PandaPassport.com – China Blog

Me and some friends have been toying with the idea of making a Dalian podcast/videocast. It’s kind of a neat idea, because nobody in this city has really done that before. We did record a short run-through the other day, and I should have our first episode online shortly. A rough cut, but should be ok. I think there’s a big vacuum to be filled in Dalian though. The only significant web presence that exists is a somewhat disharmonious forum, and DalianDalian.com – our modest attempt at a city guide which we’ve thrown together in our spare time. If anyone out there has any suggestions, drop me a line. It’s good to see sites like Dalianstuff.com springing up, and I hope we see more of them in the future.

I recently got a new camera, and I’m trying to put more videos on our site. Like if I go to a restaurant, I’ll take a short video to show people what it looks like and how to get there. I recently recorded a video the Dalian Wolfhounds Trivia Night as well, so if you haven’t come out to participate yet, have a look and see if it strikes your fancy.

But essentially DalianDalian is non-profit, do-what-we-can-when-we-can, share-all-the-info-we-know kinda website. There is a forum for those who like forums. But the meat and potatos of the site is the listings section. We don’t ask for any sponsors, money or volunteers. We also have a blog platform, where you can start your own weblog as well. Alex has done a really great job.

In other news, I tried my hand at archery yesterday and that was pretty good fun. And here’s the video:

Single White Male Pekinese Dog, enjoys long walks on the beach and books about fire hydrants.

Seeking female for romantic evenings on the town, and/or quiet escapades behind the noodle shop.

Name: Pepe Q-tip.
Age: 1 and a quarter.
Height: 8 inches tall, but don’t let that mislead you.
Hobbies: Wiping my face on things, chewing on MacDonalds straws, peeing in places I’m not supposed to (as befits my rebellious nature).
Currently resides in: Dalian China, Shahekou District. Kaifaqu Bitches need not apply.
See more at my UnitedDogs.com Profile.

Seeking fun-loving female pekinese dog with similar interests and philosophies, but open to inter-breed relationships as well (with the exception of Chihuahuas – sorry girls, you just can’t accomodate).

Interested parties please contact me at:

pepe_and_the_funk_train@yahoo.com

Correspondences will be treated with the utmost discretion.

I’ve recently been moving content from my Dalian City Guide to a newer, better location, but it seems there’s at least one listing on there that I’m gonna have to remove pronto.

Dalian Sea-Rhyme International Youth Hostel

??????????

This hostel is actually located on a warship, and looks like quite a neato place to stay. But it looks like at least one person ran into some problems. He contacted me, in order to warn others:
“hey this is T (we’ll call him T),
I was trying to post a review of the dalian hostel but got some crazy error messages about spam reports when i clicked send. can you add my coment manually? since your site comes up at the top of the serp for this hostel, i really do hope i can leave this
comment to warn everyone about them. thanks!!!
T from Beijing

T’s Review:

Hi this is T__ from Beijing. Was in Dalian for a day last week and booked a room in advance at the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel on Zhongshan Qu (Warship #104). But upon arriving at the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel I was met by a hostile (not to be confused with hostel) receptionist who refused to allowme through the front doors, claiming that FOREIGNERS ARE NOT ALLOWED at the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel!

I was with my Chinese traveling companion, and we met with the manager of the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel, reminding them that “international” usually means everyone, not just Chinese, and that the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel’s racist, exclusionary policy of refusing westerners contradicted the basic tenants of YHA and HI.

They retorted that because the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel was located on a naval facility that the government had established the NO FOREIGNERS ALLOWED at the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel rule, but then how did the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel ever get authorized to use the HI logo on the front of the boat? My intuition says that they were just holding out for
Chinese tour groups because that’s where the real money is, but I will email HI and YHA just in case.

I should also add that the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel is located about an hour’s bus ride from the train station and quite a drag to find, especially if you are carrying a big pack. I was quite p.o.’d at having to return all the way back to Shengli Square to find a luguan (cheapest one from a tout for 35rmb), since there are no other affordable accomodations in the area.

It’s a real pity that the Dalian Sea Rhyme Youth Hostel does not allow foreigners, or that any hotel in China has the right to refuse western guests because of the color of our skin, but I hope leaving this post will start some change.

That’s just ridiculous.

So, needless to say, if you’re coming to Dalian you might want to consider scratching this hostel off your list.

For a list of accreddited hostels in China, please go to:

The Hostelling International Website

.

And take note that there is no hostel listed on that site for Dalian.
Surprise surprise…