A peddler sells Russian dolls and other souvenirs on Russian Street. [Photo by Zhang Xiaomin/China Daily]

Shengli Bridge

Once called the Russian Wood Bridge, this landmark structure connected the administrative district and the commercial district.

Later, Japanese invaders rebuilt the bridge with granite and carved Renaissance patterns on it. It was then called Japanese Bridge.

When the invaders were driven out, people called it Shengli (Victory) Bridge.

The short pedestrian street beside it is Russian Street. Flanked with European and Russian-style buildings and peddlers selling Russian dolls, chocolates, cigarettes and other trinkets, it was renovated in 2000 and became a tourism magnet.

A peddler said most of the buildings are newly constructed in the Russian style; only a few are original.

At the end of the 430-meter-long street stands a small square and a white building with a green roof, which was the former Russian Dalny City Hall, the city's first town hall.

The first mayor, Sakharov, dreamed of building an Asian city in the style of Paris. According to his plan, all construction was to begin from this place and expand outward.

However, before he could finish, the Russians were defeated by the Japanese. Sakharov set the city hall on fire before he left.

The Japanese repaired it and successively used it as a military headquarters, railway office building, hotel, hospital and museum.

Nearby, Miss Shen's Shop is owned by a couple, local graduates of an art college. Visitors can participate in some do-it-yourself activities like pottery, painting, seal cutting or simply reading.

The couple has made beautiful postcards showing Dalian's old houses, and Miss Shen will help visitors mail them out.