The unglamorous but useful part: how to move around, pay, stay connected and eat well.
🚄 Trains from Beijing
Book on the official 12306 app or site (English version available) or via Trip.com. Passport number is your ticket; scan it at the gate.
Choose Beidaihe Station for beaches, Shanhaiguan Station for the Great Wall, Qinhuangdao Station for the city centre. All are about 2 hours from Beijing.
Summer weekends sell out days ahead. Off-season you can usually buy on the day.
🚕 Getting around
DiDi (ride-hailing) works with an international card and English interface. Taxis are metered and cheap; show the Chinese name of your destination.
Bus 34 links Qinhuangdao Station and Beidaihe; buses 25 and 33 run inside Shanhaiguan. Pay ¥1–2 with cash, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Shared bikes are everywhere in Beidaihe and pleasant along the seafront.
💳 Money
China is mostly cashless. Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign Visa/Mastercard now; set them up before you arrive.
Keep some cash (¥200–500) for small stalls and the odd bus. ATMs at Bank of China and ICBC accept foreign cards.
Attraction tickets are usually bought at the gate or via the venue's WeChat mini-program; some sites require ID.
📶 Internet and apps
Buy an eSIM or a China Unicom/China Mobile SIM at the airport. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram need a VPN installed before arrival.
Useful apps: Amap or Baidu Maps (navigation with English labels on Amap), DiDi, Alipay (also translates menus), Trip.com for hotels and trains.
🦀 Food
Seafood is the point: buy at Shitang Road market in Beidaihe and have a nearby restaurant cook it for a small fee, or eat at the seafood stalls by the beach.
Shanhaiguan specialities: Sitiao baozi (steamed buns from a century-old shop), hunzi (a savoury starch dish) and hele noodles.
Vegetarians: ask for "sù" (素) dishes; tofu and vegetable options are common in any restaurant.
🛟 Safety and etiquette
Qinhuangdao is safe. Swim only at lifeguarded beaches (Tiger Rock, Middle Beach) and respect the flags; rip currents occur in August.
Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119. The tourist complaint hotline is 12345.
Registering at your hotel is automatic; if you stay in a private rental, the host must register you with the police within 24 hours.