Thanks to both... I will concentrate on SFO-PEK-DLC by air and figure out the return portion maybe by train as it comes...
I notice yoee is showing tickets as low as $35 for next monday so if they get that low I may just book through them before I go to alleviate butterflies since I doubt they will get much less than $35...

Appreciate the help.

I have taken a boat tour before when I was much younger but was so scared I must cried the whole way... I haven't really thought of it since but since Dalian is a coastal city it seems like a no brainer in the hot wether if the smog isn't too bad...

Thanks for that, I will take a gander at it!