Liaoning is a province in northeast China on the Bohai and Yellow Seas, bordering North Korea along the Yalu River. It combines Shenyang's Qing-dynasty imperial heritage, Dalian's beaches and European-style squares, Dandong's view across the border, and a long Great Wall coastline at Hushan and Xingcheng. Liaoning is also the heartland of Dongbei cuisine: dumplings, barbecue, stews, and fresh Yellow Sea seafood.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Dalian Sun Asia Ocean World (大连圣亚海洋世界)
A large aquarium and polar-animal park by Xinghai Square with beluga, seal and dolphin shows and a long underwater tunnel, a reliable rainy-day and winter option for families
Duration: Half day
Laohutan Ocean Park (老虎滩海洋公园)
A clifftop marine park on Dalian's southern coast with polar animals, whales, a coral house, and a cable car, set among rocky shore walkways; check show times at the gate
Duration: Half to full day
Dalian Discovery Kingdom (发现王国)
Liaoning's largest amusement park in Jinzhou District with roller coasters, water rides, a night-time fireworks show and themed lands for children and teenagers
Duration: Full day
Xinghai Bay Beach and Xinghai Square
A wide city square with a public sandy beach, promenade, kite flying, playgrounds and easy access by the Dalian metro; suitable for paddling and picnics in July and August
Duration: 2-4 hours
Bangchuidao (棒棰岛) Coastal Walk
A quieter rocky coast east of Dalian's centre with a pebble beach, a sea-view road for gentle walks and small seaside cafes
Duration: 2-3 hours
Shenyang Forest Zoo (沈阳森林动物园)
A large open-plan zoo north of Shenyang with pandas, tigers and safari-style viewing areas, best in May, June and September
Duration: Half day
Shenyang World Horticultural Expo Garden (世博园)
A large landscaped garden and expo park in the south-east of Shenyang with themed gardens, wide lawns, bicycle rental and a scenic pavilion, suitable for picnics with children in spring and autumn
Duration: Half to full day
Shenyang Liaoning Provincial Museum and Science Park area
The Liaoning Provincial Museum (辽宁省博物馆) offers dinosaur fossils, ancient bronzes and paintings; free entry makes it a budget-friendly family stop, and it sits in Shenyang's Shenhe District at 363 Qingnian Avenue
Duration: 2-3 hours
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Shangri-La Hotel Dalian (大连香格里拉大酒店)
Five-star hotel in downtown Dalian with an indoor pool, spacious family rooms, and easy taxi access to Xinghai Square and the train station
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, kids' menus, cots on request, buffet breakfast
Hyatt Regency Dalian (大连凯悦酒店)
Modern international hotel with large rooms in central Dalian with easy transport links, suitable for families needing a full-service base
Family features: Family suites, pool, restaurants, English-speaking front desk
Shangri-La Hotel Shenyang (沈阳香格里拉大酒店)
Five-star hotel in central Shenyang with an indoor pool and family rooms, close to shopping and restaurants
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, kids' menus, cots and extra beds, buffet breakfast
Chain family rooms (Hanting, Home Inn, Ibis) in Dalian and Shenyang
Budget national-chain hotels offer triple and family rooms at low prices with reliable cleanliness and English booking on Trip.com
Family features: Triple rooms, metro access, foreigner check-in, cheap breakfast
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Northeastern dumplings (jiaozi) and steamed buns (baozi) are mild, inexpensive and popular with children, at about CNY 20-40 (USD 3-6) per portion
Dalian seafood is fresh but check the price per jin (500 g) before ordering and avoid raw shellfish for young children
Most restaurants provide child seats and mild dishes on request; show the translation app to specify no chilli
Bakeries and convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) sell milk, fruit and simple snacks in city centres
Hotels' breakfast buffets are usually the easiest option for picky eaters
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Carry the passports of all children; the original documents are checked at hotel check-in and railway stations
Children under 1.2 m get free or half-price entry at most Liaoning attractions; the height mark is measured at the gate, so keep the child's passport or birth certificate ready
In winter Shenyang can reach -20 C; bring thermal layers and hats for children, and use indoor options such as the Provincial Museum and Sun Asia Ocean World
Hotels supply boiled water; use bottled or boiled water for infant formula
High-speed trains between Shenyang and Dalian take about 2 hours and are the easiest way to travel with children; book seats on 12306 or Trip.com in advance