Jinshitan National Tourist Resort is located in Jinzhou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, in the northeast of Dalian urban area. It is a national-level scenic spot, a national 5A-level tourist scenic area, and a national geological park. The resort has a land area of 62 square kilometers and a sea area of 58 square kilometers. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, it enjoys a pleasant climate with warm winters and cool summers. Here integrates natural landscapes such as low mountains and hills, marine erosion landforms, and coastal beaches, as well as cultural landscapes, and has the reputations of the "Divine Sculpture Park" and the "Natural Geological Museum". Its unique geological landscape was formed during the Sinian and Cambrian periods 600 million years ago, preserving a large number of geological relics, including core scenic areas of the geological park such as the Rose Garden, Dinosaur Garden, and Nanxiu Garden. It is a natural classroom for studying paleogeography, paleoclimate, and geological changes.
History and Culture
Jinshitan has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, there were traces of human activities here. After thousands of years of development, it has gradually been valued in modern times. In the 1980s, Jinshitan began its tourism development and construction. In 1988, Jinshitan was approved as a national-level scenic spot by the State Council; in 2000, it was rated as one of the first batch of national 4A-level tourist scenic areas in China; in 2010, it was promoted to a national 5A-level tourist scenic area; in 2009, Jinshitan National Geological Park was approved as the fifth batch of national geological parks by the Ministry of Land and Resources, becoming a comprehensive tourist resort integrating sightseeing, vacationing, leisure, entertainment, and geological scientific research, carrying an important chapter of Dalian's coastal tourism culture.
Main Attractions
Jinshitan National Geological Park
Jinshitan National Geological Park is the core attraction of the resort, covering an area of approximately 64.50 square kilometers. It has typical sedimentary rock coastal geological and geomorphic landscapes and is a concentrated distribution area of karst landforms along the coast, which is rare in northern China. The park includes several characteristic scenic groups such as the Rose Garden Scenic Group, Dinosaur Garden Scenic Group, Nanxiu Garden Scenic Group, and Aotan Scenic Group. The Rose Garden Scenic Group is most famous for the "Cracked Stone", which is currently the largest in volume and has the clearest exposed cross-sectional structure among the discovered sedimentary rock specimens in the world; in the Dinosaur Garden Scenic Group, the giant reef shaped like a dinosaur reaching into the sea is vivid; the Nanxiu Garden Scenic Group has many sea erosion caves and sea erosion arch bridges; and the landscapes like the "Roc Spreading Its Wings" in the Aotan Scenic Group are amazing, demonstrating the uncanny workmanship of nature.
Discovery Kingdom Theme Park
Discovery Kingdom Theme Park covers an area of 470,000 square meters and is one of the largest theme parks in Northeast China. With the theme of "Mystery, Adventure, and Joy", the park is divided into six theme areas, including Crazy Town, Mysterious Desert, Metal Factory, Magic Forest, Legendary Castle, and Wedding Hall. The park has more than 30 large-scale amusement facilities, such as roller coaster projects like "Thunder Chariot" and "Heavenly Spin and Love", as well as wonderful performances such as parade floats and nighttime light shows, bringing exciting and joyful experiences to tourists.
Jinshitan Golden Coast
The Jinshitan Golden Coast stretches for 4.5 kilometers and is the largest and only natural seawater illuminated bathing beach in northern China. The beach has golden, fine, and soft sand, and the water quality of the bathing beach is excellent, which can accommodate 100,000 people to swim in the sea at the same time. The supporting facilities along the coast are complete, including leisure squares, dining areas, changing rooms, etc., and it also provides marine entertainment projects such as sailing boats, windsurfing boards, and motorboats. It is an excellent place for tourists to enjoy coastal leisure vacations.
Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza
Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza has a construction area of approximately 100,000 square meters and is a comprehensive exhibition hall complex integrating cultural exhibitions, science popularization education, and tourism sightseeing. The plaza includes several exhibition halls such as the Jinshitan Wax Museum, the Museum of the Mysteries of Life, the Huaxia Culture Museum, and the Fantastic Art Experience Hall. The Jinshitan Wax Museum displays many lifelike celebrity wax figures; the Museum of the Mysteries of Life showcases the mysteries of life through real human and animal specimens; the Huaxia Culture Museum has a large collection of precious cultural relics, allowing tourists to appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
Delicacies
Seaweed Buns
Seaweed buns are a characteristic delicacy of Dalian and are also very popular around Jinshitan. Using seaweed growing on the coastal reefs as the filling, and matching it with ingredients such as pork and dried shrimps, the freshness of the seaweed blends with the mellow flavor of the pork. The bun skin is made of fermented flour. After being steamed, the seaweed buns have a thin skin and a large filling, with a fresh and fragrant taste. Taking a bite, you can taste the rich sea flavor, and it is one of the must-try delicacies when coming to Jinshitan.
Spanish Mackerel Dumplings
Spanish mackerel dumplings use fresh Spanish mackerel meat as the main ingredient. After removing the bones, the Spanish mackerel meat is chopped into a fine filling and mixed evenly with ingredients such as Chinese chives, scallions, and ginger. The dumpling skins are hand-rolled, and the wrapped dumplings are relatively large. After being cooked, the Spanish mackerel in the dumplings is tender and juicy, the dumpling skins are chewy, and the soup is rich, full of a strong seafood flavor. You can taste this classic delicacy in the restaurants around the resort.
Marinated Fish with Corn Cakes
Marinated fish with corn cakes is a traditional fishing village delicacy in Dalian. The marinated fish mostly uses fresh sea fish, which are marinated and sun-dried to retain the freshness and salty aroma of the sea fish. The corn cakes are made of cornmeal and have a solid and chewy texture. Fry the marinated fish until golden brown and pair it with warm corn cakes. The salty aroma of the marinated fish and the sweet flavor of the corn cakes set each other off, showing strong local characteristics, and it is quite common in the farmhouses near Jinshitan.
Dalian Fried Stewed Starch Cake
Dalian fried stewed starch cake uses stewed starch cake made of sweet potato starch as the main ingredient. Cut it into small pieces and fry them in a pan until the surface is golden and crispy. Add seasonings such as sesame paste, mashed garlic, chili oil, and balsamic vinegar and mix well. The stewed starch cake has a soft and chewy texture, and the flavors of various seasonings blend together, with a spicy and delicious taste. It is a common characteristic snack on the streets of Jinshitan and is deeply loved by tourists.
Tickets
Jinshitan National Geological Park (Dalian Binhai National Geological Park): Full price is 40 yuan, half price is 20 yuan.
Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza (Wax Museum): Full price is 80 yuan, half price is 40 yuan.
Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza (Huaxia Culture Museum): Full price is 80 yuan, half price is 40 yuan.
EX Future Science and Technology Museum: Full price is 80 yuan, half price is 40 yuan.
Jinshiyuan: Full price is 10 yuan, half price is 5 yuan.
There are many attractions in Jinshitan National Tourist Resort. Tourists can search for the official WeChat public account, "乐游金石滩", to get the latest news and purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza: 08:30 - 16:30
Hunting and Shooting Club: 08:30 - 16:30
Sightseeing Bus: 08:30 - 16:30
Jinshitan National Geological Park: 08:30 - 17:00
Jinshiyuan: 08:30 - 17:00
You can get the latest news through the official WeChat public account of the scenic area.
Tour Routes
One-day tour route: In the morning, go to Jinshitan National Geological Park, visit scenic groups such as the Rose Garden and Dinosaur Garden to learn about the geological wonders, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. At noon, taste the characteristic delicacies of Dalian near the scenic area. In the afternoon, go to Jinshitan Golden Coast, enjoy the coastal leisure time, and participate in marine entertainment projects, which takes about 2 to 3 hours. In the evening, go to Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza, visit the exhibition halls you are interested in, which takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Two-day tour route: On the first day, in the morning, visit Jinshitan National Geological Park. In the afternoon, go to Discovery Kingdom Theme Park, experience various amusement facilities and wonderful performances, and you can enjoy the nighttime light show of the theme park in the evening and stay in a hotel within the resort. On the second day, in the morning, visit Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza. In the afternoon, relax on Jinshitan Golden Coast and enjoy the leisurely coastal vacation atmosphere before returning.
