Juliana Roberts
Dalian has grown in leaps and bounds to become China's central shopping hub. Mega malls occupy the city's skyscrapers housing the latest in international fashion labels offering you variety and choice
Dalian quite aptly is known as the 'Fashion City'; made famous by the Dalian International Fashion Festival which is generally held in September. The venue is quite popular as a one stop shop for buying the latest trends in the world of fashion; as many international designers showcase their talents at the fashion show. Apart from the lure of the show you can also browse the mega malls and fashion boutiques of Dalian for the latest seasonal trends. These well stocked stores are a haven for fashion conscious divas and even the trendy man. This makes fashionable clothes a number one priority on the list of must buy's in Dalian City.
There are 3 main districts that any serious shopaholic must explore these are the Tianjin Walking Street, Qingniwan area, Renmin Lu and Xi'an Lu. The Qingniwan area is popular as a top tourist destination, it is close to the Citadines Gugeng Dalian and railway station; which is an ideal area to book Dalian serviced apartments. The main attraction here is the collection of department stores and shopping malls that dominate the area. Tianjin Walking Street is a vintage century old shopping quarter which has been transformed into a European style shopping district. Xi'an Lu is where you will find the domestic departments and supermarkets while Quilin Women's Shop comes highly recommended.
Dalian borders the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea which abounds with all manner of seafood delights. Definitely an item for your shopping list the seafood of Dalian promises quite an experience. There is what is known as the 'eight treasures' which many locals consider the best in seafood. This includes scallop, abalone, sea cucumber, prawn, oyster, mussel and few more. When it comes to fruits you must try the special Dalian apples; the city is famous across China for its many varieties of apples that total to over a 100. In addition you should also savour the delicious peaches, cherries and grapes which are well known as being the tastiest across northern China.
Artworks in Dalian are mainly focused on shell carvings; these are various forms of artistic creations crafted out of shells. Shell products include ornaments, lamps, screens and wall hangings. In addition you will also find glass ornaments and exquisite embroidery items too are quite popular artefacts and popular souvenirs to purchase in Dalian.
