Dalian

Port of Dalian is China's largest passenger port, handling more than 5 million people each year. Using its geographical advantages, it promotes passenger/vehicle Ro/Ro transportation. Its 10 dedicated berths serve 6 domestic routes to Shanghai, Weihai, Yantai, Penglai, Tianjin and Changhai Islands, plus an international route to Incheon in South Korea, with over 40 arrivals and departures daily.

The port is walkable from town, though the walk is long and not especially easy; taxis are available. A free shuttle usually runs to Zhongshan Square.

The newly opened Line 2 metro stops near the cruise pier, Zhongshan Square and Qingniwan near Victory Square.

Dalian presents itself as a city of lawns, squares, fountains and gardens. This follows the 'Green Storm', a far-reaching environmental campaign begun by former mayor Bo Xilai, which created many green squares, forest parks and seaside scenic spots. Dalian is described as 'A City Built in Gardens'.

Football and Fashion are the two things that have made the city famous. Called 'Oriental Brazil', it stages many Chinese football matches and has China's most successful football teams. Fans at the four-star Wanda International Hotel's football club show how much Chinese people enjoy the game.

Dalian International Fashion Festival is another city carnival, bringing together thousands of celebrities, designers, pop stars and clothing merchants from home and abroad for an In-Fashion feast. The city has skyscraper shopping malls and markets to excite shopping lovers; visitors around September may find a sea of world-class fashion brands.

Main visitor highlights

A tourist bus along Binhai Lu costs ¥10 and runs 08:00-16:00. Starting near the railway station, it visits the Conference & Exhibition Center, Dalian Seashell Museum, Forest Zoo, FuJiazhuang beach, Yan Woling, Birdsong Forest, Tiger Beach Paradise, Harbour Square and Zhongshan Square. It comes every 40 mins; ride it through the day or stay aboard for a 90-min trip.

Taxis are the best way to travel within the city: they are very cheap and plentiful. To avoid difficulties, choose taxis with a blue or white light on their roof.

Give drivers this list of highlights: Russian Street, Bin Hai Road, Zhongshan Square, Xinghai Square in Liaodong Province (a must see... a whole new modern area.), Tiger Beach and Beida Bridge. Speak to the driver first to assess language skills.

Important: buy the newest available edition of any guide book for the town, because construction moves so fast that what is present today may be gone tomorrow. Ensure maps show both "english" and "chinese" characters, enabling you and the cabdriver to point at them; cabdrivers speak only Chinese.

Every large tourist town has one or more shopping malls for westerners, often the only places to buy larger clothing sizes. They are fun, but almost everything is fake and bargaining is hard. A quick method is to show the cash you will pay and walk away; if they gesture you back, complete the deal. Remain courteous.

Restaurants often cluster in particular districts and use very colourful decoration to draw customers. Walk around and choose places frequented by Chinese families. Menus usually include pictures, and seafood is generally kept alive in large tanks. Dining in China is a feast with little etiquette and plenty of noise. Drink only bottled water, including for brushing your teeth, and take normal precautions when eating out.

Currency: Yuan (or Renminbi RMB).

You may occasionally receive a counterfeit bill, usually of small denomination. There is nothing to do about it, so keep it as a souvenir.

Coffee shops such as Amici and Starbucks across the city have Wifi, and Friendship Shopping Center also offers free WiFi.

Emergency numbers: China 110; Hong Kong and Macao 999.

Stores appear to have no fixed opening times and stay open while customers remain.

Chinese New Year, about two weeks long, is when Chinese people travel, and transport can be very hectic.