Dalian is an urbanized and industrialized center of the Liaodong Peninsula. It is bordered to the west by the Yellow Sea and to the East by the Bohai Sea. Its harbor entrance from a sub-bay known as the Dalian Bay.
It is the second largest city of the Liaoning province, and with its current developments and beautiful coastline, is also fast-becoming an expat destination.
The over-all climate in the city is monsoon-influenced, which translates to hot, humid summers, and dry, cold winters. The best weather during the year is from June to October, when the weather is somewhere between summer and autumn.
The city of Dalian has a population of 6.13 million people. It was originally a farming population until it was opened for foreign investment in 1984, which eventually opened the gates to the city's industrialization.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics in China, Dalian's economy ranks eighth in terms of overall strength. It has registered an amazing GDP of 385.8 billion RMB (Chinese Yuan Renminbi).
The city's main industries are machine manufacturing, petrochemicals and oil refining, and electronics. It is also investing in the tourism and finance industries.
Due to the Chinese government declaring the city ‘open' to foreign investments, big players, especially in electronics are found in the city such as Toshiba, Canon, and Sanyo Electric.
Visas and Permits
Anyone who wishes to travel to anywhere in China, including Dalian, must have a valid visa to enter the country.
General requirements in applying for a visa would include a completed application form which can be acquired from any Chinese Embassy or Consulate, a 2x2 passport photos of the applicant, a passport valid for at least six months from date of travel, and documents which explains the applicant's purpose to enter the country.
Those who wish to permanently reside and work in Dalian must also secure a permanent residence confirmation form from the Public Security Bureau in the city, as well as an employment license from the proposed employer or the municipal or labor authority.
Processing time for visa application is about 5-7 business days up to two weeks at the most. A single-entry visa is valid for three months while multiple-entry visas would stay valid from six months up to five years.
What You Need To Pack
As far as clothing is concerned, it's best to have cotton shirts and comfortable pants. Make sure the fabric is lightweight as the climate in China is more humid than what you may be used to. Bring also a jacket or two for cold winters in Dalian.
If one has certain special medications to take on a daily basis, make sure to stock on those before you leave for Dalian.
A dictionary of simple English to Chinese or Chinese to English translations would come in handy, for Dalian is primarily a Mandarin-speaking city.
Now that you've got your Dalian basics down, enjoy Dalian's Oriental living in an industrialized setting!
