China Beidaihe sights excursions. Beidaihe Resort is a paradise in China. Things to do in Beidaihe

Beidaihe is recognized as one of the best resorts in China, where you can combine a beach holiday with wellness, immersion in the beauty of nature and acquaintance with incredible architectural creations from different eras.

Everything beautiful is nearby: the capital of the country Beijing, the Great Wall of China, the sea, mountains, lakes, forests, parks. Environmental friendliness, magical air, clean sea, comfort, and coziness make Beidaihe a favorite vacation spot for local residents and foreign tourists.

Beidaihe is located in northeastern China on the coast of Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea, 300 km away and competes with the southern resorts of the country: here the climate is much milder, there is no sweltering heat, green spaces occupy more than half of the territory, prices are much more affordable than in popular tourist places.

Even according to Feng Shui, the resort is an ideal place: in the south there is water, in the north there are mountains. Largely thanks to this teaching, according to which it is impossible to change the landscape and carry out construction work in a protected area, the amazing nature of the region has remained almost untouched.

The oldest buildings in Beidaihe date back to the 3rd century BC - the palace of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, who united the country and connected the scattered fortress walls into a single Great Wall of China, the beginning (or end?) of which is located on the coast of the resort.

The conservation of the territory was violated at the end of the 19th century, when the construction of railways began. Among the beautiful landscapes on the coast, luxurious villas and mansions of the capital's nobility and diplomats appeared, and Beidaihe was officially declared a resort of all-Chinese importance.

The country's leaders loved and still love to relax here; meetings are traditionally held where the most important decisions for the country are made.

The resort opened for foreign tourists only in 1979 and was appreciated, gaining popularity and winning the love of more and more people. It was recently awarded the prestigious status of being an excellent tourist city in China.

Briefly about the important:

  • Time difference from – 5 hours;
  • The monetary unit is the yuan. Exchange rate at the end of June 2019: 1 CNY = 9 RUB;
  • A common measure of weight is jin, equal to 500 g;
  • A visa is required for the trip;
  • Many signs, names of hotels, restaurants, cafes, menus are duplicated in Russian.

Climate

The resort is located in a mild temperate continental climate. The fact that it is located on the coast of the Bohai Gulf, and not the open sea, protects it from storms and high waves. There are no rainy seasons here. Precipitation occurs more often in spring and summer, but it is not heavy and does not last long.

In summer, the air temperature rarely exceeds 30 degrees; the heat is perfectly tolerated thanks to the refreshing sea breezes.

The swimming season usually lasts from mid-May to mid-October. During this period, Beidaihe has the largest influx of vacationers and the highest prices.

The resort is not empty during the rest of the year: many come to improve their health in medical centers, see natural and architectural monuments, and make purchases, taking advantage of promotions and discounts in the low season.

How to get there

You can get to Beidaihe from Russia only through or, where the international airports closest to the resort are located. The first option is more convenient.

Beidaihe on the map:

From Moscow airports and daily, several airlines operate direct flights to Beijing Capital Airport, located 20 km from the center of the capital. Flight time is just over 7 hours. The cost of a one-way ticket starts from 10,000 rubles and depends on the air carrier, month, day of the week, and time of booking. Significant savings can be achieved by purchasing round-trip tickets.

From Beijing to Beidaihe

You can get from the capital of the country to the resort by bus, train, or taxi.

Bus

From the airport, buses go to the city of Qinhuangdao, of which Beidaihe is a part:

  • shuttle: travel time – 4 hours, ticket price – from 140 CNY;
  • express: travel time – 3 hours, ticket price – from 130 CNY.

Train

From the air harbor you will need to take bus route No. 3 to the railway station (fare within 10 CNY) and choose the type of train for further travel to Beidaihe:

  • express: travel time – just over 2 hours, ticket price – from 80 CNY;
  • regular: travel time - about 6 hours, ticket price - from 50 CNY.

The distance from the station to the resort is 15 km. To get into the city, you can take a bus (from 2 CNY) or a taxi (from 30 CNY).

Taxi

A taxi ride from the airport to the resort will cost from 1000 CNY.

Transport

Beidaihe is a small resort, so many places can be reached on foot.

Bus service is represented by several routes passing along popular tourist sites and hotels and connecting the resort with other cities. So by bus No. 34 you can get to the city of Qinhuangdao in half an hour, and the route of bus No. 15 runs along the coast.

The cost of a ticket on public transport is from 1 CNY (increases during the high season).

Taxis in the city are inexpensive and popular. Travel cost: within the resort - from 10 CNY, to distant attractions - from 30 CNY.

Another method of transportation is a regular or electric bicycle, which can be rented at rental points.

Renting a car in China is problematic, since the country does not have an international driver's license. Therefore, many people prefer to rent a car with a driver.

Where to stay

The choice of temporary housing at the resort is varied: modern high-rise hotels, ancient villas, guest houses, apartments, hostels. When choosing, it is better to focus on tourist reviews: the star rating sometimes does not correspond for the worse, but often for the better.

The most comfortable 5* and 4* hotels (room rates per night start from 600 CNY), naturally, are located along the coastline. The tourist rating is topped by:

  • "Sheraton Qinhuangdao Beidaihe Hotel" 5*: indoor pool, fitness center, tour desk, ticket office, 2 restaurants - "Yue Chinese" (Chinese cuisine) and "Feast Signature" (European cuisine), children's: menu, playgrounds, zone, club;
  • “Xinhua Holiday Hotel Beidaihe” 4*: sauna, bowling, mini-golf, tennis court, billiards, gym, beauty salon, souvenir shop, concert hall, private beach.

Popular 3* hotels (from 200 CNY per night):

  • "Beidaihe Gao Chang Yu Hostel";
  • "Diplomatic Hotel";
  • "Beidaihe Deyuan Hotel".

The most affordable, but at the same time high-quality accommodation is in hostels and inexpensive hotels (from 60 CNY per day). The best reviews have:

  • "Beidaihe Pingshunzhangyuhua Hostel";
  • "Beidaihe Luzhuang AiRan Family Inn";
  • "Beidaihe Zhibin Family Inn".

