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.
- Public
- High-speed G-trains on China Railway (book on the 12306 app or Trip.com) link Shenyang, Anshan, Dalian and Dandong quickly and cheaply, and both Shenyang and Dalian have metro networks plus city buses and, in Dalian, heritage trams
- Taxi
- Metered taxis and the DiDi ride-hailing app (English interface, works with foreign cards through Alipay or WeChat) are plentiful and inexpensive in Shenyang and Dalian; show the Chinese-character address on a phone because few drivers speak English
- Rental
- Foreign visitors cannot drive on a foreign licence in mainland China and need a Chinese licence, so self-drive is not practical; hire a car with driver through Trip.com or a hotel instead
- Walking
- The Shenyang city centre (Zhongjie, Imperial Palace area) and Dalian seafront (Xinghai Square, Russian Street, Zhongshan Square) are walkable, but distances between districts are large and winters (December to February) are severe
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 5/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 1/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro about 50-60 minutes to the centre; taxi 35-50 minutes | |||
| Metro about 40-50 minutes; taxi 20-30 minutes | |||
| About 30-45 minutes |
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Metered taxis (green-and-yellow or other city colours) and DiDi cars operate 24 hours in Shenyang and Dalian. Flag-fall is roughly CNY 10-12 (about USD 1.50-1.80) for the first 3 km, with about CNY 2-3 per km after and a night surcharge after 22:00. Fares change; confirm on the meter.
- Typical Fares
- Tips
- Show the destination in Chinese characters on a phone; DiDi and Amap allow the address to be pasted and shown to the driver, Use only marked taxis from the official rank outside arrivals, or DiDi; decline unsolicited offers inside the terminal, Insist that the meter is used; toll roads and airport expressway tolls are added to the metered fare, Report a problem with a taxi to the national transport complaint line 12328 (Chinese only) or note the licence plate
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Liaoning is one of China's best-connected provinces. The Beijing-Shenyang, Shenyang-Dalian and Harbin-Dalian high-speed lines make rail the fastest and cheapest way between the main cities: Shenyang to Dalian takes roughly 2.5-3 hours, Shenyang to Dandong about 2 hours and Shenyang to Beijing about 4 hours. Shenyang and Dalian have modern metros, buses and DiDi, and Dalian adds heritage trams and coastal ferries to Shandong. Foreign visitors should carry a passport at all times, install Alipay or WeChat Pay, and use the 12306 or Trip.com apps to book trains.
Airports
Shenyang Taoxian International Airport
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport
Dandong Langtou Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
12306 China Railway
Trip.com
DiDi
Alipay (with Tour Pass)
WeChat / Weixin
Amap (Gaode Map)
Baidu Maps
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Install Alipay (with the Tour Pass or a linked Visa/Mastercard) or WeChat Pay before arrival; cash is accepted by law but many small vendors and DiDi drivers prefer mobile payment. Carry some cash (CNY 200, about USD 30) as a backup
Bring the original passport for every train ticket purchase and to pass the station gates; foreign visitors scan the passport at the gate instead of a paper ticket
Buy G-train tickets on the 12306 app (English version) or Trip.com up to 15 days ahead; tickets on the Shenyang-Dalian and Shenyang-Dandong lines sell out on Fridays, Sundays and public holidays such as Golden Week (1-7 October)
Google Maps and Uber do not work reliably in China; use Amap (Gaode, has an English mode), Baidu Maps or Apple Maps, and DiDi for cars
Shenyang has three main rail stations: Shenyang (Shenyang Zhan, old central station), Shenyang North (Shenyang Bei, most G-trains to Dalian and Harbin) and Shenyang South (Shenyang Nan); always check which station the ticket lists
Dalian has Dalian station (city centre, some G-trains) and Dalian North (Dalian Bei, most G-trains from Shenyang and Harbin); Metro Line 2 links central Dalian station toward the airport and Line 5 links several rail hubs
Winter travel from December to February brings ice and heavy snow; allow extra time for airport transfers and confirm flights and ferries, which are often cancelled in fog and high winds
240-hour visa-free transit: passport holders from about 55 eligible countries (including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU) may stay up to 10 days in Liaoning if they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region; Shenyang Taoxian Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport and Dalian seaport are designated ports. Confirm at en.nia.gov.cn or the immigration hotline 12367 before departure
Separately, many nationalities currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism; the policy is extended periodically, so check the National Immigration Administration site (en.nia.gov.cn) for the traveler's own passport before booking