Dalian Travel Forum

Hello fellow travelers,
My wife and I are going to Dalian in the middle of February and staying until the end of April. I am going to work in a manufacturing plant, and my wife is coming with me so that we will not be seperated for such a long time. We are an older couple who have never traveled to Asia, and we would really appreciate any information about what to bring, and what is available that we would not have to pack. We really do not know enough to be able to ask the right questions yet, so we would appreciate any information from you.
Thank you very much, Charles Tietbohl

They have a Wal-Mart there.
Don't pack a lot of ordinary clothes (underwear, coats, sweaters), as they are so cheap in China.
Bring a small photo album of your home, hometown, and nearby attractions to share with new Chinese friends and colleagues. Insert several postcards too.
Dalian is one of the best cities in China for expatriate living.
Enjoy your stay and don't forget to pack the most important thing for an extended time in China: a sense of humor! (You can't buy that at Wal-Mart)

I would suggest you consult the following websites for information:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/liaoning/dalian/

http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/D/Dalian.html

http://www.dalian.gov.cn/i18n/en/intro/history.htm

http://www.wguides.com/city/315/city_districts.cfmhttp://www.wguides.com/city/315/city_districts.cfm

I remember that one of the universities in the city of Dalian specialized in teaching foreign languages (especially English) to students from all over China.

You should be able to find many young people there who are fairly fluent in English.

Check out my pages on Dalian:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/19778/f98f5/

I hope these sites will be of some help to you.

Joan

Ask A2002 (Lina). She was in Dalian for a short while when the hubby was posted there for a year.

Basically, Dalian is a big city with everything. Just pack the usual as most of the things can be purchased there.

Thank you very much for the information. We are a bit nervous about the trip. I have traveled a little, but my wife has never been out of the USA. I appreciate your helpfulness. Charles

It sounds like you are in for a wonderful experience. I haven't been to Dalian, but I have been to places in Liaoning Sheng. Unfortunately the most time off I can get is 2 weeks so I am envious.

Major cities in China have most of what you would find in the U.S. If you wear large sizes sometimes choice in clothing is limited. Although being in the north sizes run larger than in the south.

For your convenience I would suggest bringing some wet wipes and pocket kleenex packs. In China you can't depend on getting napkins, toilet paper or kleenex when you are outside. Having the wipes and kleenex may make it easier for you until you find the local convenience store. There you can get everything you would need. Keep bottled water to drink as tap water is not usually potable. This is why everything is served cooked or boiled (as for tea). International hotels have everything and cater to foreigners. Dalian is a tourist center.

Follow what the locals do and be adventuresome. You'll have a great time. And if you wonder why you often hear people saying "Lo Wai" it means foreigner. They are always surprised to see us outside the international hotel. They will be even more surprised when you say you are American "Mei Guo Ren". Until recently there were very few there so people will assume you are French.

Enjoy and we will be looking forward to your new travel pages.

If you can find/print out a Chinese-English menu, that might come in handy. Better yet, have some Chinese colleagues help you make one in a small notepad, and add to it whenever you encounter a tasty dish. Chinese restaurants are great, and they are not very expensive!

Buy your electronics/computer equipment at home.
Small gifts from your home country are much appreciated.

Dalian is one of the most modern cities in the Northeast. It is known in the Northeast for being clean and prosperous. Enjoy your time in Dalian and Liaoning Province!

I created a special English-Chinese menu on my home page for VT members going to China. See my Chinese language lesson for a quick start to ordering your favorite foods in China!