The highest prices for accommodation are in July-September, especially if they fall on weekends.

It is important to know: some hotels are aimed at accommodating only Chinese residents. This must be taken into account when booking a room.

Where and what to eat

This question is not relevant for Beidaihe: cafes and restaurants are found everywhere, many of them in the beach area. The cost increases as you approach the coast. In shopping centers there are McDonald's and an abundance of street stalls with inexpensive fruit.

Seafood lovers can inexpensively taste delicious dishes from freshly caught fish and seafood in numerous cafes on the coast, which are called chshifanki here.

“Moscow”, “Marina”, “Druzhba”, “Gloria” are the names of restaurants where they prepare familiar dishes of Russian cuisine and popular European ones.

Chinese cuisine is represented by various culinary schools. Many restaurants also serve French, Italian, and Brazilian cuisine.

At the resort you must try:

  • fried shrimp with delicious sauce;
  • Peking duck;
  • pineapple stuffed with rice and seafood.

Note: portions in cafes and restaurants are quite large, it’s enough to take one for two.

In “samovar” type establishments, you can show your culinary skills and prepare your own dish from the ingredients provided, saving significantly on your bill.

Expensive restaurants reward visitors who place an order for a certain (of course, significant) amount with a free signature dish, a bottle of good wine or another drink.

The Moscow restaurant allows guests who have made an order to drink the alcohol they bring with them (the establishment has high prices for drinks). You can also take away uneaten food, which the restaurant staff will carefully pack in containers.

Shopping

The resort has many retail outlets open during the day and night. Souvenirs made of pearls, shells, corals, dried seafood, spices, and Chinese tea are popular among tourists.

There is an abundance of goods for every taste at the famous Pearl Market, where an entire floor is dedicated to the products that give the market its name. The price for a string of pearls is from 50 CNY.

Note: you can distinguish natural pearls from fake ones if you scratch them slightly: a mark will remain on the artificial pearl.

The first floor of the Pearl Market is filled with various products, the cost of which decreases as you move away from the central rows. Bargaining is common here. Those with this gift can significantly reduce the initial price.

Shopaholics also go to shopping centers in Qinhuangdao (half an hour away by bus No. 34). The 6-story Hua Lian department store is the most popular: you can always make a choice from 40 thousand products presented.

Attractions

Even those who come to the resort for a serene beach holiday are tempted to explore at least some of the numerous natural and architectural monuments, especially since they are nearby, within walking distance or a short trip.

Palace of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

The museum complex on the seashore includes a palace-museum (with a copy of the tomb) of the first emperor of China, who unified the country and carried out a number of important reforms; A park of prayers with many sculptures (including real terracotta warriors), waterfalls, ponds, and a huge statue of a ruler praying for immortality.

You can get to the museum by bus No. 7 (2 CNY) or by taxi (from 35 CNY). Ticket price – from 50 CNY.

the great Wall of China

A few kilometers from the resort is the Dragon Head, the only part of the Great Wall of China that extends 23 meters into the sea. Inside the fortress walls there is a museum - the Longwu military camp, where the life of a medieval military garrison that defended the entrusted area from land and sea is recreated, weapons, household utensils are presented, including a huge cauldron in which food was prepared for 900 people. Training fields, observation towers, a labyrinth, temples, sculptures of warriors - everything is unique and worthy of attention.

Next to the fort there is another attraction - the Temple of the Sea God on the water: it goes 120 meters into the sea.

You can continue your journey along the wall to the top of the mountain on foot (you need to be prepared for a difficult climb up the endless steps) or by cable car.

Cost: entrance to the wall - from 50 CNY, funicular - from 20 CNY. You can get to the wall from Beidaihe by bus No. 25 or taxi.

Cave of Longevity

This park complex in a forest at the foot of the mountain is one of the most picturesque places in the resort. Here you can see:

  • a cave of “passing sunlight” more than 110 meters long with rock inscriptions and statues of 18 arhats, followers of Buddha;
  • gazebos “9 skies”, located along the ridge at a 900-meter altitude and made in different styles;
  • the mountain of five Buddhas with huge images of deities, towering opposite the gazebos.

Note: there are 2 types of excursions: walking and by tourist minibus.

Lake Yansai

A mountain lake surrounded by picturesque mountains is a favorite tourist route. Here you can ride a boat, admire the magnificent landscapes from the funicular, visit an ancient functioning Buddhist monastery on the top of the mountain, and walk up to the Great Wall of China.

A visit to the lake is not complete without an excursion to the Bird and Squirrel Park, where you can watch pelicans, swans, peacocks, including white peacocks, and feed them.

Sand sculpture park

Huge sand sculptures created by artists from different provinces of the country decorate the coastal park. Every year the expositions are updated, new ones are created dedicated to a given topic or event.

Park Stone Lotus

A small picturesque park is located at the foot of the mountain. The center of attraction is the temple dedicated to the goddess of mercy and patroness of women, Guanyin, and the beautiful snow-white statue in the square in front of the temple.

Lianfengshan Park

A huge nature reserve with an area of ​​over 300 hectares rises on the slope of five mountains of different heights, on the tops of which there are elegant gazebos from where you can admire the unique nature and resort.

At the top of the highest mountain at a height of 153 meters there is a pavilion called Vanhaiting, about which the Chinese say: whoever has not visited Vanhaiting means he has not seen Beidaihe.

The green carpet of the mountain slopes consists of centuries-old relict pines, maples, cypresses, and junipers. The age and name of long-lived trees are indicated on the signs next to them.

The clean forest air, saturated with the smell of pine needles and herbs, the singing of birds, the saving shade, and many places where you can relax, have earned the park the love of the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom and tourists.

You can move around the park on foot, following the signs, or use electric cars.

The park is located within the city, so you can leisurely walk to it or take bus No. 5. The entrance ticket costs from 30 CNY.

Park Dove's Nest

The landscaped park on a cliff above the sea is home to more than 400 species of birds, including many rare ones. The Bird Museum, housed in a beautiful building, is dedicated to birds. Ponds with bridges, sculptures, and flower beds are hidden among the trees. You can ride boats along the canals and try your luck at catching shrimp.

