By early evening the light goes soft over Xinghai Square and the beaches along the southern edge of the peninsula begin to empty. In the centre of town, offices close, restaurants fill, and the first drinkers settle in along the side streets off Wuwu Lu near Sanba Square.
Dalian's nightlife is modest in scale and spread out rather than concentrated. There is no single bar street of the kind found in Beijing or Shanghai; bars are scattered across the city centre and near the large universities, with a few loose clusters worth knowing about. The scene suits visitors who prefer an early, low-key evening, who are happy to move between a few separate pockets of the city, and who do not mind that things wind down well before midnight.
Where to go out in Dalian
1. The side street off Wuwu Lu near Sanba Square
This is the most central of the city's bar clusters, a side street within easy reach of the downtown core. It suits an evening that starts with dinner in the centre and continues on foot, without a long taxi ride between stops.
Because the bars here sit close together, it is the most practical base for bar hopping if you want to stay in one part of town. The city has no single bar street, so treat this as one pocket among several rather than the whole night.
2. Changjiang Lu, north of the Shangri-la Hotel
The second cluster runs along Changjiang Lu, north of the Shangri-la Hotel. It draws a mixed crowd of locals, foreign business people and teachers, and suits a quieter, seated evening rather than a loud one.
As with the other clusters, the bars are spread along the road rather than packed into one strip, so expect to walk or take short rides between them.
3. Gaoerji Lu, south of People's Square
The third cluster lies along Gaoerji Lu, south of People's Square. It is convenient if your evening begins or ends around the square, and it suits the same unhurried, move-at-your-own-pace approach as the other two areas.
These three clusters are the main concentrations for anyone wanting to bar hop; outside them, bars are liberally scattered across the centre and near the universities.
4. KTV venues
Karaoke is a large part of going out in China, and Dalian has a wide variety of KTV venues. Some are built for family or group gatherings, typically in larger buildings with small shops inside where drinks and snacks can be bought. Others cater to business outings and tend to have a row of standing waitresses at the front door or shortly after you enter the singing room.
This is a good option for a group evening, and it works whatever the weather. Decide in advance which kind of venue you want, since the two styles offer quite different experiences.
5. Summer night markets
In summer, night markets appear with very cheap draught beer and barbecued meat, tofu, vegetables and bread, served in an informal outdoor setting. Some have no chairs at all.
This is the cheapest way to drink in the city, but it is not recommended if you are in Dalian for only a short time or have not spent a few weeks in China getting used to the local food and water, unless you are unconcerned about stomach trouble. Many locals do not eat at these places either.
6. Theatres and concert halls in Zhongshan District
Zhongshan District holds the city's theatres and concert halls, with local and international performances. This suits an evening built around a scheduled show rather than a wandering one.
Check what is on before you plan the rest of your night, since a performance will set the timing for everything around it.
7. Cinemas
There is a cluster of cinemas in the centre of town around Youhao Square, but they mainly cater to local audiences and English-language screenings are extremely rare. If you are not fluent in Mandarin, the Warner-Wanda cinema on the north side of Olympic Square in Xigang District, the Ownar Cineplex in the He Ping shopping centre north of Xinghai Square in Shahekou District, or the theatre at the Roosevelt Shopping Center are better bets.
A film is a reasonable fallback on a wet or cold evening, provided you pick the right venue for your language.
8. Football at the People's Stadium, Xigang District
Football is a fundamental part of Dalian's identity, and a match at the People's Stadium is an evening out in itself. The season runs from March to November.
If you are visiting during the season, this is worth building a night around, with drinks before or after in one of the central clusters.
How a night out unfolds
Typical of northern Chinese cities, the nightlife comes to an end rather early. The city feels asleep around 22:00, and the formal bar closing time is 02:00. Plan your evening accordingly: eat and start drinking early if you want a full night, and do not count on finding much life on the streets in the final hours before closing.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Dalian Beer Festival, Xinghai Square — ten days in late July and early August. Daytime visitors tend to go for the food and music acts; night-time goers come for the beer and music acts. Domestic and regional vendors attend, some selling beer from Germany and the United States.
- Cherry picking — summer, when cherries ripen. Most picking gardens in the suburbs let you taste in the garden or take fruit away at a price slightly above market.
- Beach season — May to October, with May especially pleasant when the weather is warm but not too hot.
- Football season — March to November, with games at the People's Stadium in Xigang District.
Frequently asked questions
How late does Dalian stay awake?
Not very late by big-city standards. The city feels asleep around 22:00, though the formal bar closing time is 02:00.
Is there a bar street in Dalian?
No. The city lacks a single bar street of the kind found in Beijing or Shanghai. Bars are scattered across the centre and near the universities, with three main clusters for bar hopping: the side street off Wuwu Lu near Sanba Square, Changjiang Lu north of the Shangri-la Hotel, and Gaoerji Lu south of People's Square.
Where can I see a film in English?
English-language screenings are extremely rare at the cinemas around Youhao Square, which mainly cater to local audiences. Try the Warner-Wanda cinema on the north side of Olympic Square in Xigang District, the Ownar Cineplex in the He Ping shopping centre north of Xinghai Square in Shahekou District, or the theatre at the Roosevelt Shopping Center.
Where can I drink cheaply?
The summer night markets, which serve very cheap draught beer alongside barbecued food in an informal outdoor setting. Be aware that they are not recommended for short-stay visitors or those not yet used to eating in China.
Decide which cluster suits your evening, check whether a match, a performance or the beer festival falls during your stay, and set out early enough to enjoy it before the city settles down.