Forest Zoo
A major attraction for Chinese tourists primarily because of its pandas both red pandas and great pandas live in the zoo, although many other exotic species are also represented. The zoo is essentially split into two parts, with a walking section at the top of the hill and a safari area at the base near Fujiazhuang. The two sections are joined by cable car and a foot path, with the pandas housed in the upper section. While the exhibits and conditions may disappoint some, it has passed numerous international inspections and is of high quality by Chinese standards. The only crowds are schoolchildren on field trips, otherwise it's very quiet.
Russian Street
One of the few places it's still possible to get a glimpse of Dalian's colonial past. Most of the old Russian and Japanese buildings were razed in the many bursts of redevelopment the city has seen over the years, but the old architecture is "preserved" in the sense many of the buildings along the road are actually modern facsimiles of old Russian buildings rather than the genuine article. The old buildings that do remain are worth examining, however, and more genuine examples lie along the side roads to the east of the main street. Stalls and shops along the road sell various trinkets and souvenirs no affiliation with Russia other than some wooden dolls but the same items can generally be found for much less elsewhere in the city. A similar Japanese Street exists in the south of the city center, near the Children's Park, but it is almost wholly fake, with empty shells of buildings lining the road. Those interested in real examples of Japanese houses would be better served exploring the area around Gaoerji Lu to the south of People's Square, although much of what exists is in shambles.
Dalian Art Gallery
In a spectacular old Russian building dating from 1910, the gallery contains a varied and changing selection of works from local artists, ranging from traditional Chinese styles to works of modern art. The gallery also periodically hosts touring shows from prominent artists both Chinese and foreign.