The largest number of visitors to the Dove's Nest is in the early morning hours: from the park gazebo you can watch a beautiful sunrise, which is poetically called here the sun bathing in the sea.

Entrance fee is 25 CNY. You can get there by bus number 37.

Olympic Park

Built in the center of the resort in 2004 on the eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In the park, which covers an area of ​​more than 1,700 hectares, summer and winter sports are represented with stylized sculptures; bas-reliefs and sculptures are dedicated to the history of the Olympic Games and Chinese Olympic athletes. All this fits organically into the landscape of the green zone.

Every day at 8 pm the light and music show of the singing fountain begins with the obligatory broadcast of an unusual cartoon of soaring water splashes on the screen.

Entrance to the park is free. Travel by bus number 15.

Lantern Park

The small park is full of surprises awaiting walkers at almost every step among a beautiful landscape with ponds, a waterfall, swinging bridges, sculptures, including a peeing boy who lets out a stream only when approaching him, a beautiful castle full of secrets.

With the onset of dusk, the park is transformed: numerous lanterns and colors give it a fabulous and romantic feel.

Entrance – from 20 CNY. You can get there by bus number 15.

Botanical Garden "Difa"

You can come here at any time of the year to admire flowering plants and trees, exotic vegetables and fruits grown hydroponically in a suspended state and creating unusual arched alleys, the most amazing one with the vines of the Luffe pumpkin plant.

The huge pavilions display the flora of the tropics, forests and deserts: palm trees, mango, cotton trees, cacti, orchids.

Here you can take part in the harvest of grapes, vegetables and fruits; you can buy the ones you like, as well as flowers and ornamental plants.

This is interesting: all Difa products are environmentally friendly. A large number of vegetables and fruits grown in the park are supplied to supermarkets, schools, and resort hotels.

In the garden there is an entertainment area with attractions, ponds where you can ride a canoe, walk over them on an unusual bridge, fish, or ride in an amphibious vehicle.

Note: in “Dif” you can stay in the garden hotel and live for several days in the Garden of Eden.

Entrance ticket to the garden is 40 CNY, you can get there by bus number 5.

Safari Park

In one of the largest zoos in the country, all inhabitants are kept in natural conditions without enclosures.

The territory is divided into two parts: in the first, where there are monkeys, elephants, other non-dangerous animals and birds, you can walk. You can get to the other part, where lions, tigers, wolves, bears and other fauna live, by mini-train, which stops at the inhabitants’ compartments. You can get out, wander around, take photos or videos, and continue exploring the park on the next train.

The park has many children's attractions, performances by artists, seal and dolphin shows.

Ticket price: adult – 100 CNY, child (1.2-1.4 meters tall) – 50 CNY. You can get there by bus number 34.

Entertainment

Fans of active recreation and entertainment will not be bored at the resort: many parks have attractions, you can boost your adrenaline and have fun in amusement parks.

Xianluo Amusement Park on Shell Island

The trip to the island itself by cable car over the sea is already an adventure. And on a small piece of land, visitors can expect a variety of attractions: badge jumping from a 48-meter height, downhill in a spiral kayak, parachute flight over the sea, parasurfing, diving and underwater fishing, rafting, and a boat trip.

The beautifully decorated area is decorated with a sculpture of a mermaid - the symbol of the island, which also has another name - Mermaid Island.

At the island market “Seafood” you can choose seafood souvenirs, freshly caught seafood and taste dishes from them.

The cost of visiting is 35 CNY. Travel by bus No. 5 or No. 22.

Nandaihe Amusement Park

In a huge forested park area on the sea coast there are 30 attractions, roller coasters, a huge Ferris wheel, various carousels, the opportunity to ride from a high hill on original slides - water, sand and grass, and snowboard along the dunes.

There is a lot of entertainment for kids on the playground, located in the shade of trees.

The cost of visiting is 120 CNY.

Fans of nightlife will find many clubs and discos. The most popular in the center of the resort: “Kangaroo” (Open Hotel) and “Russia” (hotel of the same name).

Beaches

The many kilometers of sandy coastline of Beidaihe is divided into three beaches: central, western and eastern:

  • central: the most popular, with developed infrastructure, ideal for families with children - gentle entrance to the water, sandy bottom. There are many cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and rental shops nearby. They sell kites that children love to fly;
  • western: not inferior in comfort to the central one, but less crowded - there are fewer local residents here. The sea near the coast is deeper, the waves are higher at high tides. There are many cafes and rental shops on the coast;
  • eastern: the most extended, secluded and devoid of the benefits of civilization. One of the entertainments of local residents and vacationers is collecting beautiful shells and other seafood on the sand during low tide.

Vacation with children

The resort is an ideal option for a family holiday: excellent ecology, mild climate, clean air, calm sea, safety, abundance of attractions and entertainment that are interesting to children of any age.

In any of Beidaihe's many parks, there are places that attract their attention and delight. Hiking in the mountains and boat trips, a trip on a cable car or a tourist train will give you a lot of impressions, as will a visit to a botanical garden, water park, safari park, oceanarium or dolphinarium.

The small resort captivates with its abundance and variety of interesting places. But there is no fuss here: you want to explore all the sights slowly, absorbing the details, the atmosphere, the beauty of perfection. And keep it in your memory, taking with you the blue of the sea, the smell of the sea, the sunny path on the water.

More views of the resort in the video:

In this article, we will get acquainted with the popular Chinese resort of Beidaihe and find out why it attracts tourists.

Beidaihe is a resort on the Yellow Sea. This is an excellent place for a family pastime, because favorable climatic conditions - no heat and a warm sea, are combined with a large number of tourist attractions - ancient parks, entertainment complexes, water parks, one of the largest safaris; there is also an oceanarium and a dolphinarium, the Great Wall of China begins here - this place is called “Dragon's Head” - and other interesting tourist sites.

Local restaurants offer vacationers a large selection of menus and many seafood dishes. Here you can taste dishes of octopus, crabs, king prawns, mussels, seasoned with various sauces. Such an exotic breakfast, lunch or dinner will perfectly brighten up your vacation and will be remembered for a long time. With a choice of dishes of varying degrees of spiciness, you can discuss this delicate issue with the waiter in advance. Almost everywhere there is a menu in Russian. For those who miss homemade, traditional food, there is a Russian restaurant.

