Dalian Warnings and Dangers

Dalian is a pretty safe city. I saw a lot of foreigners on the streets, at the beach, as well as in the parks when I was there. Beware of pickpocketing on buses especially when they're crowded. Overall Dalian is pretty convenient and very accessible and friendly to foreigners.

There's a bar called JD's (near Olympic Sq) which used to be hot but now is nothing but a good place to pick up a fight and get beaten up. Unless you want to start the Dalian edition of the Fight Club, avoid that place like the plague.

Winter is really harsh in this part of China as wind blows all the way from Siberia and it gets snowy and icy. Unless you want to practice some winter sports, prepare to be cold.
Any other season is ideal to visit this beautiful region

Be careful when crossing the roads, as drivers here don't like slowing down for anybody. They will just keep beeping their horns at you. Like your some lunatic!
In many cases a red light and a green man are just suggestions. My advice would be to cross the road with local people beside you, as they are very experienced at dodging the traffic.
When ever possible use the underpass!

It is not really warning and not a danger at all, but this is the most suitable category.

There are 2 kids selling roses at Qing Ni Wa Qiao - on the pedestrian paths among the shopping centers. I quite pity these kids and dunno whether their family is so poor or they are forced by their parents to sell the roses.

Once when I was walking with my hubby to take a taxi, a small little boy (about age 4 or 5) ran to us and started crying asking us to buy his roses. The grab is very tight. I have seen them hugging people's legs and crying. They try to target couples. Run to you, grab your legs and start crying.

I do not know whether I should buy their roses cos they might have been exploited by their parents or some agents.

I think the best time to visit Dalian is in summer( June-September). In this season, the city is more active and attractive and you can enjoy more activities, such as swimming. But in May and October the weather is also mild and nice.

In the early spring and late autumn,there're much wind here.

Be very careful when crossing the road, even at traffic lights when it shows the green man. The drivers (especially taxi drivers) here do not seem to care about the "green man". I have seen drivers sounding their horns at pedestrains informing that they are coming and give way even though it is green man.
I saw the first "traffic light camera". It caught my attention cos the bright flash went off when I was crossing the road. Dun worry, not flashing at pedestrians, but at cars that do not stop at red. The camera is near Ren Ming Guang Chang - an extremely busy road.

And another thing, even at zebra crossings, drivers do not care to stop at all. If the road has 8 lanes, cross lane by lane and stand in the middle of the road with cars passing behind or in front of you... Quite a terrifying experience in the first instance.

So be very careful when crossing.

Hundreds of cars, buses on the street and they drive so fast. GOD! Dizzy! How can I cross the road?
Not all the streets in Dalian has the traffic lamps for pedestrians. But on some main roads, such as Renmin road and Zhongshan road, people should go underpass.
Not all the drivers wait the pedestrians. Especially the texi drivers drive very fast.
So be careful when you cross the road in Dalian.