The school was founded in 1958 in
Shenyang as the Shenyang Institute of Light Industry (). In 1970, the institute moved to Dalian and renamed to the Dalian Institute of Light Industry (). In 2006, previously holding the college status, the institute received its
university status and renamed to Dalian Polytechnic University. It is the only institution of higher education in northeastern China specializing in
light industry,
food,
textiles, and
art design. There are about 15,000 students on the campus. Subjects taught include
engineering,
science,
arts,
management, and
economics. In 2025, the university expelled a female student for "improper contact with a foreigner" and "damaged national dignity," after videos circulated that suggested she had been intimate with a Ukrainian gamer. The report publicly disclosed the full name of the student. == References ==