On the small streets of the resort there are many shops selling fruits and berries. Many vacationers love to purchase local gifts of nature with unusual aromas. You can choose some original souvenir as a gift for your family, made of corals, interesting shells and pearls.

For those who love sea voyages, a family pleasure trip on a small boat is provided. Perhaps you will express a desire to go to the capital to get acquainted with its wonders - then you can get there by train in about three hours. There are also many bus tours and sightseeing taxi trips departing from Beidaihe.

Beidaihe Attractions

Oceanarium

In the Oceanarium you can see exotic representatives of marine fauna, see how a diver hand feeds such dangerous predators as moray eels and sharks. Here you will ride along an underwater tunnel on an escalator, as if you are driving right along the bottom of the sea. There are colorful tropical fish, turtles and penguins. The nearby dolphinarium hosts dolphin shows.

Palace of Emperor Qingshi Huang.

The palace is located near the sea. It belonged to the first of the Chinese emperors. This ruler united the six principalities he conquered into an empire. During his reign, he carried out a monetary reform, as well as reforms of writing, weight units and a unified transport gauge. The life activities of Emperor Qingshi Huang are narrated by the museum’s sculptural scenes and its sound design.

Excursion: Longevity Gorge and Saint Meng Jiang Temple

The tour begins with a walk through a colorful gorge, where you will see huge stone figures in honor of famous ancient medical figures, which are carved into the rock. In the same places there is also the so-called “Stone Forest”, which was formed as a result of natural processes. There will be an opportunity to explore the caves with figures of arhats, who were followers of Buddha. The excursion further includes a visit to the Temple and Museum, located in the open air and dedicated to the woman who followed her husband, who participated in the construction of the Great Wall of China, the hardships and hardships that awaited her along the way, her strong sense of love and her resistance to the Chinese Emperor himself. . Meng Jiang was later canonized.

Zoo - safari

While traveling around the zoo - either by bus or in special trailers - you will get acquainted with the fauna in its natural habitat - there are predators - tigers and lions, as well as more peaceful animals - giraffes, elephants and monkeys. The latter can be fed. Bears and deer, pheasants and peacocks – there are many representatives of the animal world here. Then you will see a performance of seals and dolphins in a special pool. There is no ban on amateur photography or video shooting in this zoo.

Nandaihe Entertainment District

Here tourists can enjoy sleigh rides along sand dunes and grass slides, horseback riding, an amusement park, a bird show, and a funicular ride. This is one of the favorite vacation spots of visitors.

Amusement park "Dove's Nest"

Here you can admire the widest landscape park that lies on a picturesque cliff above the surface of the sea. The view is decorated with colorful flower beds and gazebos with pigeons. Guests can enjoy boating along the canal and more - here you can admire the widest landscaped park that lies on a picturesque cliff above the surface of the sea. The view is decorated with colorful flower beds and gazebos with pigeons. Guests can enjoy boating along the canal and other activities.

The great Wall of China

The excursion includes both a visit to the restored fragment of the Great Wall of China, and to that section of it that has survived to this day without restoration. You will take the cable car to the top of Tsaloshan, take a walk, taking pictures of the surrounding area along the way - a lake in the mountains, a Buddhist temple, views of the valley that goes towards the sea. Then go down to the valley, have lunch in the ancient city of Shanhaiguan, and take a souvenir photo at the gate to the Celestial Empire. The next stage of the excursion includes a descent to the sea, to the beginning of the Great Wall of China. This beginning has its own name - “Dragon's Head” - the wall here comes straight out of the sea waters. Nearby on the coast is an ancient fort and customs house from the sixteenth century. Nearby, amid the waves of the sea, stands the Temple of the Sea God.

It is worth noting that with all the abundance of attractions and amenities of Beidaihe for tourists, cases of deception have recently become more frequent here - with rooms when checking into hotels, with meals in restaurants - they often inflate prices or serve food made from stale seafood, and other cases. In 2012, one tourist - a local - died from a jellyfish sting. So take the necessary precautions, study all the nuances of a vacation at the resort before you make the final decision to travel abroad. Be prudent - then you will see exotic things and be satisfied with your vacation.

It took place in early September. This was the last tour of the year, as the beach season at the resort was over.

But the cost of the tour was low, which made us very happy. We flew to Beijing, where we spent 3 days, and then we were taken by train to Beidaihe.

I’ll immediately express my general impressions of the holiday in Beidaihe in September: it was clearly not the season, there were practically no people, many cafes were closed. What can we say, by the end of the holiday only 3 rooms were occupied in our hotel, as a result of which we were asked to move to another hotel. But since it was better than ours, we were not upset.

I won’t lie, I enjoyed our vacation. Quiet, calm, no queues or crowds.

About hotels in Beidaihe

We chose the Yanshan Hotel for our stay in Beidaihe.

Pros: location in the very center - next to a shopping street with restaurants, within walking distance of the sea, several parks and a bus stop. Since the building is quite tall for Beidaihe, our room's balcony had a beautiful view of the city. It was especially beautiful in the evening when the lights came on.

Minuses: The hotel rooms are standard, but everything is a bit shabby, there is mold in the bathroom, the shower did not work well. Chinese food for breakfast. We treat it well, but the cuisine of this hotel would be rated as mediocre. Some were tasty, some not so much. Since there were few people, there was plenty of shrimp and fruit. However, in the first days, when people had not yet left from the previous arrival, sometimes they came to empty dishes, which were replenished extremely reluctantly.

In recent evenings, due to the lack of guests, only our floor was illuminated, and then we were moved to the neighboring Open Hotel. We liked it much more here. We got a large, relatively new room on the first floor. Clean and cozy. Breakfasts were delicious and varied with a huge selection of dishes. Beautiful area. In the evening, on the central platform, the Chinese were learning dances, we willingly joined them and even learned a couple of movements.

About the sea, the beach and the weather in Beidaihe in September

It’s definitely not worth going to Beidaihe in September just for a beach holiday. It is quite cool in the morning and evening and there is no desire to go into the sea. In recent days, the wind has risen and I also no longer feel like swimming during the day.

