Golden Stone Beach

The coast around Golden Stone Beach, 60km north of the city, is in the process of being turned into a domestic tourist mecca with a number of theme parks, and rock formations commanding inflated entrance fees. The long pebbly beach itself is free and quite pretty, set in a wide bay with distant headlands.

To get there take the light rail, known by the locals as Line 3 (轻轨三号线; Qīngguǐ Sānhàoxiàn), from the depot on the east side of Triumph Plaza, behind the Dàlián train station (Y8, 50 minutes). From the beach station it's a 10-minute walk to the beach, or catch a tourist shuttle bus (Y20, 30 minutes) which winds round the coast first before dropping you off at the beach. There's a visitor centre to the right of the train station as you exit, with English-speaking staff if you need help.