Liaoning Travel: A Self-Drive Journey from Dalian to Lushun (Photo)
During the annual Spring Festival Golden Week, due to climatic reasons, tourists generally head south. Even when going north, they go to Heilongjiang to experience the charm of an ice and snow world. So what would it be like to celebrate the New Year in Liaodong, Northeast China? On January 28, 2009, the reporter set off on the third day of the Lunar New Year with a group of car enthusiasts from Beijing, organized as "Liaodong Self-Drive New Year Celebration," and personally experienced something uniquely delightful.
The convoy arrived in Dalian (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
At 8 a.m. on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Aiche Sunshine Self-Drive convoy assembled at the Bailu Toll Gate, the starting point of the Beijing-Shenyang Expressway, and began their journey of self-driving through Liaodong. The convoy rested twice along the Beijing-Shenyang Expressway, then transferred to the Yinghaipan and Shenda Expressways. After a total of about eight hours of driving, they smoothly arrived at the Dalian toll gate at 4 p.m.
Night view of Xinghai Square (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
We thought the weather in Dalian might be cold, but unexpectedly, the maritime climate made Dalian not only warm but also humid. That evening, the travel mates teamed up to visit Xinghai Square to see the night scene. The night at Xinghai Square was incredibly beautiful, with colorful fireworks and lights decorating the entire square into a brilliant spectacle. Occasionally, residents set off fireworks that burst in the air, adding a beautiful scenic line to the night view of Xinghai Square. Leaving the square, the convoy cruised through the streets of Dalian, enjoying the beautiful festive night scenery of the city. They spent their first unforgettable night in Dalian.
Footprint sculpture group (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
On the morning of the fourth day, the convoy began the Dalian and Lushun tour of the Liaodong New Year celebration. They first visited Xinghai Bay Square, which they had just visited the night before. The square was built on June 30, 1997, to commemorate the return of Hong Kong. The central square covers an area of 45,000 square meters, with a total area of 1.72 million square meters.
Art statue (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Many aspects of the square's design and construction fully reflect the clever integration of traditional Chinese culture and modern civilization: the inner circle diameter of the square is 199.9 meters, symbolizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of Dalian in 1999; the outer circle diameter is 239.9 meters, indicating that in 2399, Dalian will celebrate its 500th anniversary; the central part of the square draws on the design concept of the Temple of Heaven's Circular Mound Altar in Beijing, paved with 999 marble stones.
Group photo at Xinghai Square (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The red marble is adorned with yellow five-pointed stars on the periphery—implying stars and sea, a symbol of "Xinghai Bay," and the red and yellow colors symbolize the descendants of Yan and Huang. The marble surface is carved with patterns of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the 24 solar terms, the 12 zodiac animals, and also nine large tripods of different shapes, each bearing a large character in Wei Stele style, collectively forming "Long Live the Great Unity of the Chinese Nation." Surrounding the square are five large palace lanterns, each 12.34 meters high, supported by white marble pillars, shining brightly in harmony with the ornamental column.
Russo-Japanese War site (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
To the north of the square is the modern Xinghai Convention and Exhibition Center, and to the south, facing the sea, is the Centennial City Sculpture. The 100 footprints symbolize Dalian's century of hardship just passed, the innocent children's sculpture embodies the hopes of Dalian's people, and the large open "book" shape facing the sea and sky highlights the city's open and upward-looking spirit. Not far from the sculpture stand the century-old lighthouse and the newly docked Oriana cruise ship. The travel mates took their first group photo before the children's sculpture at Xinghai Square, then drove to Lushunkou.
Reporter on tour (Photo: Wang Libao)
Lushunkou District is 45 kilometers from downtown Dalian, located at the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula. It is surrounded by sea on three sides, connected to Dalian city on one side, and faces the Shandong Peninsula across the sea. According to records, Lushunkou was first named by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, who sent his troops from Shandong by boat to guard Liaodong. Taking the meaning of "a smooth journey by sea," he changed the original name "Shizikou" (Lion's Mouth) to Lushunkou. The coastline of Lushun stretches 169 kilometers in total, making it a national key scenic spot, national nature reserve, national forest park, and historical and cultural city.
Group photo at the war site monument (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Upon arriving in Lushun, the convoy first visited the Dongjiguanshan Scenic Area. Dongjiguanshan mainly consists of the Lushun Russo-Japanese War Exhibition Hall, the North Fortress War Site, and the Wangtai Battery. It is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in Liaoning and a patriotic education base in Dalian. In the exhibition hall, after watching a video documenting the Russo-Japanese War, the travel mates came to the North Fortress War Site for a visit.