The beaches themselves are not bad, the sand is fine, and there are few people in September. The downside is that part of the beach turned out to be fenced off (some kind of service area) and we had to go around it.

The sea was a comfortable temperature, although one day some jelly-like balls (similar to pieces of jellyfish) appeared in the water, and it was uncomfortable to swim among them.

We were lucky with the weather. It never rained. It was cloudy for a couple of days, but the rest of the time the sun was shining. In general, the weather is ideal for walks and excursions.

About excursions and attractions in Beidaihe

We are lovers of long walks, historical architecture and natural beauty, so we were not bored in Beidaihe.

What you can see for yourself:

In principle, you can get to these tourist sites on your own by taking a taxi to them and taking entrance tickets. But it will be easier with an excursion, since these attractions are located far away, and the lack of knowledge of Chinese does not encourage an independent trip. We went to the Chinese Wall as part of a Russian tourist group, and to the gorge we took a tour for two (since there were no others interested) from a Chinese guide in Beidaihe. I liked both excursions and took almost the whole day.

Other things to do in Beidaihe

It was possible to rent a bicycle near the Open Hotel, which we took advantage of. If you are staying at a hotel, there is no need to leave anything as a deposit. Since I don’t know how to ride, we decided to take a two-seater bicycle that was exotic for us. We drove around the area and got a lot of impressions. The next day we rented an electric moped. It’s also fun - you can pedal whether you want or not.

Beidaihe is famous for its massage and medical centers. Therefore, free time can be devoted to medical procedures. During the season, massage therapists walk along the beach offering their services.

About food in Beidaihe

We always went to eat on the next street, where there are many eateries. A choice for every taste and budget. We fearlessly sampled the food on skewers from the trays. I especially liked the fried squid (the main thing is to be careful not to add too much red pepper). We also bought caramel apples and quail eggs in dough. In general, there is something to surprise yourself.

Many cafes have menus with pictures and explanations in broken Russian. Once we ordered ordinary noodles, and then watched with our mouths open as the Chinese cooked it. It turned out to be a whole show. He kneaded the dough in front of us, tossed it several times and oops he had long noodles in his hands. We didn't even notice how he did it, but it was very tasty.

I also liked the process of making caramels. There are large stumps on the street. The hot mixture is laid out on them and, beating with wooden hammers, they knead it, then cut it and allow it to cool. You can watch and then immediately buy the resulting sweets.

Be careful when buying the “Vegetable Salad” dish, by which the Chinese apparently mean everything that is currently in the refrigerator. We were once brought such a salad, consisting of onions and a small amount of tomatoes and cucumbers. Well, onions are also vegetables.

I pleased Beidaihe with a lot of fruit in September. They could be bought right outside the hotel from transport trays and carts. I especially remember the peaches - large, juicy and sweet. They also sold watermelons, melons, apples, figs, apricots and much more. The main thing is not to forget to bargain.

On the way to the beach, they often sell sweets like sherbet. A mixture of dried fruits, sugar syrup and various nuts. They deliver it in large blocks and cut off the piece you like. We took it only once, it seemed too sweet.

To summarize, we can say that we never left hungry. But as practice has shown, our street turned out to be the cheapest and tastiest.

About shopping, markets and shopping in Beidaihe

It seems to me that when traveling to Beidaihe you should not expect great shopping. It's more of a resort. There are no large shopping centers here. There are small markets and shops with a modest assortment. We bought a new bag to replace the torn one, sneakers, a couple of T-shirts and a silk scarf. That's basically it. Although we didn’t particularly count on shopping. But here you can buy a huge amount of souvenirs: items made of shells, pearls and stones. True, prices will have to be reduced with a fight; often they are initially inflated by two or even three times. This is especially true for the pearl market. He made no impression on us at all. As they say, “around the corner” you could buy the same goods for a much smaller amount.

If you are completely bored without shopping centers, you can go to Qinhuangdao and buy things there.

There are very few shops in the Yanshan Hotel area, almost all of them are concentrated in the area of ​​the main street and the pearl market. It's better to get there by taxi. Well, or walk for 40 minutes.

In summary: we had a good rest, got new impressions, shopped a little and gained a little weight.

Beidaihe is a small coastal town in China that has become a cozy tourist destination. It has landscaped and entertainment parks, gardens, sanatoriums and beaches. It is loved not only by tourists, but also by the Chinese themselves. What attractions in Beidaihe are worth seeing? Let's find out.

Main attractions

Beidaihe belongs to the Hebei province of China. It is located on the coast and is surrounded by the Yanshan Mountains to the north. An area of ​​almost 71 square kilometers is home to only 70 thousand people, most of whom are Han Chinese.

In the Middle Ages, the area where Beidaikhe is located was a protected area. For more than 500 years, any construction or alteration of the landscape was prohibited here. In the 19th century, the city began to be upset. The first railway appeared there, and the first hotels were located on the coast.

Now Beidaihe is a famous resort. The city has two sanatoriums and a diagnostic and treatment center. There are three beaches on a strip of coastline of 11 kilometers. In or around the city there is a water park, a Safari Park, a Bird Museum, a Botanical Garden and many amazing parks. Depending on the popularity of the attractions, prices in Beidaihe vary greatly. An entrance ticket can cost from 8 yuan (to Tiger Stone Island) to 75 yuan (to the aquarium).

The most famous attractions of Bedayhe:

  • Dragon Head (Laolongtou Park).
  • Mermaid Island.
  • Pearl market.
  • Grass slides.
  • Oceanarium and dolphinarium.
  • Longevity Gorge.
  • Emperor Qin Park.
  • Pink Park.
  • Lantern Park.

Dragon head

The most interesting and grandiose attraction in Beidaihe is Laolongtou Park. The Great Wall of China begins from here, and its end, going into the sea, is called the Dragon's Head. In this part the wall looks completely new. After being destroyed by enemies, it was rebuilt in 1984. In addition to the Great Wall Tower, in the park you can see Chinese buildings, the Temple of Nereus with sculptures of gods and built during the Ming Dynasty.

