Xinghai Square

Xinghai Square was built on reclaimed land and opened in 1997 to mark the return of Hong Kong, covering around a hundred and ten hectares, which is often cited as making it the largest city square in the world, several times the size of Tiananmen. At its centre stands a column ringed by a marble book, and a footprint pavement of a thousand impressions taken from Dalian residents runs toward the sea, ending at a sculpture of open books. The square faces Xinghai Bay with a beach and a long coastal boardwalk, and it is used constantly by residents for kite flying, skating and evening walks rather than sitting empty as a monument.

What you actually see

• The scale - a square many times the size of Tiananmen.
• The footprint pavement - a thousand impressions of residents' feet leading to the sea.
• The central column - the monument and marble book at the square's heart.
• The bay and boardwalk - the beach and coastal walk beyond the square.

When to go

May to October for pleasant conditions; the square is fully exposed and both summer sun and winter wind are severe. Evenings bring the most local life. Dalian's beer festival and other events are held here in summer.

Honest expectations

It is a very large expanse of paving with little shade and few facilities, which underwhelms visitors expecting more than scale. Wind off the sea is constant. The surrounding development is modern and unremarkable.

Nearby

Dalian's centre lies northeast; Golden Pebble Beach is further up the coast.