Pioneering New Frontiers in China: Dalian Markets, Day and Night - Emerging Adventurers

      Dalian offers a plethora of intriguing sights, but the challenge was that we had already visited them all in 2019. We had already seen Xinghai Square, Labor Park, Little Venice, Bird Singing Wood, and Zhongshan Square. While these experiences were valuable, none particularly warranted a repeat visit. Instead, we opted to explore markets and food halls during our brief return to Dalian, and we discovered several fantastic locations that we had missed previously. ChatGPT proved to be an excellent travel resource in Dalian, especially given the scarcity of English information available online about the city. Mei Ling was able to verify our AI suggestions with Chinese websites, helping us compile our list of markets.

      The southern region of the promontory where Dalian is situated features mountainous and sparsely populated terrain, but the inhabitants have clustered in the valleys between the steep hills. Taoyuan is the largest residential district in this area and hosts one of Dalian's biggest markets. In 2019, we couldn't access it via metro, but the system had rapidly expanded, and a station was now conveniently located next to the market. As we entered, we encountered a street filled with vendors, but soon discovered a massive indoor complex containing various sections for produce, meat, and seafood. The produce area was particularly impressive, showcasing ripe and vibrant fruit artfully arranged for visual appeal. We were delighted to find a vendor selling high-quality yang mei, a juicy drupe that is rarely available after June due to its short season and high perishability. It's one of my favorite aspects of summer vacations in China, and I had worried that we arrived too late to enjoy it this year. We purchased a substantial carton, but it was gone within minutes.

      There were so many varieties of mushrooms that they were sold by specialized vendors, taking up just as much space as those selling a dozen different vegetables. In China, visiting a seafood market can often equate to breakfast, if one is open-minded. After our positive experience with sea urchins at Da Gou the previous morning, we decided to repeat that at Taoyuan. The vendor was happy to open several urchins for us, and their quality exceeded what we had before. We also found some cooked seafood to complement our breakfast, including one of Ian's favorites, baby octopus.

      Numerous other fascinating sea creatures were on display, but vendors cautioned against consuming raw starfish or sea intestines. We entertained ourselves watching the living animals wriggle in their tanks as if we were in an aquarium. Adjacent to the Taoyuan market was a modest mall where I managed to replace my sneakers affordably, which had been falling apart towards the end of our American road trip. One shop offered table tennis equipment for rent by the hour, but I felt a bit self-conscious being among the skilled players already there.

      We had some free time before lunch, so we took the metro to Zhongshan Square, a place we'd explored in 2019. The square was constructed by the Russian Empire during their brief control of Dalian at the end of the 19th century. The Russians referred to the city as Dalniy, meaning "far away," which was later adapted by the Chinese to Dalian. Russian control ended in 1905 when they were defeated by the Japanese, who built the classical buildings that adorn the square. Notable structures include the former Dalian Police Station, made of red brick with white trim, now home to a Citibank branch. With its central steeple, it resembles a midwestern American church more than a police station or bank. To its counterclockwise side stands the Dalian Financial Building, whose neoclassical dome gives it an older appearance, though it is actually of recent construction. Across from the former police station, the impressive Corinthian columns of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, originally a Japanese bank constructed in 1920, stand tall. The massive Dalian International Trade Center rises majestically in the background, creating a stunning contrast to these historic edifices.

      We strolled a few blocks west to Youhao Square to get a closer look at the Friendship Crystal Sphere, erected in 1996 to symbolize global harmony, particularly between China and Russia. Five large hands in different colors support the sphere, representing various ethnic groups across six continents, with one brown hand representing the indigenous people of both Americas.

      From there, it was a short walk to the central Qingni district where we did a bit more clothes shopping before visiting the Dalian Market, a vast food court occupying the entire first floor of a department store. It was a remarkable array of food that would likely take months to fully explore. The expansive market included sections for raw ingredients and cooked food, with various pork and poultry offerings being the main attractions. There were also numerous restaurants within the complex, the most notable serving skewers on a conveyor belt that diners could snatch and dip into personal

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