Qinhuangdao

Understand

Qinhuangdao, located in northeastern Hebei Province, is a coastal city on the Bohai Sea. It is known for its beaches, the eastern end of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan, and nearby seaside resort areas such as Beidaihe and the southern coastal developments in Changli County. Qinhuangdao is commonly divided into four main areas for travel purposes:

Beidaihe: A seaside resort district known for beaches and seasonal tourism. Nandaihe: A coastal resort area south of Beidaihe in Changli County, known for beaches and a cool arts scene. Haigang: The main urban and port district, generally considered Qinhuangdao proper. Shanhaiguan: The historic eastern terminus of the Great Wall and a preserved fortified town.

Getting there

By plane 1 Qinhuangdao Beidaihe Airport (BPE IATA). There is a tiny (by Chinese standards) airport. There are some daily domestic flights to Qingdao, Shijiazhuang, Shanghai and some other places. You can book through the airlines websites, but they are Chinese only. Alternatively, ask someone from your hostel or hotel to book for you; they are glad to help and works out fine. Other airports close by are Tianjin (TSN IATA) or Beijing Capital Airport (PEK IATA) where you can take Inter-Provincial Bus . Take note of the timetable. Or you can take the train from those cities, see below.

By train There are multiple train options when traveling to Qinhuangdao. Most visitors to Qinhuangdao are coming from either Beijing or Tianjin. Both cities are a two-hour ride on one of CRC's (China Railway Corp.) 'D' or 'Dong' trains. A ticket for a fast train to or from Beijing is ¥93, but expect to pay a ¥5 ticketing fee if not purchased directly at the departure train station. 'T', 'K', and 'numbered' trains also make daily journeys through Qinhuangdao, but they are much slower (4-6 hours from Beijing) and rarely worth the savings for western travelers who value time over cost.

By bus Long distance buses are common in China, and Qinhuangdao is no exception. Buses depart from a central station near to the central train station in the Haiguan area of the city. Bus tickets from Beijing will often cost as much as train tickets, but the departures are more frequent. There is a direct bus from Beijing Capital International Airport direct to Qinhuangdao. Travel time is roughly 4 hours (depending on traffic), and tickets can be purchased directly at the bus station at the airport for ¥150.

Getting around

Qinhuangdao is a relatively small city by China standards. However, due to its location on the water, the city tends to sprawl in a linear fashion along the coast from Shanhaiguan to Beidaihe, thus making buses and taxis necessary means for getting around.

By taxi Taxis are inexpensive and abundant, thus making them the preferred means of transport for travelers. Be sure you can confidently communicate where you want to go before you get into a cab as most of the drivers in Qinhuangdao can not speak English, but many of them can read Chinese. You can ask somebody to write down the place where you want go in Chinese on a card, and show this card to taxi driver. The best approach is to have a valid phone number for where you are going, or a phone number for a contact who can communicate with the driver in Chinese, should there be a problem. While most taxi drivers are honest and use meters, the ones around railway stations tend to refuse to use meters. The prices they ask are usually a rip off. Be prepared.

By bus Buses are also a good option for getting around the city. City maps, which contain bus routes on them, can be obtained from kiosks near to the central bus and train stations. Buses cost ¥1-2 for a single ticket ride. However, the low cost means that buses are always overcrowded, and occasional pickpockets make it essential to protect your personal belongings.

See

Many of Qinhuangdao's attractions have been extensively restored or rebuilt in the 1980s. This includes most of the city wall as well as the Great Wall going towards the sea. The other side of the wall, going up the mountains, has been partly restored but some parts remain in their original, crumbling state. Much of the "old" town, especially along the main north-south road, was completely reconstructed in 2008/09. Several city blocks were remade into a faux-old Chinese city that, despite the lack of history, is quite pleasant to walk through. Most of it, however, is still largely uninhabited and quite like a ghost town. Especially in the evening after sunset, with the tourists gone, you will find even the main streets almost deserted. Qinhuangdao's attractions are spread across its three main urban areas: Shanhaiguan, Haigang and Beidaihe. Shanhaiguan is known for the eastern end of the Great Wall and the restored old fortified town. Haigang contains the main harbor district and several coastal attractions. Beidaihe is the city's famous seaside resort area.

Shanhaiguan

1 Old Dragon Head (老龙头) (Take bus 25 from the south gate or train station, taxi around ¥10), ☏ +86 355-5152996. 05:30-17:30. At Qinhuangdao, the Great Wall juts out into the sea. The original wall is long gone, but an extensive rebuilt section has been put up. Bus 25 will take you there for ¥1-3. To get onto the wall and into an area with several rebuilt halls, you need to buy a ticket for ¥60. ¥60. 2 Shanhaiguan Pass，First Pass under Heaven (山海关，天下第一关) (East of the Drum Tower in the center of the old town), ☏ +86 335-5258000. 08:00-17:00. The area between the sea and the mountains at Qinhuangdao is called the "First Pass under Heaven", being the place where the Ming dynasty Great Wall began. Guarding the pass is the city of Qinhuangdao, with its (restored) east gate marking the main road through the pass. You can see the tower guarding the gate and, depending on choice of ticket, various exhibitions or take a walk along the city walls. ¥50.

