Dalian

By ship

Ferry services run from the passenger ferry terminal 大连港客运站 Dàlián Gǎng Kèyùn Zhàn on the eastern side of Zhongshan District along Gangwan Jie to cities along the Yellow Sea as well as to Incheon in South Korea. A fast ferry runs to Yantai and has transport options of 3 /12 or 6 hours. Tickets can be purchased either from the ferry terminal or from a kiosk at the train station. On long haul domestic ferries excluding fast ferries first class berths typically offer a two bed room with a shower, second class offers a four bed room with a wash basin while lower classes may offer only a bunk in a large, shared area, a hard seat, or no reserved place at all.

By bus

Long distance buses are available and serve most destinations in the vicinity of Dalian. A popular long distance bus station is on Jianshe Jie, just to the south of the train station along Changjiang Lu. Smaller stations, serving mainly local cities, are located next to the passenger ferry terminal, another about 1.5 km west of the train station at the intersection of Anshan Lu and Xinkai Lu běi gǎng qiáo station (北岗桥汽车站), and in Heishijiao in Shahekou District.

By plane

Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport 大连周水子国际机场 Dàlián Zhōushuǐzǐ Guójìjīchǎng, IATA: DLC, +86 411 8665 2071, to the north-west of the city center, offers direct domestic flights to Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Hohhot, Jinan, Kunming, Linyi, Mudanjiang, Nanjing, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin, Weihai, Wuhan, Xi'an, Xiamen, and Yantai. International destinations include Busan, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Khabarovsk, Osaka, Pyongyang, Sapporo, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, and Vladivostok. Although busy at times, the airport is fairly easy to manage, having only one terminal and a very simplistic layout. International check-in takes place on the west end of the building.

When needing to venture from the airport to the city, be sure to hail a taxi from the official taxi queue on the east side ground level, just a few feet from any of the glass doors on the ground floor. Failing to use one of these could prove problematic unless venturing further outside of the downtown area, where most drivers waiting in the queue will resist driving to.

A regular airport bus departs after every flight lands and runs to the main train station it also stops at the smaller Shahekou train station so be careful not to get off too soon as well as Renmin Lu. ¥5. Public buses #701 and #710 also run from the airport to the train station, #701 terminating at Zhongshan Square and #710 going on to the harbor, Sanba Square and Erqi Square. ¥1. As no change is returned, don't forget to bring some changes before boarding. If you are visiting quite a few scenic spots, you should take such special lines as No. 801, 802 or nonstop Benz Mercedes deluxe shuttle bus.

Tickets for outbound flights can be booked in advance from the airport ticket office on Zhongshan Lu, just opposite Xiwang Square.

Dalian Central Train Station

Direct trains serve most cities in Dongbei as well as Beijing. A daily express train also runs to Shenyang. Tickets can be booked up to ten days in advance from the station, though this requires a degree of Chinese proficiency or access to someone with Chinese proficiency. Local travel agents and major hotels should also be able to book tickets in advance, often further than is possible from the station for an extra charge. For further details on train travel in China, including details on the various classes available, see the main China article.