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Dalian is the latest stop on Katherine and Asa John's North China bike tour, which began at Xingkai Lake near the China–Russia border and is heading toward Inner Mongolia. They explore the city's rocky coast, book a proper scuba trip to a nearby island, eat noodles and visit an Uyghur restaurant. At Golden Pebble Beach, they watch small fish in tide pools without disturbing them. The vlog also notes scammers and water pollution as problems they encountered.
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Cycling into Dalian and diving offshore
Katherine and Asa John arrive in Dalian, the largest city they have visited so far on their North China bike tour. They began at Xingkai Lake near the China–Russia border and plan to continue toward the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Dalian's flat streets and rocky beaches differ from the sandy coast they expected. The couple notice the local rock-and-kelp ecosystem and hear offers from dive operators using photos of tropical coral reefs, which they consider misleading. They choose a proper dive shop for a trip to a nearby island. The water is cold and visibility is low, but they see sea creatures in an ecosystem they describe as undisturbed.
On land, they explore food and neighborhoods. Asa John reconnects with relatives who run an Uyghur restaurant, where the hostess keeps offering more noodles even after Katherine says she is full. The couple also visit a quirky park designed like a terrarium, receive a watermelon from a shopkeeper and ride through an industrial suburb where nightlife gathers beneath a highway bridge. A late-night meal of Lanzhou noodles is spicier than promised, and a curious child befriends them. They spend the night at an upscale hotel on the outskirts of Dalian.
Tide pools and coastal concerns
The next morning they go to Golden Pebble Beach. Katherine says the tide pools, rather than the beach itself, are the main attraction for them. They see tiny fish and advise visitors to sit quietly and observe the animals without disturbing their habitat. Asa John becomes especially interested in sauerkraut fish, which they buy three times.
The couple also discuss problems they encounter around the city, including persistent scammers, water pollution and raw sewage dumping. Katherine compares water treatment with what she remembers from 2017 and says she believes Dalian is lagging behind improvements she noticed elsewhere. She still praises the cliffs, tide pools and seabed as highlights of the route. Their journey ends with plans to head northwest toward Inner Mongolia, carrying both the coastal memories and the practical concerns they noted along the way.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was it like scuba diving in Dalian?
- A: The dive was cold and rough, with low visibility. They still saw sea creatures near an undisturbed island ecosystem.
- Q: What were the noodle ladies like at the Uyghur restaurant?
- A: She kept insisting I eat more noodles even though I said I was full, and eventually took my bowl to refill it, so I gave in.
- Q: What was the most surprising food you found in Dalian?
- A: The sauerkraut fish brand that John loved so much we bought it three times.
