Biking through Dalian, Katherine dives into cold northern waters, dodges scammers, and explores tide pools, revealing a coastal city full of surprises and grit.
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Katherine and Asa John's North China bike tour takes an unexpected turn as they discover Dalian's rugged coastline, complete with cliffs, tide pools, and a surprising underwater world. But between the scuba diving adventures and the $1 noodle feasts, they find themselves battling persistent scammers and water pollution. Join them as they navigate this coastal city's unique blend of natural beauty and urban chaos.
Off the Beaten Path in Dalian: North China Coast Best and We
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Biking Dalian's Coast: Tide Pools, Scuba & Street Food
Katherine’s Journey to the East takes us along the North China coast, focusing on off the beaten path moments in Dalian. This video blends coastal exploration with rural China vibes, capturing seaside scenes, small-town life, and hands-on moments like seafood encounters and local culture. The tone is breezy and observational, inviting viewers to see a less-touristy side of Dalian while reflecting on travel highlights and rough edges alike. It’s a vivid diary-style glimpse of coastal life, peppered with personal reflections and the occasional quirky encounter that makes the journey feel intimate and genuine. If you’re chasing quiet harbors, seafood markets, and a taste of rural China connected to a bustling port city, this episode offers a compelling slice of northeast travel.
Attractions in this video: Golden Pebble Beach, Tide Pools
More about the current video:(Published on 2025-09-06)
Katherine and Asa John have arrived in Dalian, the biggest city yet on their North China bike tour. They began their journey at Xingkai Lake on the China-Russia border and are now heading toward the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Dalian surprises them immediately with its flat landscape and rocky beaches, which are nothing like the sandy shores they expected. The city's unique rock-and-kelp ecosystem is a highlight, but the couple is annoyed by scammers who use photos of tropical coral reefs to lure tourists into subpar dives. Determined to see the real underwater world, they book a proper dive trip to a nearby island. The conditions are cold and rough, but they spot fascinating creatures in the undisturbed ecosystem. Back on land, they explore the city's vibrant Uyghur food scene, with Asa John reconnecting with relatives who run a restaurant. Katherine finds herself powerless to refuse a second serving of noodles from a persistent hostess. The couple also visits a quirky park designed like a terrarium, and a shopkeeper gifts them watermelon. They bike through an industrial suburb where nightlife thrives under a highway bridge. A dinner of Lanzhou noodles turns out spicier than promised, but a curious child befriends them. They end the day at a surprisingly upscale hotel on the outskirts of Dalian. The next morning, they head to Golden Pebble Beach, where the real attraction is not the beach itself but the tide pools teeming with tiny fish. Katherine urges viewers to observe the creatures without disturbing them. The couple also samples Dalian's sauerkraut fish, which becomes Asa John's new obsession. Despite the natural beauty, Katherine notes that scammers and water pollution, water pollution, and raw sewage dumping mar the experience. She reflects on how China has improved its water treatment since 2017—except in Dalian, which she calls out for lagging behind. Still, she praises the cliffs, tide pools, and unique seabed as standout features of their journey, and looks forward to heading northwest toward Inner Mongolia.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
Q: What was it like scuba diving in Dalian?
A: It was cold and rough with low visibility, but we saw cool sea creatures were visible at undisturbed island ecosystems.
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.