Dalian

Dalian is a major port and coastal resort city on the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula in Liaoning province. With a metropolitan population of around seven million, it enjoys a reputation as one of northern China's cleanest and most pleasant seaside cities. Thanks to its coastal setting, the climate is temperate and milder than the interior, with cool summers and cold but moderate, breezy winters. Highlights include the vast Xinghai Square, the scenic Binhai coastal drive, Tiger Beach Ocean Park, and pockets of Russian and Japanese colonial architecture. As a seaside city, Dalian is celebrated for its fresh seafood, from braised sea cucumber to grilled clams and seafood dumplings. A modern metro and tram network, Zhoushuizi International Airport, and high-speed rail link it to Shenyang and beyond. For an international student, Dalian offers sea breezes, a relaxed atmosphere, well-regarded universities, and a comfortable pace of life.