Dalian Xinghai Square

The city's calling card by Xinghai Bay On the southern coast of Dalian, Xinghai Bay is like a sapphire set between mountains and sea, and Xinghai Square is the most dazzling presence beside this gem. As Dalian’s “city living room,” it not only carries the city’s vitality with its expansive layout but also, embraced by mountains and sea, becomes the first impression many have of Dalian—here lies the grandeur of the square, the vastness of the sea, and the memory and warmth of a city. The birth of Xinghai Square carries special significance. Established in 1997, it was meticulously created as a city landmark to commemorate the return of Hong Kong. Initially covering 1.76 million square meters, it was once the “largest city square in Asia.” Although its size has been slightly adjusted, it remains one of China’s most representative urban public spaces. The square is laid out in a circular radial pattern, with the star-shaped central plaza as the origin point. Multiple walkways extend outward like veins radiating from starlight, echoing the name “Xinghai” (Star Sea) and subtly embodying the city’s spirit of openness and inclusiveness. Strolling through the square, the most eye-catching feature is the musical fountain at the center. At nightfall, as the music plays, water jets dozens of meters high burst from the circular pool, sometimes piercing the night sky like a sword, sometimes blooming like layers of petals. The lights and mist weave dreamlike colors of blue, purple, and gold, drawing crowds to pause and admire. On the ground beside the fountain, a huge star pattern is inlaid; when sunlight shines, the marble surface reflects scattered light, as if spreading starlight beneath your feet. On the east side of the square stands Dalian’s spiritual landmark—the Century City Sculpture. This 80-meter-long, 15-meter-high sculpture is shaped like an open giant book page, carved with 100 pairs of footprints from different eras and identities: fishermen’s straw sandals, workers’ cloth shoes, students’ leather shoes... From the founding of Dalian in 1899 to the present, each footprint corresponds to a story of its time, “walking” step by step toward the sea, telling the city’s century-long transformation from a fishing village to an international port. In front of the sculpture stands a bronze “Century Treasure Ding” (ancient cauldron), solid and steady, engraved with auspicious cloud patterns. Together with the Century City Sculpture, it forms a dialogue between history and the future. The charm of Xinghai Square has never been limited to static scenery. It is a microcosm of life in Dalian: in the morning, elders practice Tai Chi and Yangko dance on the square, with recordings of Northeast folk tunes filling the air with everyday warmth; in the afternoon, children fly colorful kites on the lawn, dancing under the blue sky, harmonizing with the distant Xinghai Bay Bridge; every summer, the square hosts the Dalian International Beer Festival, where beers from around the world, local delicacies, and song and dance performances gather, turning the entire square into a sea of joy. Walking along the coastal promenade on the south side of the square, the sea breeze brushes your face, and you can clearly see the Xinghai Bay Bridge stretching across the sea like a silver chain. Fishing boats sway on the shimmering water, and the mountain, sea, and cityscape perfectly blend at this moment. Today, Xinghai Square has long surpassed the definition of a “square.” It is a resting place for Dalian residents after meals, a must-visit spot for tourists to experience seaside charm, and a symbol of the city’s openness, vitality, and warmth. When the sunset gilds the square with a golden edge and the sea breeze carries the scent of the ocean past your ears, you will understand: the beauty of Xinghai Square lies not only in its grandeur but also in its constant coexistence with the city and life—it is Dalian’s poem to the sea and an invitation to every visitor.