Golden Pebble Beach (Jinshitan)

National Scenic Area On The Dalian Coast, Known For Its Coastal Rock Formations · Dalian, Liaoning

A stretch of coast about an hour east of central Dalian where the sea has carved the shoreline into some of the strangest rock formations in northern China. The cliffs here are limestone and dolomite laid down six hundred million years ago, weathered into shapes that have been given names - the Turtle Crawling Ashore, the Camel, the Recumbent Cow - and banded in rusty reds and greys that glow at sunrise. A coastal footpath runs along the tops and down to the rocks, and the wider Jinshitan district has grown into Dalian's resort quarter, with long sandy beaches, golf courses, a discovery-themed amusement park, a waxworks museum and holiday hotels strung along the shore. In summer the beaches fill with families escaping the heat of inland cities, in winter the coast is bleak, wind-scoured and beautiful, and in the shoulder seasons the rock formations can be walked in near solitude. A suburban rail line from Dalian makes it an easy day out, and the seafood restaurants near the harbour are the usual reason to linger.

Jinshitan National Scenic Area, Jinzhou District, Dalian, Liaoning, China

Beaches and shore open at all hours and free; the coastal geopark about 8:30-17:00 from late April to late October and 8:30-16:30 for the rest of the year (check).

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