North Fortress gate site (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The North Fortress War Site mainly consists of the fortress gate, officers' quarters, soldiers' quarters, ammunition depot, telephone room, flank defensive bunkers, external trenches, protective moats, stepped wells, tunnels, artillery positions, machine gun positions, kitchen and dressing station, bunkers, fortress backyard, wooden drawbridge, and scattered trenches. The northwest to southwest and southern parts are logistics and living facilities, while the northeast to southeast parts are military combat defense facilities. This is a typical fortress that is both offensive and defensive, with a focus on defense.
Lushun West Station building (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Due to time constraints, the travel mates did not go to the Wangtai Battery on Dongjiguanshan but drove to a new attraction in Lushun—the Yanda Railway Ferry Port Tourist Area. If the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on the roof of the world is admired as the "Heavenly Road," then the construction and opening of the Yanda Railway Ferry on the shores of the Bohai Sea continues another legend in Chinese railway history—the "Sea Road."
Ferry port tourist area (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
This is a land-sea railway corridor across the Bohai Bay. The Yanda Railway Ferry starts from Changlingzi Station in Lushunkou District, Dalian, at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, and ends at Zhuji Station in Yantai, Shandong Peninsula, traversing the Bohai Strait. The sea transport distance is about 99.779 nautical miles (184.5 kilometers), making it the first sea railway ferry in China and the 35th in the world to exceed 100 kilometers. The construction and opening of the Yanda Railway Ferry have fully connected the coastal railway corridor, creating conditions for building Yantai and Dalian into railway hubs.
No. 1 ferry ro-ro ship (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
As the convoy entered the ferry port area, the spectacular sight of the China Railway Bohai No. 1 ferry docked at the pier caught everyone's attention. The long passenger boarding bridge spans between the Bohai No. 1 ro-ro ship and the waiting hall on the second floor of the Lushun West Station building. The modern Lushun West Station building integrates ferry ticketing, waiting, dining, and more.
West Station hall corner (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The Bohai No. 1/2/3 ferries, as the core transport vehicles of the Yanda Railway Ferry, are the first passenger ro-ro ships in China to use an integrated full electric propulsion system and the first in the world to use a third-generation podded electric propulsion system for train ro-ro ships. They are currently the largest, most technologically advanced, most luxuriously decorated, safest, most comfortable, and highest-value passenger ro-ro ships in China.
No. 1 ferry ship (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The onboard service facilities are complete, including different levels of cabins, a cinema, a supermarket, a Western restaurant, a fast-food restaurant, a multifunctional hall, a conference room, and other amenities. It is also equipped with satellite phones and satellite TV, and service staff trained to hotel standards provide convenient and personalized business and travel services.
Onboard coffee shop (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
In the subsequent itinerary in Lushun, the convoy visited various attractions such as the Sino-Soviet Friendship Memorial Tower at Lushun Museum, the Lushun Russo-Japanese War West Battery Site, Lushun Military Port, and Wanzhong Cemetery Memorial Hall. They experienced the charm and characteristics of the Lushun scenic area from different perspectives.
Lushun city view (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The West Battery Site in Lushun was one of the main battlefields of the Russo-Japanese War and an important high ground for guarding the military port and Yangtouwa. Due to the high terrain, there is a Lushun Russo-Japanese War observation deck. From the observation deck, one can see not only the first cross-sea railway ferry—the Yanda Ferry Terminal—but also the Sino-Soviet Friendship Memorial Tower and Victory Tower in the distance. Looking around, the entire Lushun cityscape is in full view.
Memorial tower relief (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
By the sea at Lushun Military Port Park, visitors can get a close view of the imposing People's Liberation Army Navy ships anchored near the port and gaze at the beautiful island scenery of Lushun from afar. Especially when strolling along the short seaside promenade in the park, breathing the fresh sea air and enjoying the sea views, it is truly enchanting.
Lushun Wanzhong Tomb (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
At the Wanzhong Cemetery Memorial Hall, the travel mates observed detailed documentary evidence of the Sino-Japanese War launched by Japanese invaders against China over a hundred years ago, and the shocking and brutal historical massacre—the Lushun Massacre. They received an unforgettable patriotic education.
Lushun Museum (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
On the fifth day, the convoy headed to the famous Jinshitan Scenic Area in Dalian. Jinshitan is located on the coast of the Yellow Sea at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, in the eastern suburbs of Dalian, 50 kilometers from the city center. The land area is 62 square kilometers, the sea area is 58 square kilometers, and the coastline stretches 30 kilometers.
