Dalian Labor Park

Dalian Labor Park

Dalian Labor Park is located in Qingniwaqiao in the city center, about 500 meters south of the train station. It is the largest modern urban park in the downtown area, integrating sightseeing, amusement, recreation, and cultural activities with a distinct European style. The large football-shaped architectural art gallery, known as the “symbol of Dalian,” is situated within the park.

The park emphasizes openness, transparency, and a natural ambiance. On the spacious square lawns, flocks of well-trained pigeons, red-crowned cranes, and sika deer roam freely. The close interaction between people and animals is truly unique in China. The newly built amusement area in the southern part of the park is also quite sizable, among which China’s first dry toboggan ride is especially popular with visitors. The canyon rafting ride is the most investment-heavy amusement facility in the park.

In the eastern part of the park, there are waterside pavilions. The lotus pond ripples with green water, while black swans stretch their necks and sing with crimson crests toward the sky. In the center of the pond, a red-pillared, yellow-tiled pavilion is reflected in the water, complemented by vast dark green lotus leaves and dotted with colorful blossoms, resembling the freehand brushwork of traditional Chinese ink painting. If you’re lucky, you might also catch some community-organized cultural performances. With a gentle breeze, the sky as a canopy, the pavilion as a stage, and the surrounding poolside steps filled with spectators, it's a joy to enjoy the singing and dancing.

In the western part of the park, birds gather as if paying homage to the phoenix. Most of the various bird species kept in the park are concentrated here—some chirping melodiously, others perched on rockeries, some circling gracefully in cages, and some foraging on the ground. The somewhat mournful calls you hear are from the red-crowned cranes, whose elegant postures always captivate onlookers.

In the southern part of the park, you can take in the full panorama. Ascending along the mountain slope, you’ll see a massive architectural art gallery built in the shape of a red-and-white football—it’s the perfect symbol of Dalian’s football culture. Thanks to the higher elevation in the southern section, whether you take the aerial cable car or climb to the observation deck, the beautiful urban scenery of Dalian unfolds before your eyes. At dawn, the sight of the forest of high-rises conveys the vitality of a city tempered by a century of history; at nightfall, the dazzling illuminated cityscape reveals the radiant charm of the “Pearl of the North.”

In the northern part of the park, you’ll find a sense of the century. Upon entering the north gate, you’ll see a bronze sculpture symbolizing laborers, with defined lines and powerful musculature. A short walk southward will bring you to the famous Century Vault. It houses one hundred of the most meaningful items from Dalian’s hundred-year history, which were vacuum-sealed and preserved before being sealed on September 19, 1999, the centennial anniversary of the city’s founding. The area above is planted with pink cherry blossom and peach blossom trees, and a stone monument stands there. The vault will remain sealed until the city’s 200th anniversary as a celebratory gift. Among the sealed items are inscriptions for Dalian and a letter from the mayor addressed to the mayor of Dalian in 2099.

The park is generally free to enter, with only nominal fees charged during large events. Although it is situated in Dalian’s busiest district, once you step into the 1.02 million square meter park, you instantly feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There’s no noise, and you can even clearly hear the crisp chirps of birds. Coupled with the beautiful surroundings, it’s truly a rare urban oasis in this bustling coastal city.