Just got back from Dalian, and I have to share my experience!

🌊🌞🚢🦑🍻 Dalian in May—cool sea breeze and perfect sunshine! This northern coastal city, surrounded by the sea on three sides, is a natural oxygen bar, and even the air has a salty and fresh taste. Its geographical location is excellent, with high-speed rail directly to the urban area and the airport only a 20-minute taxi ride from the city center! This super detailed guide will show you how to experience the essence of Dalian in 3 days! 📅 Day 1: Coastal Scenery Walking Tour 🌅 Morning: Feed Seagulls at Xinghai Square A must-visit Dalian landmark! Arrive before 9am for fewer crowds and more seagulls. Bring your own breadcrumbs or buy some there (CNY 5/bag). Watch the seagulls swoop down to grab food—it's super exciting! The Shell Museum (free to view from the outside) next to the square looks like a giant conch shell, perfect for photos! 🌞 Noon: Hike on the Binhai Road Start from Xinghai Square and walk east along the boardwalk! I recommend the section from Jinshatan Beach to Yinshatan Beach. The seawater is as blue as jelly. Along the way, you'll find scenic viewing points. Set up your phone stand, turn your back to the sea, and take 100 photos! 🌙 Evening: Donggang Music Fountain The show starts promptly at 19:30! The fountain dances to the symphony, with water jets reaching up to 50m high! The nearby Venice Water City is incredibly dreamy after dark. Take a gondola ride (CNY 60/person) and pretend you're in Europe. 🏰 Day 2: Journey Through a Century of History 🌅 Morning: Lushun Sun Valley Take Metro Line 12 directly there! The streets are lined with Russian-style buildings and cherry blossom trees (there are still late-blooming cherry blossoms in May!). Don't miss the Lushun Museum (free, 9:00-16:00). The century-old ginkgo tree at the entrance has amazing light and shadow. 🌞 Noon: Chuang Guandong Film and Television Base A recreation of a Republican-era street! Take a rickshaw (CNY 30/hour) or rent a cheongsam (CNY 50/set) to travel back in time! The "Little Red Building," a filming location for "The Message," has hidden rooms and secret passages—it's thrilling! 🌙 Evening: Zhongshan Square Night View Eight European-style buildings surround a circular square, which transforms into a "Little Paris of the Orient" when lit up at night! I recommend the Dalian Hotel 1914 rooftop bar. Order a Sea Salt Mojito and enjoy the panoramic view of the city lights. 🎡 Day 3: Sea, Land, and Air Fun 🌅 Morning: Haida Cable Car Mountain and Sea Views Take the cable car (one-way CNY 60) from the south gate of the Forest Zoo! The transparent cabins fly over Lianhua Mountain, with green forests below and blue seas above. You'll be clicking your camera non-stop! 🌞 Noon: Fresh Seafood at Fisherman's Wharf Fishing boats sell fresh seafood right at the wharf! I recommend the spicy stir-fried abalone (CNY 98/serving) at Pinhailou—it's so tender and chewy! After lunch, take a stroll among the colorful houses and pet the chubby orange cats at the wharf. 🌙 Evening: Discovery Kingdom Luminous Parade (The evening ticket is a great value at CNY 99!) Enter the park after 18:00 to avoid the scorching sun! Don't miss the "Thunderbolt" roller coaster—it's a thrill to be suspended upside down and rush into the night! At 20:30, the luminous floats light up, and you can dance and party until the park closes. 🔥 Must-Visit TOP 5 1️⃣ Shengya Ocean World 🐋 Features: 118m underwater tunnel! Sharks swim overhead, and the "Dolphin Bay Lovers" show at 2pm is worth the ticket price! ⏰ Time: 9:00-17:00 💰 Ticket: CNY 240 2️⃣ Bangchui Island 🏝️ Free! The beach where Chairman Mao swam! Walking barefoot on the pebble beach is so relaxing. Bring a tent, have a picnic, and watch the seagulls fight. 3️⃣ Jiaoda Night Market 🍢 Opens at 18:00! I recommend the grilled cold noodles with stinky tofu (CNY 10) and Meng Ge's Mungen (crispy version!). The chili oil is so fragrant it'll make you cry! 4️⃣ Russian Style Street 🏰 Free photo ops! Candy-colored buildings and hand-painted nesting dolls. Remember to buy a "Daliba" bread (CNY 15/piece)—it's bigger than your face! 5️⃣ Tram 201 🚃 Travel through a century for CNY 2! The green, retro tram clangs through the streets and alleys. Open the window in the back seats and film a vlog! 🏨 Hotel Recommendation: Grand Hyatt Dalian 📍 Location: Prime spot at Xinghai Square! The room's floor-to-ceiling windows face the cross-sea bridge. 🌟 Highlights: 48th-floor sky pool! Swim under the stars at night, and the breakfast includes fresh sea urchin sashimi! 🚌 Transportation Recommendations and Warnings ✅ Recommendation: No. 16 double-decker bus! The front seats on the second floor offer a panoramic view of the coastline. ❌ Warning: Don't take a taxi to the train station! Taxi drivers are known for taking long detours. It's more reliable to use a ride-hailing app. ⚠️ Lifesaving Tips The UV rays at the seaside are strong! Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are essential! The seawater is still cold in May, so bring a windbreaker! Keep an eye on the scale when buying seafood! Poke holes in the plastic bag beforehand to drain the water. 🍜 Foodie Radar Activated! Weihua Fish Ball Shop: Hand-beaten fish balls so bouncy they could play ping pong! The soup base is topped with seaweed and dried shrimp—it's incredibly fresh! Songyunju: Sea Cucumber with Rice! Crispy sea cucumber with thick sauce, perfect for mixing with rice. He Diu Yi Zhi Xie: This barbecue restaurant serves frozen pear sashimi! The grilled razor clams burst with juice like little seafood bombs! Nuomi Xiang: Red bean fried cakes! Crispy on the outside, with a hot red bean paste filling—a sweet tooth's dream! Xiding Dumplings: Sea Urchin Dumplings! CNY 18/piece, expensive but worth it! The sweet and savory juice bursts in your mouth like fireworks. 💰 Expense List Transportation: Bus + taxi ≈ CNY 200 Accommodation: Grand Hyatt sea view room ≈ CNY 1200/night Food: Night market snacks + seafood ≈ CNY 500 Tickets: Shengya + Discovery Kingdom ≈ CNY 340 Total budget: Three days and two nights ≈ CNY 2500/person 🌅🌊🚡🎆🦀 Dalian's romance is the sea breeze mixed with the fragrance of acacia flowers, the tram clanging through old times, and the warmth of the night market's glow on your cheeks. The May sea is sparkling, so why not come and chase the waves?