We are going on a cruise in the fall that has these two stops. Any suggestions on how to spend our time in Dalian and Qingdao?

Qingdao: Drink some beers with locals at crazy low prices (3 RMB nowadays, used to be even less) - and it's day-fresh local Tsingtao, the good stuff. You may also visit the beer factory. They've a metro now, so transport is easy around. Great street food too. Assuming spring to autumn.

There's quite a long and very nice seashore walk in Qingdao. Dalian, though, lost much of its character through redevelopment. It was once the best-preserved setting of pre-1940 urban Japanese architecture.

These stops are in late October,

There isn't much to see in Dalian, except perhaps the boundary between Bohai and the Yellow Sea. When conditions are right, you can see where the waters meet. Then again, your cruise may well sail across it.

Qingdao has an unmistakably Bavarian feel, but it isn't something worthy of going out of your way for. But since you will be there, just walk around the older parts of the city where the short presence of the Germans left a permanent impression. Much of them are newly restored and not original, however, because the proletarian cultural revolution of the last century didn't take kindly to those relics of imperialism. I would definitely tour the Tsingtao Beer brewery.

Basically, Dalian and Qingdao began as foreign trade concessions, with no significant roles in Chinese history before the last ~150 years. And unless you like sea cucumbers, of which there are plenty and in very good quality, neither Dalian nor Qingdao have noteworthy local foods. (And in case anyone asks, yes you can bring sea cucumbers back to the U.S. -- just declare them on your form.) Other than that, the air in both cities is great, so feel free to breathe. And the people are friendlier than anywhere else in China that I've been to.

This is awesome information. Now I have abetter idea of what�s happening. It doesn�t seem like it�s worth trying to book any kind of private tour.

There is some Bavarian feel (except that there is no coastline in Bavaria), but not much. Qingdao is very different from any other Chinese cities. I enjoy seashore walk, but I personally prefer the French Rivera.

I do like Tsingdao Beer. It is probably the best in China and one of the best on Earth. You can enjoy some fresh beer there.

Absolutely. It's just fun if you're walking through the local areas of Qingdao, and at every corner there are three small "Biergarten" luring locals in. For 3 RMB (I was there when it was only 2 RMB the first time) for half a litre. I got invited WAY too often by them. Qingdao is the only Chinese city where you can get properly drunk by 2pm without weird looks In some areas, it's more Bavarian than Bavaria is nowadays.

Take a look at my photos for some inspiration. There is enough to fill either city for 2-3 days each.

Qingdao Photo Gallery
Dalian Photo Gallery

Great pictures. Thanks...