When is the best time to visit Beidaihe?

May to October is the classic season: swimming from July to August, birds in spring (mid-March to late May) and autumn (September to mid-November), and the crisp low-season months of September–October perfect for empty beaches. Peak season runs mid-June to late August plus Golden Week — book rooms with prepayment well ahead.

Where can I see the Beidaihe sunrise?

Geziwo Park is the classic spot — its Eagle Rock cliff frames the 'sun bathing in the sea' view that gave the park its fame, and the park opens as early as 3:00 in summer so you can be on the rock before dawn. Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunrise.

What is the Beidaihe seafood scene like?

Shitanglu market is the local way: mantis shrimp ¥11–18 per jin, crabs ¥45–60, scallops ¥20, razor clams ¥15, red clams ¥12. Processing at the market restaurants costs ¥2 steamed, ¥1 boiled, ¥5 stir-fried per jin. Beware the classic scams — swapping live for dead, 'helping you pick' the bad ones, fake scales and mislabelling.

Beidaihe Travel Guide 2026 — Sunrise, Sand Beaches & Seafood Near Beijing

Q: Is Beidaihe good for bird watching?

Yes — it is one of the world's great migration stopovers. Watch from Geziwo, the wetland boardwalk or Qianshui Bay between mid-March and late May and September to mid-November, when thousands of cranes, gulls and ducks pass through.

Q: Can I book my Beidaihe trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Yes. Email info@joyotour.com or message us on WhatsApp. Our team arranges hotels, tickets, seafood tables and guides — free of charge and without obligation.

What's inside this guide

Beidaihe Bucket List
Top Highlights
Questions & Answers
Sample Itineraries
Top Attractions
Activities & Festivals
Where to Stay
Food & Restaurants
Getting There & Around
Shopping & Souvenirs
Practical Information
Day Trips: Shanhaiguan & the Old Dragon Head
Travel Tips
Background & History
Plan Your Beidaihe Trip

Beidaihe Bucket Listthe little things that make this coast unforgettable

Four moments every visitor should not miss — the essence of Beidaihe in a single day.

Watch the sun rise at Geziwo

Get up stupidly early, climb Eagle Rock in the dark, and watch the red disc 'bathe' in the sea — the view Chairman Mao wrote about in his famous poem. The park opens from 3:00 in summer for exactly this.

Run barefoot on Tiger Rock beach

Skip the raked, crowded strips and head for the smooth boulders of Tiger Rock: locals sunbathe on the warm stone, kids paddle in the pools between, and the ice-cream-and-shell vendors do brisk trade.

Eat seafood bought by the jin

The Shitanglu market way: pick your mantis shrimp or crab live, pay the market price, hand it to a restaurant kitchen for a few yuan of processing, and eat it metres from the boats that caught it.

Walk the wetlands at migration time

Spring and autumn, the mudflats of the Dachaoping wetland turn into a bird airport: thousands of cranes, gulls and shorebirds resting on their way between Siberia and the south.

Top Highlightswhat Beidaihe does best

The signature experiences of China's most historic seaside resort.

No.1
Geziwo 'sun-bathing' sunriseBeidaihe's most famous moment: from Eagle Rock the sun appears to rise out of the sea itself — 'the sun bathing in the sea', the sight that made the park a national landmark and inspired Mao's poem.
No.2
Sunbathe on Tiger RockGroups of granite boulders stretching into the sea like a crouching tiger — warm stone, shallow pools and the classic Beidaihe beach scene. ¥8 entry, open 6:00–22:00 in summer.
No.3
Night out at the Biluo PagodaThe world's only spiralled-shell-shaped pagoda, turned into a beach bar park: sunset on the terrace, live shows from 18:00, and the tower glowing over the water after dark.
No.4
Climb Lianfeng for the panoramaForest trails and pavilions on the hill behind the town; from the summit the whole crescent of coast — beach, hotels and sea — spreads below. The quietest big view in Beidaihe.
No.5
Bird-watch at migration timeOne of the world's great bird migration corridors passes over this coast. Bring binoculars between mid-March and late May and September to mid-November; the wetland boardwalks put you among thousands of resting birds.
No.6
Feast on Bohai seafoodMantis shrimp, swimming crab, scallops and razor clams, bought live by the jin at Shitanglu market and steamed minutes later — the taste of the Bohai coast, at local prices.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Beidaihe

Q.When is the best time to visit?

May to October is the classic season: swimming from July to August, birds in spring (mid-March to late May) and autumn (September to mid-November). Peak season runs mid-June to late August plus Golden Week — book rooms with prepayment well ahead. More Beidaihe Q&A →

Q.Where can I see the sunrise?

Geziwo Park is the classic spot — its Eagle Rock cliff frames the 'sun bathing in the sea' view, and the park opens as early as 3:00 in summer. Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunrise and climb to the rock early.

Q.What is the seafood scene like?

Shitanglu market is the local way: mantis shrimp ¥11–18 per jin, crabs ¥45–60, scallops ¥20, razor clams ¥15, red clams ¥12. Processing costs ¥2 steamed, ¥1 boiled, ¥5 stir-fried per jin. Beware the classic scams — live-for-dead swapping, fake scales and mislabelling.

