When I first came to Dalian, my main purpose was to see the country.  I wanted to see the other side of the world while I was young, and still had the opportunity.  In my first year, I taught English, as many foreigners in China do.  But eventually I became more and more interested in Chinese Culture and especially the Chinese language.

So last year I decided to enroll in Chinese study full-time, at a local University here in Dalian.  It was a great experience, and I met a lot of great people from all over the world.  And I think my Chinese has improved a little as well.

But while I was studying Chinese, I also took the opportunity to study something else.  Web design.  Not only did I think this was an important skill, but I felt it could also help me address one of Dalian's basic needs. 

It's often very difficult for foreigners to find their way in a new city in China, mostly because of the language barrier.  When we first arrive, we are faced with so many questions:

Where do you go to eat? 
How do you find the best places to shop? 
Where is the most lively nightlife? 
How can I go about learning Chinese?

How do you find the answers to these questions.  Dalian has so many informative websites, Liaoning-gateway is one of many.  But most of them are in Chinese, and incomprehensible to any newcomer to Dalian.  So I decided to take what I've learned about this city, and put it online.  My website name is Pandapassport, meaning that this is your ticket into to one of China's finest cities.

It has a lot of information about Chinese Study, Teaching English, Local Restaurants and Landmarks, as well as an area where readers can suggest new additions to the Dalian Guide.  It's not a business, but just a way for people to share information about a great city in China.

I hope that PandaPassport will help new people coming to Dalian enjoy this city as much as I have!

Rick Martin
Chinese Language Student

Rick in China
http://www.pandapassport.com