Qinhuangdao: where the Great Wall meets the sea

Two hours from Beijing by high-speed rail. Sandy beaches at Beidaihe, the Ming-dynasty fortress town of Shanhaiguan, the Old Dragon's Head where the Wall runs into the Bohai Sea, and the arty seaside community of Aranya.

Browse all 47 attractionsHow to get there

Why visit

Qinhuangdao is a coastal city in Hebei province, northeast of Beijing. Chinese travellers know it as a summer beach escape; for international visitors the draw is the combination of sea, the eastern end of the Great Wall and an easy day-trip distance from the capital.

🏯 The Great Wall's eastern end

Shanhaiguan's "First Pass Under Heaven" gate, the Jiaoshan section climbing the first mountain, and the Old Dragon's Head where the Wall literally enters the sea. All within a few kilometres of each other.

🏖 Beidaihe beaches

A 20 km stretch of sand and a historic resort town. Sunrise at Pigeon Nest Park is the classic experience; Tiger Rock beach is the busiest swimming spot in summer.

🎨 Aranya and the south coast

Aranya is a design-led seaside community famous for its "Lonely Library" and chapel on the beach. Further south are golden-sand dunes, hot springs and Changli's vineyards.

Top places to see

Our pick of the ten attractions most worth your time. Prices are adult tickets in Chinese yuan; children, students and seniors usually get discounts.

Beidaihe Coastal Scenic Area
Beach & Coast · Beidaihe

Beidaihe Coastal Scenic Area北戴河海滨风景区

Beidaihe is a coastal resort on the northern shore of Bohai Bay in Qinhuangdao, Hebei, first opened as a summer retreat by the Qing government in 1898 and later favored by national leaders for its cooler climate. Its roughly 20-kilometer beach has fine sand and calm, shallow water, making it one of northern China's best natural sea-bathing areas. Highlights include sunrise at Pigeon Nest Park, sunset at Tiger Stone Park, hilltop sea views from Lianfeng Mountain, and the historic villa district. It suits families, swimmers, and history or architecture enthusiasts, especially June through September.

🎫 Free🕒 Open all day⭐ 4.7
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Shanhaiguan – First Pass Under Heaven
History & Culture · Shanhaiguan

Shanhaiguan – First Pass Under Heaven山海关·天下第一关

The First Pass Under Heaven (Tianxia Diyi Guan) is the eastern terminus of the Ming-dynasty Great Wall, built in 1381 under general Xu Da. Its gate tower, Zhenyuan Tower, carries a huge horizontal plaque reading "First Pass Under Heaven," each character about one meter square, traditionally attributed to Ming calligrapher Xiao Xian. Visitors can climb the tower for views over the old walled town and the wall itself; the fortified walls, barbican, and nearby Great Wall Museum are well preserved. It is a different ticketed site from the nearby Old Dragon Head (where the wall meets the sea) and from the free-to-enter Shanhaiguan Old Town — don't confuse them.

🎫 ¥50🕒 07:00-18:00⭐ 4.8
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Pigeon Nest Park
Beach & Coast · Beidaihe

Pigeon Nest Park鸽子窝公园

Pigeon Nest Park sits at the northeastern tip of Beidaihe beach and is the classic spot for watching sunrise over the Bohai Sea, ranked first among Beidaihe's traditional 24 scenic views. It takes its name from wild pigeons that once nested on its rocks. Mao Zedong wrote a famous poem here in 1954, commemorated by a stone tablet. The park's landmark is Eagle Rock, an eagle-shaped outcrop about 17 meters tall. Wooden boardwalks lead through wetlands good for birdwatching and beachcombing at low tide. It suits photographers, families, and early risers.

🎫 ¥25🕒 3:00-18:00⭐ 4.6
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Old Dragon's Head (Laolongtou)
History & Culture · Shanhaiguan

Old Dragon's Head (Laolongtou)老龙头景区

Old Dragon's Head (Laolongtou) sits on the Bohai Sea coast in Shanhaiguan District, Qinhuangdao, about 5-8 km south of Shanhaiguan's old town. Built in 1381 during the Ming dynasty and later expanded, it marks the easternmost starting point of the Great Wall and is the only stretch where the wall runs into the sea. Destroyed in 1900 and rebuilt in 1984, the site now covers roughly 700 mu and includes the Chenghai Tower viewing platform, the stone sea-wall fortress (Rushi Shicheng), and the Sea God Temple. It suits history and Great Wall enthusiasts and families comfortable with stairs and coastal walking.

🎫 ¥50🕒 07:30-18:00⭐ 4.7
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Aranya Gold Coast Community
Art & Lifestyle · Nandaihe & Changli

Aranya Gold Coast Community阿那亚·黄金海岸社区

Aranya is a gated seaside community at Golden Coast in Changli County, Qinhuangdao, known for the "Lonely Library" (Sanlian Seaside Public Library) designed by architect Dong Gong, whose floor-to-ceiling windows face the sea — one of China's first free public libraries by the beach. The community also includes a seaside auditorium, a Dune Art Museum, and a beachfront market, and hosts an annual theatre festival. Access is restricted: non-residents typically need a reservation or to be a paying guest, and the library requires a separate booking via its WeChat account or the Aranya app. It's popular with young creatives, couples, and photographers, especially at sunrise and sunset.