Shanhaiguan Fortifications. The walls of the old city of Qinhuangdao can essentially be considered part of the Great Wall: the whole city was built as a wall fortification to guard the pass between the mountains and the sea. The walls of Qinhuangdao are square, with a perimeter of around 4 km in length. The walls reach the height of 14 m, and are 7 meters thick. The east, south and north sides of the fortification are surrounded by a moat 3 m deep and 5 m wide. There are drawbridges to get over the moat. You can only go up on the wall by buyin

Eat

Pu Shi (樸石西餐厅), Taiyangcheng Zhengyang Street No. 39, ☏ +86 3252286. 10:00 - 24:00. This is a favorite for pizza in the city. You can dine in, take out, or have it delivered straight to your door. The handmade crusts and ample toppings make this the best Chicago style pie in the city. The private rooms are classy and elegant. You will not be disappointed with the service and comfort. Watch a movie or a sports match on your own personal flat screen. If you do want some company, the piano bar is wonderful. You can curl up in the oversized, overstuffed furniture and take in the scene. This is the place to see and be seen in QHD. Vietnam Youyou Cafe (越南悠悠咖啡), baojie) Sidaoqiao Nanxing 100m, ☏ +86 3034585 - 15133557977. 09:30 - 24:00. The Vietnamese owner makes this the only place to go in Qinhuangdao for Vietnamese fare. The decor is refined, the owner speaks English, the food tastes just like what you’ll find in Hanoi, and the live music is a hit. The menu is pleasantly inexpensive considering the posh surroundings and classy atmosphere. It’s a great choice for a night away from the masses. Private parties large and small are always welcomed. Butterfly (蝴蝶时尚餐厅), Qinhuangdao Haigang District Kanglejie No. 1 (Renmin guangchang yingu xice), ☏ +86 3289777. 09:30 - 24:00. Next to People's Square, it sits in the heart of the entertainment district of the city. This is the place to go for quality cuts of meat and plump steaks. The prices are reasonable, and are on par with other western style steakhouses in China. The bar serves a full line of spirits and wines, and has a nice list of imported beers to choose from. A must visit for anyone who needs a "meat" fix. Haitianyise Hotel (海天一色度假村), Qinhuangdao Haigang District Dongshanjie No. 51, ☏ +86 3417799. 09:00 - 21:00. Nestled among the rocks overlooking the ocean, this is the place to go for weekend brunch. The restaurant is connected to the Haitianyise Hotel and Seaside Resort. It’s a top pick among travelers and locals alike. The seafood buffet is always fresh and includes all the sides and drinks (including alcohol) that you care to consume. Enjoy your meal while watching the waves roll in.

Drink & nightlife

Bar Lotus (阿那亚店 Ānàyà Diàn), No.1, East Side, Building 13, Zone 9, Anaya Tinghai Holiday Living Area, Binhai New Avenue, Changli County (滨海新大道阿那亚听海假日生活区九区13栋楼东侧1号), ☏ +86 15033508281. Su-Th 10:00-01:30, F Sa 10:00-02:30. This is a coffee shop and bar on the beach. It sells coffee during the day and alcohol at night. There are indoor seats and outdoor seats respectively. On Friday nights every week, professional massage doctors will also provide free massage services in the store. ¥90. (updated Oct 2023) Thirteen Invitations Bistro (十三邀小酒馆 Shísān Yāo Xiǎojiǔguǎn), No. 13-105, 9th District, Tinghai Holiday Living Area, Binhai New Avenue, Tuanlin Township, Changli County ( 团林乡滨海新大道听海假日生活区九区13-105号), ☏ +86 335-5829013. 18:30-01:00. ¥133. (updated Oct 2023) naive (理想国(阿那亚店)), 101, Building 14, Phase 6, Anaya Cultural and Creative District, Binhai New Avenue (滨海新大道阿那亚文创街区6期14栋101), ☏ +86 15690066891. 09:30-01:00. ¥62. (updated Oct 2023)

Go next

On the southwest of Qinhuangdao there are Tianjin and Beijing. On the northeast there are Huludao, Panjin, Shenyang. On the north there is Chifeng, if you enjoy seeing grasslands. Jiumenkou Great Wall 九门口长城 can be combined into a day trip with Qinhuangdao. It is in Liaoning Province but close enough to Qinhuangdao. One-way taxi from Qinhuangdao to Jiumenkou Great Wall is ¥40-50. Jiumenkou Great Wall is the solely Great Wall section that is built above a river. There is also the only existing Great Wall tunnel. Prepare at least 3 hours for a trip to Jiumenkou Great Wall from Qinhuangdao.