The primary objective of visiting Dalian (sampling its cuisine and eating culture) was more or less complete as of last night, but our final day was to feature more excellent views of the coast.  Our first location was high above sea level, at a bridge that is famous among the locals.  It actually plays a role in their wedding tradition with a ceremony in which a newly wed husband and wife walk from opposite sides of the bridge and join each other at the center. 

         Our next stop was called Tiger Park, named for the giant statues of the animals that are located there.  The statues are of modern design and creation.  At the Park, venders sold the usual collection of foodstuffs and trinkets, and some had toy horses and cars that parents could rent for their children to putt around in for a few minutes. 

         Next we visited a coastal amusement park, complete with bumper cars, a ferris wheel, and other standard and nauseating rides.  One unusual structure was a giant square shaped like an open book, which resembled a skate ramp.  Its ends were actually quite steep–even my newish sneakers started to lose traction at such a gradient.  However, the extra elevation offered a great vantage point for photos. 

         The amusement park itself wasn’t so different from what one might find in the states.  Couples and families enjoyed a safe, comfortable atmosphere.  All kinds of junk food and drink were available for purchase.  The same catchy music blasted over and over again from speakers placed strategically about the grounds.  However, there were a few things I had never encountered at a park before.  For instance, some men were playing a game where you spin a top on the ground and use a leather whip to keep its momentum going for as long as possible.  Also, a little yellow dog seemed to be having the time of his life running around the crowds and sniffing every tree and light post.  The dog was without a collar, but I think he belonged to one of the staff members.

         The dogs in Dalian have been the first I’ve seen in China, and they seem to enjoy many more freedoms than we permit in the United States.  They are almost always unleashed and without collars, and it’s hard to tell whether their owners in the vicinity because of how far they are allowed to wander.  Oddly enough, they seem to understand traffic rules better than most human pedestrians. 

         Next we visited one of the city’s higher-class malls.  The five-story affair sold everything from specialty foods to washing machines to Apple computers, and had a lot of stores and brands that I could recognize.  Unlike the silk market, these items were genuine and prices were not negotiable (and tended to be on the high side compared to what they would be in the United States).  On its top floor, the mall had a food court, and to our eyes most of the offerings at the 20 or so restaurants seemed the same.  For lunch I had a pan of what I would describe as dumplings filled with beef soup.  They were formed with a small spout at the top, which one is supposed to bite off and use to sip out the soup.  For dessert I had a chocolate ice cream sundae that also came with sweet corn chips tasting like Pops cereal.

         Our last sight of Dalian came as we checked into its airport for our three hour evening flight to Chongqing.  Security at the airport was much less stringent than in the States.  I wasn’t asked to show my liquids and gels and did not have to take off my shoes (although they did run over my soles with a metal detector).  The flight itself was comfortable only for the shorter students in the program.  The available leg space, even for someone of my height, really wasn’t enough to feel good.  During the flight, LCD screens spaced every five or six rows played British TV shows, such as Top Gear and Mr. Bean, as well as some promotional material for the airline.  The Chinese passengers especially seemed to enjoy Mr. Bean–I think some were actually crying from how hard they laughed.  It was surprising to see British programming because most of the sets in our hotels have played news or soap operas from CCTV (in Chinese). 

         Our flight came in just before midnight, and we were introduced to our Chongqing tour guides during the brief bus ride to the hotel.  Tomorrow we’ll spend a day learning about the city, and in the evening will board a cruise ship for our three-day voyage down the Yangtze River. 

Location: Dalian, China