🎫 Free🕒 Open all day⭐ 4.8
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Yutian Qilihai Resort
Family Fun · Nandaihe & Changli

Yutian Qilihai Resort渔田·七里海度假区

Yutian Qilihai Resort sits in the Qilihai area of Beidaihe New District, between Houli and Dahanzhuang villages. Newly rated as a 4A attraction in 2025, it covers about 8,000 mu (roughly 530 hectares) with 5,000 mu of water area. The resort combines large-scale live shows, fishing-culture exhibits, close-up animal encounters (giraffes, capybaras, miniature horses), themed shopping streets, and boutique lodging. Daytime visits focus on animal interaction and water play, while evenings feature a large light-and-water show. It operates seasonally from late April to early October and is best enjoyed as a full-day-into-evening visit.

🎫 ¥109🕒 See official hours⭐ 4.8
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Shanhaiguan Old Town
History & Culture · Shanhaiguan

Shanhaiguan Old Town山海关古城

Built in 1381 during the Ming dynasty, Shanhaiguan Old Town sits at the eastern end of the Great Wall and was a key military pass, known as the "First Pass Under Heaven." The walled town keeps Ming-and-Qing-era streets and courtyards, with the East Gate watchtower, a bell-and-drum tower, and former military offices. Entry to the town is free; the watchtower and some historic buildings charge separate admission. It suits history and architecture fans, families, and photographers, and pairs well with Old Dragon Head and Jiaoshan Great Wall.

🎫 Free🕒 Open all day⭐ 4.6
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Xianluo Island
Beach & Coast · Nandaihe & Changli

Xianluo Island仙螺岛

Xianluo Island is a landmark island scenic area in the Nandaihe resort district of Funing, Qinhuangdao. Visitors reach the island via a roughly 1,038-meter cross-sea cable car (about 15 minutes each way), which offers panoramic views of the coastline. The island has a seaside viewing promenade and several paid attractions, including sea bungee jumping, boat rides, a rotating car ride, a carousel and a pirate ship. The cable car crossing is the main highlight and makes this a popular stop in Nandaihe, suited to families, couples and photo-focused visitors; those afraid of heights should be cautious on the cable car.

🎫 ¥80🕒 09:00-19:00⭐ 4.6
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Zushan Scenic Area
Nature · Funing & Qinglong

Zushan Scenic Area祖山风景区

Zushan Scenic Area lies in Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County, Qinhuangdao, on the southern slope of the Yan Mountains near the Bohai coast. Its main peak, Tiannv Feng, rises to 1,428 meters and is nicknamed the "Little Huangshan of the north" for its forested peaks and sea of clouds at sunrise. The area is a national scenic and geological park with old-growth forest, azaleas in spring, cool summer air, red foliage in autumn and rime ice in winter. Highlights include Tiannv Feng peak, the Ten-Li Gallery and Gallery Valley. It suits hikers and photographers; visitors with average fitness often take the cable car up and walk down.

🎫 ¥80🕒 08:00-17:00⭐ 4.6
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Tiger Stone Sea Park
Beach & Coast · Beidaihe

Tiger Stone Sea Park老虎石海上公园

Tiger Stone Sea Park sits on Beidaihe's central beach, named for a cluster of rocks resembling crouching tigers at the shoreline. Covering about 33,000 square meters, it is free to enter and one of Beidaihe's most popular beaches for swimming, with a gentle slope and fine sand. Paid activities include parasailing, windsurfing, and a children's water park. At low tide, visitors can explore the exposed rocks for shells and small crabs. Sunset here, with the tiger-shaped rocks silhouetted against the sea, is one of Beidaihe's favorite photo spots. It suits swimmers, families, and photographers.

🎫 Free🕒 7:00-22:00⭐ 4.5
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Getting there

High-speed trains from Beijing take about two hours. Which station you choose depends on where you are staying.

🚄 Beidaihe Station

Best for the beaches and most hotels. About 10 minutes by taxi to the seafront. Trains from Beijing South and Beijing Chaoyang stations, roughly 1 h 50 min to 2 h 20 min.

🚄 Shanhaiguan Station

Walking distance to the old walled town. Ideal if the Great Wall is your priority; the Old Dragon's Head is a short taxi ride away.

🚄 Qinhuangdao Station

The city-centre station, convenient for the port area, the aquarium and buses to both Beidaihe and Shanhaiguan (bus 34 to Beidaihe takes about 40 minutes).

When to go

May to early June, September

The sweet spot: warm, dry, far fewer people than the school holidays, and the sea is still swimmable in September.

July and August

Peak season. The beaches are lively, the water is warmest, but hotels double in price and Beidaihe gets crowded. Book ahead.

October to April

Cold and windy on the coast, but the Great Wall sites are atmospheric and empty. Some seaside attractions run reduced hours or close.

Practical information: money, SIM cards, food, safety →

Planning a trip to Qinhuangdao?

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