want to watch the sun rise and set together.
Before we knew it, we'd wandered from the square right to the beach. In the distance, a steel giant stretches across the sea—that's the Xinghai Bay Bridge, another Dalian icon. This bridge connects Shahekou District with Xigang District, running along the southern waters of Xinghai Bay. Since it's about a kilometer from the square and runs parallel to the coastline, it's become a must-photo spot for anyone visiting Xinghai Square.
The sea was still that deep blue, with the sky quietly merging into the water, holding onto a sense of calm and comfort. In that hazy meeting point, a sudden flash of blue emerged—a shade so vivid it felt beyond brilliance. All that was left was silence, and the sheer glory of the moment.
Dalian Food
Food is life, and in Dalian, you've got to dive into the local flavors. Northeasterners love their BBQ, and that's non-negotiable. But in a coastal city, seafood BBQ becomes the real must-try, so we picked one of Dalian's hottest spots.
Dalian's nightlife kicks off with skewers. This place might be the most Michelin-level, original seafood grill I've ever been to. Fresh seafood skewers, delivered straight from the source, paired with wasabi, oysters, jellyfish, and mantou slices—one big bite is the way to go.
There were Bohai Bay-only shrimp, butterfly-shaped shellfish, curry crab brought straight back from Thailand (so flavorful), tangy and spicy prawns, and a creative combo of clams with mantou that was a fresh twist. And of course, we couldn't skip the classic grilled meats.
Dalian Sun Asia Ocean World
Sun Asia Ocean World is a long-standing must-visit in Dalian. It's tucked inside Xinghai Park, just west of Xinghai Square in the city's core tourist zone. The complex has four main venues: Sun Asia Ocean World, Sun Asia Polar World, Sun Asia Deep Sea Legend, and Sun Asia Coral World. It's a massive blue world where you get up close and personal with the ocean—absolutely perfect for families with kids.
Sun Asia Ocean World
This venue is basically a giant simulated underwater world, focused on showcasing marine life. It's home to China's first 118-meter underwater tunnel, which is famous far and wide.
The first thing that hits you when you walk in is the shark zone. In a massive glass tank, sharks of all sizes glide around, and just looking at their teeth makes you feel like they're warning humans to stay back.
A guide nearby explained that the red ball in the tank is there so the keepers can feed the sharks safely. Since sharks are fierce creatures, keeping humans out of harm's way is a top priority.
Sun Asia Coral World
Right next to the ocean world is the coral venue. This one's mainly for display, and as the name suggests, coral is the star here. Coral is also the theme of the entire ocean world—they're stunning to look at and play a vital role in the ecosystem.
Inside Sun Asia Coral World, you'll find over a hundred species and more than a thousand coral reef organisms from around the globe. They use living coral maintenance technology and modern visual effects to vividly recreate the coral ecosystem of the ocean.
Sun Asia Polar World
The word "polar" makes it obvious—this is where you see Arctic and Antarctic creatures. Two of Sun Asia's three big shows, "Beluga Legend" and "Kung Fu Walrus," are performed here, and I can't wait to tell you about them.
"Beluga Legend"
By the time we got to the beluga performance area, it was already packed. Watching the beluga show at Sun Asia is an absolute must. Two big white belugas and two divers put together stunning scenes underwater. One moment the belugas turn into knights, the next they're dancing a waltz with the divers, forming a big romantic heart shape... It was a full underwater performance with jaw-dropping moves and creativity. As I watched, I actually felt my eyes well up—the perfect harmony and connection between humans and animals. I felt for them giving it their all and admired their dedication. Whether human or animal, that kind of harmony is truly rare and precious.
"Kung Fu Walrus"
The title alone tells you this is a comedy act, and sure enough, a cute little sea lion came out first, cracking jokes with the host and sending the crowd into fits of laughter. Then the walrus star rolled out, and everyone burst out laughing just looking at it. With a big body, tiny head, and chubby frame, it sat there wearing what looked like a few spare tire rolls. This walrus was a real actor—Oscar-level, even. It pouted, played dumb, and charmed everyone, all while showing off some serious skills. At the end, audience members went up, and it only wanted kisses, not hugs—too adorable!
In the polar venue,