Commercial development of Dalian has increased in recent years. Anyone traveling to the city is encouraged to wander around the skyscraping shopping malls and stores. You will find a sea of world-famous fashion brands.

Dalian has undergone rapid development from the mid 1990s during which time a host of foreign consumer-goods companies have entered China's market. Large scale shopping malls and supermarkets including MYCALL (Japan), Parkson (Malaysia), Carrefour (France), Wal Mart (U.S.) have been built. The time-honored Friendship Stores (a famous department store brand in China's planned economy period) have established many new shopping centers and stores throughout the city. Therefore, you will find numerous shopping choices in the city.

What to Buy

Clothes
Dalian is known as Fashion City where the annual Dalian International Fashion festival is held. If you are lucky to travel to the city around September, you will find this festival venue a paradise to buy the most fashionable clothes from all over the world.
Also, many department stores and shopping malls in the city are good places to find what you are looking for.

Seafood
Bordering the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea that foster the growth of an array of sea life, Dalian exports much of its seafood to different countries and regions in the world. Locals consider the un-missable Eight Treasures to be: sea cucumber, abalone, scallop, prawn, mussel and oyster, etc.

Fruits
Dalian is renowned in China for its apple harvest and produces more than 100 varieties. The cherries, peaches and grapes grown here are also popular in the northern part of China.

Artworks
The shell carving artworks
There is a variety of artworks sculpted out of shells. The products included hanging paintings, screens, lamps and ornaments.
Embroidery and glasses ornament product are also popular choices.

Where to Buy

There are four shopping areas in the city: Qingniwan area, Tianjin Walking Street, Renmin Lu and Xi'an Lu.

Qingniwan
Like Beijing's Wangfujing and Shanghai's Nanjing Lu, Qingniwan area close to Dalian Railway Station is a commercial landmark of the city and a popular tourist destination. With a good location in front the railway station, a group of large shops and malls make this area the busiest shopping center in the city. Qiulin Women Shop and Dalian Shopping Center are two main choices in this area.
Location: In front of the railway station in the downtown area

Tianjin Walking Street
This was a century-old shopping street with numerous shops and stalls. In recently years, the government turned it into an extravagant European style shopping area with all sorts of well known brands housed in a great number of skyscrapers. The top-end shopping building, Friendship Shopping City, is on this street.
Location: north of Zhongshan Square and east to Shengli (Victory) Square
Getting there: You can take Tourist Bus 801 (B) and 901 from the railway station

Xi'an Lu
This is a popular choice for locals with many supermarkets including Carrefour, Parkson, Wal Mart and other domestic retail outlets.
Location: in the western part of the city

Recommended Shopping Places

It is impossible to list all shopping places in the city so we recommended a selection of famous shopping malls, supermarket with descriptions on what they offer.

Shengli Square Shopping Center [Downtown]
Situated in the busy shopping area, this shopping center has a collection of fashionable woman dresses, children's commodity, sportswear and men's suits. It is a must for shopping lovers.
Address: No. 28, Shengli (Victory) Square

Qiulin Woman's Shop [Downtown]
As named, in addition to fashion clothes, home appliance and commodities, this seven-story building offers a selection of woman's merchandise including jewelry, cosmetics, women's clothes and bags. The fourth and fifth floor is a sauna center and a Beauty Club. The sixth is a restaurant providing special food of Dalian, Shanghai and Thailand.
Address: No. 108, Zhongshan Lu in the busy shopping area of Qingniwanqiao

Xianshi Qiulin Mansion [Downtown]
The 5th floor sells children's commodities and stationery.
Address: No. 18, Jiefang Lu

Friendship Shopping City [Downtown]
The former Friendship Store of China's planned economy period, has a special place in the hearts of the people of Dalian. Nowadays, it has grown into a large six-storied shopping center (with two basement floors) with an area of over 10,000 square meters (10,764 square feet). You will find all sorts of famous fashion brands from all over the world.
Address: No. 8, Renmin Lu, Zhongshan District, at the intersection with Zhongshan Square

MYKAL
This is a Sino-Japanese joint venture retail center with Japanese home appliances, electronic and photographic products. There is a dining street near the market providing western and Japanese style snacks.
Address: Underground to 6th floor in Int’l Commerce and Trade Center

Parkson [Western Downtown]
Located in the bustling Xi'an Lu in the western part of the city, this shopping center has good quality merchandise at competing prices, especially food.
Address: No. 22-238, Xi'an Lu, Shahekou District, at the intersection with Huanghe Lu

Carrefour Supermarket [Western Downtown]
A French supermarket chain opened in 2000.
Address: close to Parkson at the intersection of Huanghe Lu and Xi'an Lu, Shahekou District

Wal Mart [Western Downtown]
Address: Underground of the Olympic Square at No. 2, Olympic Square, Xigang District

Tianbai Building [Downtown]
The 1st floor of this building sells all kinds of seafood and specialties.
The clothing section provides a complete set of services to cater for the elderly.
Address: No. 160, Tianjin Jie

New-Mart Shopping Mall [Downtown]
Address: Qingniwan area

Dalian Marketplace
1st floor sells all sorts of seafood and specialties.