Zhoushuizi Airport

How to get to Zhoushuizi Airport

Dalian city center is approximately 12 km from the airport: the metro is the fastest solution, roughly 20-25 minutes to downtown.

By Car

Those arriving by car reach Dalian's center in approximately 20-25 minutes.

By Train

Metro: line 2 of the metro connects the airport directly to Dalian city center in approximately 20-25 minutes.

By Bus

Various dedicated bus lines connect the airport to Dalian city center.

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Tips Dalian has a milder climate than the rest of northeastern China thanks to its coastal position: also convenient as a base for exploring the Liaodong peninsula beaches. Activate Alipay or WeChat Pay at the airport.

Average travel time to DLC

Train20-25 minutes (metro)

Shuttle bus20-25 minutes

Taxi / Private hire20-25 minutes

Parking near Zhoushuizi Airport

Authorized parking by the airport is positioned in front of the terminal.

Not staffed by dedicated personnel but video-monitored; economy area: 5 minutes free, then 4 CNY for the first 30 minutes, +3 CNY every 30 minutes, maximum 40 CNY/24h; business area: 5 CNY for the first 30 minutes, +5 CNY every 30 minutes, maximum 100 CNY/24h.

How to get to Dalian from DLC

By Train

Metro: Line 2 connects the airport directly to Dalian city center in approximately 40 minutes; fare 3 CNY.

By Bus

Several dedicated bus lines connect the airport to Dalian city center.

By Taxi

Official taxis wait in the arrivals area; base fare 8 CNY (up to 3 km), then 2 CNY/km, with a 30% night surcharge (22:00–5:00): approximately 40 CNY total to the city center.

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Car rental at Zhoushuizi Airport

Not all car rental companies are represented: only some have a desk here.

Here most travelers rely on taxis or transport apps rather than car rental.

Hotels near Zhoushuizi Airport

Zhoushuizi is one of the closest Chinese airports to its city centre: just 10 km, 20 minutes by taxi or 35 by metro on Line 2 to Zhongshan Square. This makes Dalian one of the few cities in the region where you barely need to choose between convenience for the flight and convenience for sightseeing: even the historic centre remains a short transfer away. The choice is really between the colonial core of Zhongshan Square, with its Russian and Japanese architecture from the early twentieth century, and the coastal strip of Xinghai and Donggang, more modern and facing the sea.

Airport area

Less than 2 km from the terminal, about 25 minutes on foot or just a few minutes with the hotel shuttle.

Best for: Very early morning flights or overnight layovers, when even the 20-minute taxi ride to the centre is one you'd rather skip.

Pros

Among the closest to the terminal of any mid-sized Chinese airport
Also convenient as a base for the centre, which remains just 20 minutes away by taxi

Cons

A residential area in the Ganjingzi district, without the restaurants and venues of the Xinghai waterfront
A more limited choice of hotels compared to downtown

Recommended hotels

Dalian Airport Yingke Road Atour Hotel Opened in 2022 on Yingke Road, about 1.9 km from the terminal (25 minutes on foot); designed for anyone with early morning flights or short layovers. View availability

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City centre

Zhongshan Square

About 10 km from the airport, 20 minutes by taxi or 35 by metro on Line 2.

Best for: Anyone who wants the historic core of the city, with Russian and Japanese colonial architecture and the railway station a few steps away.

Pros

Zhongshan Square and its early-twentieth-century buildings are within walking distance of the area's hotels
Dalian railway station just minutes away, convenient for anyone continuing on to other cities in the region

Cons

An area built around a roundabout with heavy traffic at rush hour
Less evening life compared to the Xinghai waterfront

Recommended hotels

Shangri-La Dalian A 28-storey tower with 560 rooms on Renmin Road, a few steps from Zhongshan Square; three restaurants and an indoor pool. View availability

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Neighbourhood

Xinghai and Donggang

About 15 km from the airport; 15-20 minutes by car from Zhongshan Square along the coast.

Best for: Anyone looking for the waterfront, Xinghai Bay beach and the city's newest hotels, at the cost of a few extra minutes from the historic centre.

Pros

A few minutes on foot from Xinghai Bay beach and the city's largest square
Recently opened hotels, among the best reviewed in Dalian

Cons

An area built for hotels and offices, with less neighbourhood life than Zhongshan Square
Further from the railway station and the historic core

Recommended hotels

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Airport services

The airport offers services consistent with its role as an important port hub for northeastern China.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area offers Chinese tea, baijiu, and dried seafood, a specialty typical of Dalian's coast.

Lounges & relaxation

Access typically requires a paid day-pass; opening hours follow flight time windows.

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal area. For a local SIM, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom have service desks at the airport.

Families & Children

Minimal but concrete assistance is provided for families traveling with children.

Terminal guide

The terminal is appropriately sized for regional traffic. From check-in to gate you typically walk 10-15 minutes.

Times at customs checks are variable: for international flights, it's prudent to allow at least 3 hours in advance.

Map of Zhoushuizi Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. Is Dalian's climate different from the rest of north-eastern China?

Yes, milder thanks to its coastal position at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, less extreme than the winters of the Manchurian interior.

Q. Does Dalian have foreign architectural influences?

Yes, partly Russian and Japanese, a legacy of historic periods of foreign administration of the city.

Q. Can you continue by ferry from Dalian to South Korea?

Yes, international ferries to South Korea depart from the city's port, consistent with Dalian's historic role as an important maritime hub between China, Japan and Korea.