Transportation
- By Bus: Take the Jinshitan Line of Express Rail Line 3 at the North Square of Dalian Railway Station and go directly to Jinshitan Station. The whole journey takes about 52 minutes, and the ticket price is 8 yuan.
- By Tourist Bus: There are several tourist special lines in Dalian City going to Jinshitan. For example, there are departures from places such as Dalian Port and Tiger Beach Ocean Park, and the ticket price is about 10 to 20 yuan depending on the line.
- By Taxi: Taking a taxi from Dalian urban area to Jinshitan costs about 100 to 150 yuan, and the journey takes about 1 hour. The specific cost is affected by factors such as road conditions.
- By Self-driving: Start from Dalian urban area, and you can reach Jinshitan via Zhenxing Road, Huanghai Avenue and other roads. The whole journey is about 50 kilometers, and the driving time is about 1 hour. There are several parking lots in the scenic area, and the parking fee is 10 to 20 yuan per day.
Must-visit Attractions
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Jinshitan National Geological Park
It has unique geological landscapes formed 600 million years ago and is a concentrated area of karst landforms along the coast, which is rare in northern China. World-class geological relics such as the "Cracked Stone" have great ornamental and scientific research value.
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Discovery Kingdom Theme Park
It is one of the largest theme parks in Northeast China. With more than 30 large-scale amusement facilities and wonderful performances, it can meet the entertainment needs of tourists of different ages.
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Jinshitan Golden Coast
It is the largest natural seawater illuminated bathing beach in northern China. With a 4.5-kilometer high-quality beach, complete supporting facilities, and rich marine entertainment projects, it is an excellent choice for coastal vacations.
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Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza
It is a comprehensive exhibition hall complex of 100,000 square meters. Several characteristic exhibition halls cover multiple fields such as culture and science popularization, allowing you to have an in-depth understanding of art, life, history, and other knowledge.
Tour Tips
- Learn about the opening hours, ticket policies, and activity arrangements of each attraction in advance through the official website of the scenic area or tourism platforms, and plan your itinerary reasonably.
- When going to Jinshitan National Geological Park, wear comfortable sports shoes to facilitate walking in the scenic area. You can also bring binoculars to better appreciate the geological landscapes.
- When visiting Jinshitan Golden Coast in summer, take sun protection measures, such as bringing sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses. Pay attention to safety when swimming in the sea and follow the instructions of the staff.
- When visiting Discovery Kingdom Theme Park, you can download the official APP of the park to check the queuing situation of each amusement facility and arrange the visiting order reasonably. For some popular projects, it is recommended to go there as early as possible after the park opens.
- When visiting the exhibition halls in Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza, you can learn about the introductions of the exhibition halls in advance, focus on visiting the exhibition halls you are interested in, and set aside enough time to appreciate them slowly.
Notes
- When visiting Jinshitan National Geological Park, do not climb or damage the geological relics, abide by the regulations of the scenic area, and protect the natural environment.
- Some amusement facilities in Discovery Kingdom Theme Park have height and age restrictions. Read the safety tips carefully before playing. Tourists with diseases such as heart disease and hypertension should choose the playing projects according to their own physical conditions.
- When swimming on Jinshitan Golden Coast, pay attention to the sea conditions and the opening hours of the bathing beach. Do not cross the safety cordon and avoid going into the sea in non-swimming areas.
- When visiting the exhibition halls in Jinshitan Cultural Expo Plaza, keep quiet, do not touch the cultural relics and exhibits in the exhibition halls, and abide by the photography regulations of the exhibition halls.
- When taking Express Rail Line 3 or a tourist bus, take good care of your personal belongings, be vigilant in crowded places, and prevent the loss of your belongings.