Gorge of Longevity

Just an hour's drive from Beidaihe is the Longevity Gorge. It is located at the base of Mount Yang and covers almost 50 square kilometers. The main attractions are the through cave, the “Nine Heavens” pavilions and the Mountain of Five Buddhas, the road to which leads through amazing mountain landscapes surrounded by green trees.

Lantern Park

It’s good to come here with children, but those who like to dream will also enjoy the park. There are many quiet paths, bridges, ponds and stone compositions. Everything here is inspired by Chinese folklore. The main object is the Amazing House. This is a fairy-tale palace with labyrinths, secret passages, decorated with mirrors and sculptures of legendary characters.

How to get to Beidaihe?

The sights of the city can be seen if you go to the northeast of the province. The city is located approximately 290 kilometers from the capital of China. The most convenient way to get to Beidaihe is through Beijing or the city of Harbin. There are planes to these cities from Moscow almost every day.

From Beijing you can get to the resort by train or train from the West or Central Station. It is worth noting that traveling in a Chinese reserved seat is not particularly comfortable. Instead of the usual side shelves, there are usually two additional shelves in the main compartment. The fastest way to get to the place is by train. It takes two hours to travel, and trains and buses take twice as long.

Beidaihe Station is located outside the city. Once you arrive, you can use a taxi or take a bus.

My husband and I traveled together at the end of May - beginning of June 2015. In total, along with the trip, we spent about 100,000 rubles on vacation, most of which went on the road. We took off from Moscow. We stayed in Beidaihe for 10 days, including the days of arrival and departure. Directly in Beidaihe we spent about 3,000 yuan, at an exchange rate of 8 rubles per yuan. Separately, we bought vouchers that paid for the train journey from Manchuria to Beidaihe, the hotel, as well as the services of meeting and seeing off in Manchuria and in Beidaihe. Each voucher cost 20,000 rubles, despite the fact that we took a good hotel, we could have taken a simpler hotel, then the voucher would have cost 2,000 rubles. cheaper. To travel to China, it is better to buy a ticket, otherwise problems may arise at the border. In addition to the voucher, the travel agency will arrange an invitation and insurance for you; without them you will not be allowed into China. You need to buy a visa separately at the border. It cost about 1800 rubles, we had one for two. We stayed at the Xuan He Hotel. This hotel has four stars. The hotel is excellent, pleasant environment, helpful staff. It is small, there were few people, the windows overlooked the courtyard, so it was quiet. Our towels and toiletries were changed every day. True, complete cleaning was done only once and then at the very beginning, this is of course a minus, but a minor one. We really liked the hotel, if you have the opportunity to pay a little more, then check into it, you won’t regret it. Moreover, it takes about 10 minutes to walk from it to the beach or to the bus station. Breakfast was included in the price. The hotel had a buffet, the food was purely Chinese. But overall it was delicious.

And this is our hotel



And here is the courtyard at the hotel



This is what we ate in the morning at the hotel


Twice they brought breakfast to our room, it looked like this


We got to Beidaihe by train from Manchuria. Separately, we need to dwell on the description of the Chinese train. I’ll say right away that the train leaves much to be desired. A significant difference between Chinese reserved seat carriages and ours is that the Chinese do not have side shelves. Instead, there are small saddles on the sides. But at the same time, in the internal compartment of the trains there are not 4, but 6 shelves. Therefore, if you buy a ticket, then ask for a lower seat, or at least a middle one. The Chinese have a gradation of places, for example, place 9 is lower, middle or upper. The windows in the cars do not open; instead, the air conditioners work, which blow very cold air. Smoking is not prohibited on trains in China, although smoking can be done in the toilet and in the small vestibule between the cars. There was a strong smell of smoking in the carriage. We are non-smokers and this caused us great discomfort. Another very important clarification: here, upon boarding, you will not be given clean linen, as on our trains. It's just not accepted in China. We once read about this on the forum and didn’t believe it, but now we confirm it. In China, they simply fill the shelves at the departure station and subsequently, no matter how many people occupy this shelf along the train route, the linen does not change. They also don't have mattresses. This makes it very difficult to sleep. You'll have to come to terms with this. The rest is standard: there is a toilet and a washbasin at one end of the car, but they are separate, and hot water is at the other. The conductors won't make tea for you, so take it with you, but they do sell food on the train. 1 serving costs 20 yuan, it is small, but it was enough.

Now let's move on to Beidaihe. Our vacation began with the fact that immediately after the train our guide took us to free medical procedures. It seems that the doctor should have listened to our pulse and told us about all our illnesses. We got interested and went. True, they didn’t even give us the opportunity to eat, saying that we had to go there hungry. It turned out to be a complete scam. The doctor listened to our pulse and pressed on different points on our neck, stomach, and back. Then they told us that we had a lot of diseases with the kidneys, cervical vertebrae and much more. At the same time, they didn’t say a word about our real problems, for example, frequent migraines and allergies. Then they started telling us that we needed to undergo 5 acupuncture sessions for only 800 yuan. We refused, left the office, wanted to leave, but it turned out that our driver had gone somewhere, we needed to wait for him for about 20 minutes. All this time, we were offered 10 times again and again to go through a trial procedure. They also gave us hungry tea with a very strong taste. I ate an apple on the way, so I didn’t feel anything, but my husband was completely hungry, and he says that the tea made him a little dizzy and somehow made him think worse. Maybe it was just from hunger, I don’t know. But I still advise you not to fall for this and not to go for any medical procedures. It was very unpleasant for us that the holiday began exactly like this.

Then we will continue to talk about pleasant things. We managed to save a lot of money, largely because we traveled everywhere ourselves by bus, rather than buying excursions from a guide, with the exception of one - to the Amusement Park in Nandaihe. Bus fares cost 1 yuan if you travel within the city, and 2 yuan if you travel between cities. As we were later told, during the high season the cost of travel may increase: 2 yuan will cost travel within the city, 3 - between cities. I will present a list of places that can and are worth visiting in Beidaihe and neighboring cities. I would like to immediately warn you that in the summer at the height of the season, prices for entrance to the parks may increase by about 10 yuan. At the very end of the review there are several maps where all these places are marked.