Driving along the seaside road (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The mild climate makes it known as the "Little South of the Yangtze River in the Northeast." For most of the year, the area is lush with greenery, green grass, and blooming flowers. The "Ten-mile Golden Coast" features golden sand reflecting the sunlight, and the open sea mirrors the blue sky. The green coverage rate is 46.2%, the average annual air quality index is 30, and the sea cleanliness is classified as national first-class, making it a well-deserved "Back Garden of Dalian."
Wanfuding Park (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
In the Jinshitan Scenic Area, the travel mates visited the Dalian National Geopark, Jinshitan Beach, Jinshitan Wanfuding Park, Jinshitan International Hunting Club, Jinshiyuan, Jinshitan World Celebrity Wax Museum, Jinshitan Geological Museum, and Jinshitan Mao Zedong Badge Exhibition Hall.
Seaside view (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The convoy first headed west along the eastern section of the seaside road, following the sea. The convoy, marked with uniform decals, attracted attention from passersby, adding a beautiful scene to the winter seaside of Jinshitan.
Reporter's photo in Dalian (Photo: Cao Qun)
Along the way, travel mates got off and strolled to the seaside. The temperature was around 12 degrees Celsius, making it warm as spring in the bright sunshine by the sea—a truly pleasant experience and one of the most unforgettable moments of this Liaodong New Year celebration.
Hunting club (Photo: Wang Libao)
At the shooting range of the Jinshitan International Hunting Club, everyone took turns pulling the triggers of air rifles. After a series of shots, the travel mates compared their target papers riddled with bullet holes, sharing the joy of shooting, whether they were nine-year-olds or parents.
Jinshiyuan group photo (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Jinshiyuan is one of the famous natural stone geological landscapes in Jinshitan. It covers an area of 30,000 square meters, of which the sea stone landscape occupies 24,000 square meters. This is an accumulation area of weathered sea stones, with bizarre rock formations resembling turtles, elephants, deer, and dogs, earning it the name "Sea Erosion Zoo." The travel mates immersed themselves in the park, experiencing a unique sense of winding paths leading to secluded spots and hidden wonders.
Fishing boats by the sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
According to scientific research, Jinshiyuan formed during the Sinian Period about 600 million years ago, the same period as the famous mud cracks of Jinshitan. The rocks in Jinshiyuan are quartz sandstone, belonging to a typical sedimentary sequence of an offshore clastic barrier island system in a transgressive system. After the sedimentary sequence formed, geological movements and changes in land and sea exposed it to the surface. Long-term transgression and regression, along with tidal cycles, caused differential weathering of the rocks, resulting in the present appearance.
Jinshitan Bay Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
The Jinshitan World Celebrity Wax Museum is a white European-style building in the central area of Jinshitan. It opened on July 1, 1997, and displays over 100 wax figures. The museum features seven scenes: "Star World," "Century Retrospect," "World Celebrities," "Wax Fun Garden," "Song of Entrepreneurs," "Photo Gallery," and "Blue Bridge Bar."
Celebrity wax museum (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Moving away from the rigid and simple traditional arrangement, the museum adopts a contextualized layout, placing figures in specific historical events and settings. Visitors can appreciate the charm of each celebrity in frozen moments and vivid storylines. From Liu Dehua, who is popular in the Chinese world, to Hollywood star Julia Roberts, tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger, hardworking Lei Feng, flying Michael Jordan—all lifelike figures leave visitors in awe.
Geological museum (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Dalian's tourism resources are incredibly rich. Despite driving around, two consecutive days of sightseeing still left no time to visit the famous Binhai Road in Dalian. Therefore, they arranged to drive along Binhai Road on the morning of the sixth day, just before leaving Dalian. Binhai Road was first built in the 1970s as a military road, but now it has become a 32-kilometer scenic coastal road in Dalian, connecting 12 major attractions.
Bangchuidao Island (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
In August 1988, the Binhai Road scenic area, along with the Lushunkou scenic area, was designated as a national key scenic spot. During the spring season when flowers bloom, driving on this road offers views of hills covered with mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests and azaleas in full bloom on one side, and the vast misty sea with various reefs and islands on the other. Scenic wonders unfold continuously along the way, creating a beautiful and unforgettable experience.
Windmill by the sea (Photo: Feng Ganyong)
Early on the morning of the sixth day, the convoy entered from the eastern starting point of Binhai Road, driving along the Dalian coast. They passed through Beida Bridge, Fujiazhuang, Laohutan, and Bangchuidao, entered Haiyun Park, and went all the way to the end of Haiyun, completing the entire Binhai Road. The convoy then left Dalian city and entered the Danda Expressway, beginning their journey to the border city of Dandong for the Liaodong New Year celebration. (Text and photos: Feng Ganyong)
