Beidaihe

Background

Beidaihe District belongs to Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province and lies on the Bohai coast, southwest of downtown Qinhuangdao. It covers 70.14 square kilometres and has 22.5 km of coastline. The beach resort stretches 10 km from east to west, from Yingjiao Pavilion to the mouth of the Dai River, with fine yellow sand running about 100 metres out to the sea and shallow water. Near the beach, Lianfeng Hill rises in twin peaks green with pines and cypresses, dotted with pavilions, secluded paths and small bridges. Beidaihe is also a well-known birdwatching spot, where flocks of migratory birds pass through in spring and autumn. Since the late Qing dynasty Beidaihe has been a famous summer retreat, and many old Western-style villas are still scattered among its pine woods. After 1949 numerous sanatoriums were built here, and it became an important place for summer retreats and meetings.

Local customs

• Watch the sunrise over the sea from Yingjiao Pavilion in the early morning, tread the sand and paddle around Central Beach by day, and climb Lianfeng Hill in the afternoon for a view over the Bohai Sea. In spring and autumn, bring binoculars to the wetlands for birdwatching
• in the evening, stroll the seaside boardwalk and then taste seafood around the Shitang Road market.

Travel tips

• Summer is peak season, when lodging and seafood prices rise, so book ahead. Bathing beaches open only in designated areas and at set times
• follow the notices on site. Sunscreen and mosquito repellent are essential, and there are many shells on the beach, so beach shoes are a good idea. For attraction tickets, go by the official rates.
• Take a high-speed train to Beidaihe Station, then a taxi or bus for about 20 minutes to the seaside
• buses also run from downtown Qinhuangdao. Drivers can take the Beijing-Harbin Expressway to the Beidaihe exit
• seaside parking is tight in peak season. Summer (June to September) is best for swimming and escaping the heat
• spring and autumn are cool and suit birdwatching and walking
• in winter the sea wind is strong and cold and visitors are very few, but you can see the frozen sea.