1. Safari Park. You can get there by bus 34. Entrance costs 100 yuan per adult. For children between 1.2 and 1.4 meters and people between 60 and 69 years old, admission costs 50 yuan. The park consists of two parts. You can walk freely along the first one; monkeys, elephants, and various birds live here. The second part is much larger, this is the safari itself, tigers, lions, wolves, bears, antelopes, zebras, giraffes and many others live here. You cannot walk freely on it, because the animals here are no longer in cages, but simply roam free. Here you can travel either by your own car or by bus, in both cases you will have to buy an additional ticket and pay another 50 to 100 yuan. But there is also a free train. He drives through all the sections in the park, each species of animal lives in its own section, and stops briefly so that people can look and take photos. The train also stops at some stations, where you can get off and take a walk. Non-dangerous animals also live here, such as giraffes, zebras, monkeys, peacocks, etc. But you will have to travel from station to station by train. They run frequently, don't worry. It took us about 6 hours and all the strength we had that day to visit the park, but we really liked it. It is definitely worth a visit.

Entrance to Safari Park






1







And of course peacocks, what would China be like without them!


2. Park Dove's Nest. You can get there by bus 37. Entrance costs 25 yuan per adult. Children and seniors, within the above parameters, are admitted free of charge. The park is small and has access to the beach. There is also a gazebo on a small hill, from where tourists are advised to watch the sunrise in the early morning. The park is small but very picturesque. On the way to the park there is a Bird Museum. The building is very beautiful. We didn’t go inside because we saw enough birds in the Safari, but you can visit it too.






And this is the Bird Museum


3. Olympic Park. You can get there by bus 15. Entry is free for everyone. The park is quite large. There are many sculptures on sports themes, and a wall telling the history of the Olympic Games. There is also a huge, light and music fountain. It starts working every day at 20:00, the performance lasts about 15 minutes.

The Olympic flame is the central sculpture of the Olympic Park




And this is a wall that tells the story of the Olympics.



4. Lantern Park. You can get there by bus 15. Entrance costs 20 yuan. It’s difficult for me to say what privileges there are for children and the elderly, since everything at the checkout was written in Chinese. It is recommended to go to the park at night; it is at this time that all the lights there are lit. But with us it closed in the evening, since, apparently, it was not yet the season, so we went during the day. It seems to me that we have lost little; the park is already very beautiful. This park is, so to speak, for adventure. There are various bridges, stone passages, an unusual slide, a sculpture of a pissing boy who lets out a stream at the moment when someone passes by and other surprises. In the center of the park there is a Castle called Strange Building. The castle also consists of different rooms, secret passages, stairs, mirrors and everything else. It was interesting to walk along it. The park also hosts additional performances; tickets for these can be purchased separately in the park itself.





And this is a strange building






And a statue of a boy peeing


5. Difa Botanical Garden. You can get there by bus 5. Entrance costs 40 yuan. Children under 1.2 meters and old people over 70 years old are admitted free of charge. The drive will take about half an hour. Listen carefully to the names of the stops, the announcer clearly says “Difa” several times, so don’t miss it. There are greenhouses in which different plants grow: exotic: bananas, mangoes, dates, figs, papaya; and ordinary ones: pumpkins, grapes, strawberries, etc. All fruits can be bought during the season. You walk right among the trees, rather than observing them through a mesh or fence. Some greenhouses are decorated with gazebos and small ponds with carp. There is also a famous arch with long hanging cucumbers. We didn't get to see her because it was not the season. The garden also has many different attractions and carousels. We weren't really that impressed with the garden; it's not worth 40 yuan. I advise you to go there only if you have time. But this is at your discretion.








6. Lianfengshan Park. You can get there by bus 5, entrance costs about 15 yuan. Located on the route to the Botanical Garden. We tried to get into it 2 times, but both times it was closed for some reason. Actually it works, we were just unlucky. We simply did not have enough time for subsequent attempts. The park is very large, there are ponds, bridges, stones, everything you need for beautiful photos.

7. Ecological park. You can get there by bus 34. Entry seems to be free, but this is not accurate. It is located in front of the Safari Park. We didn’t have time to visit it, but we drove past it many times, we didn’t see the ticket office or barriers, so entry is most likely free. There is a standard set here: ponds, bridges, trees, stones.

8. Bilota Park. You can get there by bus 15, but from its stop you will have to walk a little further to the park itself. I can’t say how much the entrance costs, since we didn’t go there. Although we walked around and saw what it was like. This is an amusement park, as we understand it. In the center there is a shell-shaped tower where performances are shown.



9. Rose Garden Park. You can get there by bus 15, admission is free. The park is small compared to other parks in Beidaihe. It essentially consists of 4 mini-parks located across the street from each other. The park is beautiful, all planted with roses: white, red, pink, orange, etc. I have read many times that people cannot find it. We walked to it directly from our hotel, you can also go down to it from the Olympic Park. It is close to the Open Hotel and the Kangaroo nightclub.





10. Pearl market. Located near the bus station. You can get there by 5 or 15 buses, depending on where you are coming from. Here you can buy pearls of different sizes and qualities; they are sold in strings - from 50 yuan per string; there are also various souvenirs, shells, spices, and dried seafood.

11. Fountain across the road from the bus station. This is a very large fountain, you should definitely go and see it. During our time it worked only once, but again it was not quite the season yet, the fountains in the city were not working at all yet. According to other tourists, it only works in the morning and afternoon, and is turned off in the evening.


12. Mermaid Island or Shell Island. Located near Beidaihe, again on the way to the Botanical Garden, you can get to it by bus 5, then you can transfer to bus 22, or you can walk a little. You can reach the island itself via a bridge or by cable car. We haven’t been there, but as far as we understand, there is a park area and attractions on the island. I can’t say how much the entrance costs.

13. Tiger Stone Island, also a beach. This is a beach with a lot of different large and small stones in the sea. Entrance costs 8 yuan. You can get there by bus 15, then you have to walk a little more.

This is where the attractions of Beidaihe end; the next and most interesting ones are located in neighboring cities. But don’t let this scare you, you can get to them without any problems by bus.

