A Hiking Tour of Dalian's Old Town | I Connected Western-Style Houses, a Vegetable Market, and a Vinyl Store in 4 Kilometers (Blogger's Personal Experience - Autumn/Winter Edition)
The first time I came to Dalian, I followed the travel guides and squeezed into Xinghai Square and Donggang. In winter, the sea breeze was unpleasant, and in summer, it was full of tour groups. Later, a friend who lived on Guilin Street told me that the real old town of Dalian is hidden in the Nanshan and Qingyun areas, and whether you take a bus or not is a completely different story. So, this Citywalk route came about.
Route Overview: 4.2 km main road, with two branch lines specifically for those prone to getting lost.
The main road is simple: Zhongshan Square—Yan'an Road—Nanshan Road—Qiqi Street—Guilin Street—Baowei Lane—Qingyun Street—Wenhua Street—Jieshan Street. The two branch roads are short but worth taking. Branch road one turns onto Mingze Lake and Children's Park in the middle of Nanshan Road, about 600 meters further, taking about 12 minutes round trip; branch road two turns left onto Guangfeng Street next to the old market on Qingyun Street, about 500 meters further, taking about 10 minutes round trip. The entire route avoids backtracking, and the slope is mostly gentle, with only Baowei Lane and Guangfeng Street featuring some hillside steps.
It is recommended to reserve the entire route from 1 pm to evening, because the vintage shops and cafes on Nanshan Road open in the afternoon, and a new batch of hot food is also available at Qingyun Street Market in the afternoon. The light comes from the west side of the old buildings, which is just right for taking pictures.
Section 1: From the old buildings of Zhongshan Square to the vintage cafes on Nanshan Road (approximately 1.2 km / 25 minutes)
After exiting Zhongshan Square subway station, don't rush to cross the road. The blogger's camera position was near a small grove of ginkgo trees on the east side of the center of the square, with the back to the bronze sculpture, photographing the former site of the Yamato Hotel. The backlighting made the decorative lines under the eaves particularly clear. Why it's worth stopping for 5 minutes: This isn't just one building, but a whole circle of eclectic buildings from the 1900s, each corner column is different, and walking around it is like quickly flipping through the cover of Dalian's opening-up history.
Walking south along Yan'an Road, the plane trees suddenly become denser, marking your entry into the Nanshan area. The quiet, beige two-story buildings lining the road actually house some of Dalian's most concentrated independent cafes, vintage boutiques, and vinyl record stores with only a few seats. The blogger's camera was positioned in front of an old wooden window on the south side of Nanshan Road; in the late afternoons of autumn and winter, after 2 PM, the shadows of the plane trees fell perfectly on the steps leading to the entrance. Why stop for 5 minutes: The density of shops and the quietness here are unusual. There are no large signs; walking between doors feels like strolling through Daikanyama, but you can hear shop owners with Northeastern accents chatting about beans.
At the fork in the road: At the intersection of Nanshan Road and Mingze Street, turn left and walk about 300 meters to reach Mingze Lake and the pocket green corridor of the Children's Park. Position the camera on the wooden boardwalk over the lake and look back to capture the old villa rooftops and withered branches in the frame; this is cleaner than shooting directly from the front. Walking this extra 600 meters is to catch a glimpse of a lake, a rare sight in a northern city where you can relax without rushing.
Section 2: Guilin Street—Baowei Lane—Qingyun Street Market Corner (approx. 1.3 km / 30 minutes)
After turning from Qiqi Street into Guilin Street, tourists almost disappear. Ivy and clotheslines hang from the brick walls of the old residential buildings on both sides, and occasionally a water deliveryman's small motorcycle slowly passes by. The blogger's camera was positioned at the intersection of Guilin Street and Baowei Lane; at 3 pm, the side-backlight illuminated the edges of the red brick buildings. Why is it worth stopping for 5 minutes? There are no shops on the street, only elderly residents peeling garlic or repairing bicycles at their doorsteps. This unadorned old-town fabric is more authentic than any imitation antique street.
Baowei Lane has a gentle uphill slope, and the view suddenly opens up at the top. Looking back from the top, you can frame a row of old buildings and the glass curtain walls of Zhongshan District in the distance, the old and new squeezed together in the same alley. Why it's worth stopping for 5 minutes: almost no skill is needed here; every shot has a story to tell, making it a perfect spot to rest your camera.
Further ahead is Qingyun Street. The community market is located at the street corner near the entrance, with seafood stalls, cooked food shops, and steamed bun stalls crammed together. The blogger's camera was positioned on the opposite sidewalk to capture the white steam rising from the steamers; avoid filming people's faces and maintain distance. Why stop for 5 minutes: This is a corner of a local Dalian resident's everyday breakfast table, where hot sugar triangles and freshly fried dried fish are offered at affordable prices, and the taste is closer to Dalian's authentic experience than in restaurants.
A side street fork: Guangfeng Street is a small street diagonally off the side of the market. Walking further in, you'll see a section of old stone steps, with tram lines running overhead. Position your camera at the bottom of the steps, shooting upwards to capture the sky, the utility poles, and the old buildings in the distance. Why it's worth stopping for 5 minutes: The buildings at the end of the steps seem frozen in the 1990s; occasionally, an elderly person slowly walks down to buy groceries, and time seems to slow down.
Section 3: Cultural Street – Jieshan Street Pocket Park (approx. 0.8 km / 18 minutes)
Continuing from Qingyun Street towards Wenhua Street, you'll see old-fashioned streetlights and tram tracks along the roadside. The blogger positioned their camera beside a slightly curved section of the road on Wenhua Street, waiting for the tram to emerge from behind the plane trees before pressing the shutter. Why is it worth stopping for 5 minutes? The trams here aren't for sightseeing; they're the locals' commuter transport. The trams are old, and as they pass by, the whole street vibrates slightly—it's the heartbeat of Dalian's old city.
The final turn onto Jieshan Street reveals a small pocket park tucked into the slope, with wooden benches beneath a few old locust trees. The blogger positioned their camera on the east side of the bench, using the back as a foreground to overlay the distant city skyline with the nearby old buildings. Why stop for 5 minutes? This is the quietest part of the entire route; no square dancing or tour groups, only elderly people carrying groceries sitting down to rest. It's a perfect spot to slowly review the footage taken earlier.
Blogger's Summary and Practical Tips
This cultural and artistic walking route is more suitable for visitors in autumn and winter than the coastal route. It is not dependent on the weather and does not require a lot of walking experience. The entire route is comfortable on the feet, just be careful on the slopes. It is suitable for walking alone while listening to music, or for couples or two or three friends to walk and chat.
Tips 1: It's recommended to start from Zhongshan Square around 1 PM to take photos of the old buildings with the sunlight. Walk to Qingyun Street Market around 3:30 PM, just in time to see the lively atmosphere of hot food being served again. Tips 2: Wear non-slip shoes. There are steps on Baowei Lane and Guangfeng Street, so be especially careful after snowfall. Tips 3: Vintage clothing stores, independent bookstores, and vinyl record stores mostly open in the afternoon; going in the morning will likely result in them being closed. Tips 4: Stores are small; ask if you can take photos before entering. Affordable prices are fine, and the owners are more willing to chat. Tips 5: To avoid crowds, try to choose weekdays during public holidays, or set your departure time before 8 AM, as Zhongshan Square is almost always deserted.