Shijiazhuang 石家庄

With a history of more than 2,000 years, Qinhuangdao is situated at the eastern end of Hebei Province, neighbouring Liaoning Province. Legend tells that Emperor Qinshihuang stayed temporarily here for seeking immortality, hence the name. The city is non-freezing port, and it mainly exports coal and petroleum. Along the seacoast, it produces a large quantity of aquatic products. Industries include machinery, bridge building, glass and refractory material. Of interest to visitors are Shanhaiguan Great Wall, Beidaihe Beach, and Meng Jiangnü Temple.

Beidaihe 北戴河海滨 （the cradle of Chinese tourism）中国旅游业的摇篮

Many residents in Beijing and Tianjin would like to go to Beidaihe北戴河, a seaside resort along the Bohai Sea some 300 kilometers northeast Beijing to escape the summer heat and damp nights of July and August. Since it has been used as a summer resort with 719 villas by the royal family of the Qing Dynasty and then, a century ago, by foreign communities in Beijing and Tianjin, Beidaihe has grown into a popular folks’ destination to kill off the unbearable hot days. In fact, Beidaihe is so well known that many Chinese people think Qinhuangdao is a district of Beidaihe, not the other way round.

Jiaoshan 角山

A three-kilometers hike along the Great Wall will bring tourists to the Jiaoshan Mountain, the highest peak in the Qinhuangdao area. Tourists can take the bus to the foot of the mountain and from there a cable car will bring them all the way right up to the top, known for its jiao (horn) shaped rocks.

Old Dragon's Head 老龙头-the Starting Point of the Great Wall

The Old Dragon’s Head is the eastern starting point of the Great Wall; about 20 meters run into the sea. In ancient times, people used to refer to the Great Wall as a giant dragon and got its name. First built in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Old Dragon’s Head was bombarded by the Eight-Powers Allied Forces in 1900 and was not restored until 1987. The First Pass Under Heaven, built at the same time as the Old Dragon’s Head, is an important strategic point and is the first pass on the eastern end of the Great Wall, hence the name. The two-storeyed gate tower is 12 meters high and 23 meters wide. From its top, tourists can have a breath-taking view of the Bohai Sea to the south and of the Great Wall snaking its way up amongst the mountains on the northern side. The tower also holds an exhibition of ancient weapons. Sculptures of a few dozen general who were once stationed there complete the visit.

Shanhaiguan 山海关

Shanhaiguan is another district of Qinhuangdao. Shanhaiguan is known for its rich historic and natural attractions such as Laolongtou (Old Dragon’s Head), Yansai Lake and Jiaoshan Mountain. Shanhaiguan has always been an important corridor between northern and northeastern China and has witnessed many battles over the centuries. Strategically located between the mountains and the sea, the area got its name from its geographical location. Built upon the eastern starting point of the Great Wall, Shanhaiguan is one of a few Chinese cities with a complete city wall.

There are about 70 places of interest in Shanhaiguan. Laolongtou, the First Pass Under Heaven, Jiaoshan Mountain and Yansai Lake are the must-see sites.

Yansai Lake 燕塞湖

Yansai Lake is the only major site not directly connected to the Great Wall. Located 9 kilometers northwest Shanhaiguan, the lake is 15 kilometers long and more than 60 meters deep, and threads its twisting way between two mountains. By boat, tourists can enjoy different precipices towering along the lakeshores. Cypress and pine trees covering the mountains are mirrored in the lake. Those who have visited Guilin’s Li River or the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are bound to experience the same feelings of wonder as they pass along the lake.

Pleasure-seekers can have access to a lot of beaches in the district of Shahaiguan, though the most convenient ones are possibly the two alongside the Old Dragon’s Head, each extending 200 meters wide and about 4 kilometers long. The water is reasonably clean, the beach smooth, the sands fine and the tides gentle.

Swimming there is a romantic experience—especially under the moonlight—with the Old Dragon’s Head and the Great Wall as a marvelous background. Motor-boating and horse-riding services are available and shower facilities are provided.

All trains bounding to Northeast China stop at the Shanhaiguan Railway Station. Unlike the Beidaihe Railway Station, which is 10 kilometers always from the beach area, the Shanhaiguan Railway Station is located right in town. The trains are air-conditioned and riding is about three hours from Beijing Railway Station to Shanhaiguan.

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