14. Oceanarium and Dolphinarium. Located in Qinhuangdao. We get to Qinhuangdao by bus 34, at the Tanghe park stop we change to bus 19 and go to the Grand Hotel Qinhuang stop. The Oceanarium and the Dolphinarium are 2 different neighboring buildings. But the Oceanarium also has a dolphinarium and for a fee you can attend a dolphin show. Entrance to the Oceanarium cost 75 yuan for adults, 45 for children (1.2-1.5 meters). For the dolphin show you need to pay an additional 50 yuan per adult and 30 per child. Shows are scheduled, so I will attach a photo of the scheduled hours. In the Oceanarium there are many different types of fish, there is also a tunnel where fish swim from all sides, there are also seals and seals. We didn’t go to see dolphins and go to the Dolphinarium separately, so I can’t say anything about that.

Oceanarium building








Dolphinarium


15. Emperor Qin Park. Entrance costs 60 yuan. Buses do not go directly to the park. You can get from the Oceanarium by bus 19, then you will have to take a taxi or walk. It's a long walk, and don't be alarmed; you'll have to walk across a bridge and, so to speak, unpresentable areas. While we were walking, we didn’t believe that there might be a park here, but the park justified all our hopes and efforts. This is a park in honor of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the creator of China and, separately, the Terracotta Army. For those uninformed, I advise you to read more about him. The park contains real Terracotta Wars, this is the main reason why it is definitely worth a visit.



And this is the emperor himself


And a staircase with terracotta wars on the sides



16. Amusement park. Located in Nandaihe. Entrance costs 120 yuan and 96 for children and seniors. As we were told later, you can get there by bus 603, which runs from the bus station. We didn't know about this bus. Moreover, our guide told us that there are no buses or taxis going to the park. Well, more precisely, that we can get there by taxi, but we won’t go back, since we won’t be able to catch a taxi there. I refute this. The park is located directly in the city, there is also a taxi rank, so you can get anywhere. As a last resort, you can try to travel with locals or similar tourists. Our guide not only deceived us about transportation, but also about the entrance, saying that it cost 130 yuan. As a result, he charged each person 40 yuan for the trip, saying that he was charging the minimum. I'll tell you right away, it's expensive. But this is China, be prepared that everyone, everywhere will scam you. But actually, this review was written to avoid this. Now about the pleasant things. This is an amusement park, there are many of them, different ones, including big and small go-karts, roller coasters, various carousels. You can ride each one 10 times, and roller coasters 1 time. Large karting - for a fee. The queues here are long, so it’s better not to go on weekends. There are also grass and sand slides, a lotus park, beaches and, supposedly, a water park, but it didn’t work for us. This excursion is for the whole day. It is better to take food and water with you. We were left with a lot of emotions from the park! I advise you not to go to other attractions located, for example, in Dif, Safari, etc. and don’t waste your money, but go to this one right away. Here are the coolest attractions; after this park, all the others will no longer impress you.




Famous Grass Slides


17. Water park. Located in Shanghaiguan. You need to go to Qinhuangdao by bus 34, then change to bus 25. The ride will take a long time. The entire journey from Beidaihe will take about an hour and a half there and the same time back. The stop will be right next to the water park. He also didn’t work for us, but we learned from other tourists that the entrance fee is 110 yuan..

18. Now the delicious part. Laolongtou Park or Dragon's Head. Located one or two stops, I don’t remember exactly, after the water park. You also need to get there by bus 25. The bus stops a little above the park, so don't be alarmed if you pass by. Here again listen to the name of the stop, the announcer will call “Laolongtou”. Entrance costs 60 yuan. And be careful here. To get to the ticket office, you need to go up the stairs and turn around a little; they are not immediately visible. But right away there is a Chinese man standing there who lures you to other ticket offices where they sell excursions and the entrance will accordingly be more expensive. So look for the “Ticket” inscription. The park is a must visit. It includes Shanghaiguang Pass, a small town that shows how the soldiers guarding the wall used to live, and most importantly, the beginning of the Great Wall of China, also called the Dragon's Head. In addition, this is the only section of the wall in contact with the sea.

Shanghaiguan Pass





In the center of the town there is a labyrinth, it is easy only at first glance; we wandered through it for about thirty minutes.


Well, in fact, at the end the dragon’s head itself awaits you



By the way, this park and section of the wall were restored somewhere in the second half of the 20th century, since at the beginning of the same century they were completely destroyed by European invaders. That is why the park is so new and completely preserved.

19. Finally, the most important thing is the Great Wall of China. It is located further than the Dragon's Head. You need to go to the final 25 bus, about 15 minutes from Laolongtou. Then there is bus 5, which seems to go straight to the wall. We were not able to check this, since we did not immediately find his stop. But they found it later. To get on it, you will have to walk from the terminal 25 of the bus further along its route. But again, it is not clear whether bus 5 will still take you to the wall or not. We didn’t see him there and there were no stops near the wall either. Therefore, I explain how to get there. When you reach the final stop and get off the bus, you will see a wall, it is located right in the city near the sidewalk. A pass is immediately visible in the wall, and from it stretches a shopping street with various buildings in the Chinese style. You need to follow it to the end and get out onto the road. This road already leads to the wall. There are signs there. The walk to the wall is about 3 kilometers. We were lucky and got a ride from a local resident for 10 yuan. Entrance to the wall costs 30 yuan, children and the elderly seem to get in for free. A ticket for the funicular, so you don't have to stomp up the wall in the heat, costs 15 yuan one way and 20 if there is a round trip. I advise you to get there by cable car and go back down the wall. It is better not to climb the wall, it is very steep, you will constantly have to climb up it, there are practically no straight sections. We were tired when we went down it, I’m afraid to think how hard it is to climb up. And besides, the funicular offers a gorgeous view. When you reach the top, you will have to walk a little more to get to the Buddhist monastery; if you walk further after it, you can reach the observation deck, from where you can see Lake Yansai. Once upon a time it was possible to take a cable car from here to the lake, but it didn’t work for us and it seems like it hasn’t been working for a long time. After looking at all these delights, you will have to go back, because the path directly along the wall also starts from the funicular.