Q.Is Beidaihe good for bird watching?

Yes — one of the world's great migration stopovers. Watch from Geziwo, the wetland boardwalk or Qianshui Bay between mid-March and late May and September to mid-November, when thousands of cranes, gulls and ducks pass through.

Q.How far is it from Beijing?

About 380 km — roughly 3.5 hours by coach from Beijing's Bawangfen station, or just over 2 hours (¥81.5) by bullet train to Beidaihe station, which sees over 120 trains a day.

Q.Can I book my Beidaihe trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Yes. Email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team arranges hotels, tickets, seafood tables and guides — free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesa weekend on the coast

Beidaihe in Two Days

The classic weekend: beach, sunrise, seafood and nightlife. More Beidaihe itineraries with tickets & transport →

Day 1

Beach day. Morning at Tiger Rock (¥8) or the free beach, afternoon at the Olympic Park and bird museum beside the wetland, evening at Shitanglu market for seafood, then the Biluo Pagoda for the night shows.

Day 2

Sunrise & wetlands. Pre-dawn Geziwo Park (¥20) for the sunrise, breakfast of mung-bean cake, then the Dachaoping wetland boardwalk and Qianshui Bay — free, and full of birds in season. Afternoon train or coach back to Beijing.

Three-Day Beidaihe & Shanhaiguan

Add the First Pass Under Heaven and the Old Dragon Head. Full itinerary page →

Day 1

Beach day. As the two-day route above.

Day 2

Sunrise & wetlands, then early afternoon bus to Shanhaiguan.

Day 3

The Great Wall coast. The First Pass Under Heaven (¥50) in the morning and the Old Dragon Head (¥60) where the Wall enters the sea — bus 34 to Sidaoqiao, then bus 25, about 3 hours round trip.

Budget Beidaihe in a Day

Almost everything free except the sunrise ticket. Full itinerary page →

Day 1

Olympic Park → Geziwo (¥20) → bird museum (free) → wetland boardwalk (free) → Qianshui Bay (free). Lunch at the market restaurants; total sightseeing spend under ¥50.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, buses & insider tips

The main sights of the resort, each with practical details. Prices are reference rates — always confirm at the gate or with our booking team.

Geziwo Park — Eagle Rock and the sunrise view

Geziwo Park 鸽子窝公园

Eagle Rock & the 'Sun Bathing in the Sea'

The park that defines Beidaihe: a granite headland where the sunrise seems to rise out of the sea itself. Eagle Rock is the classic vantage, and the wetland below is the town's best bird-watching spot.

Admission	¥20 (reference)
Hours	03:00–18:00 (May–Sep, earlier opening for sunrise); winter shorter
Address	East end of the Beidaihe seafront
Phone	+86 335 4041 774

Tip: arrive 30–40 minutes before sunrise and climb to Eagle Rock — the tide of photographers starts well before dawn.

More Hebei attractions

Tiger Rock Sea Park — boulders and beach

Tiger Rock Sea Park 老虎石海上公园

The Classic Swimming Beach

Beidaihe's signature swimming beach: smooth granite boulders stretching into the sea, sandy coves between, and the classic resort bustle — sunbeds, ice cream and paddle boats.

Admission	¥8 (reference)
Hours	06:00–22:00 (summer)
Getting there	Bus 5/15/22 to the seafront
Phone	+86 335 4033 301

Tip: the beach is best early morning or after 17:00 — midday sun on pale sand is fierce. Swim inside the marked lanes.

More Hebei attractions

Biluo Pagoda Bar Park on the Beidaihe shore

Biluo Pagoda Bar Park 碧螺塔海上酒吧公园

The Spiralling Shell Tower by the Sea

The world's only spiralled-shell-shaped pagoda, now a beachside bar park: sunset terraces, live shows, and the tower glowing over the water after dark. The most photogenic night in Beidaihe.

Admission	¥15 before 15:00 · ¥60 15:00–18:00 · ¥100 after 18:00 (incl. shows)
Hours	Daytime park; evening shows from ~18:00
Address	Seafront east of the town centre
Phone	+86 335 4034 566

Tip: walk the 1.1 km from the seafront hotels — parking fills early on show nights.

More Hebei attractions

Lianfeng Mountain 联峰山

The Town's Green Roof

Forested hills behind the resort with pavilions, temples and viewpoints; from the summit the whole arc of the coast spreads below. Quiet, green and the best place to watch the sunset without the beach crowds.

Admission	¥30 (reference)
Hours	08:00–17:30 (approx.)
Getting there	Bus 5/15/22, then walk; or taxi from the seafront
Phone	+86 335 4041 591

Tip: the summit paths are steeper than they look — allow 2–3 hours round trip with water.

More Hebei attractions

Qianshui Bay & the Wetlands 浅水湾 · 大潮坪湿地

Free Beach & Bird Airport

The shallow bay west of town — free, flat, family-friendly water — and behind it the Dachaoping wetland, a stopover for tens of thousands of migratory birds each spring and autumn.

Admission	Free
Hours	Open all day
Best for	Swimming with small children, bird watching, sunset walks
Getting there	Bus 22 or a short taxi west of town

Tip: the wetland boardwalk is the best free bird-watching spot; bring binoculars in migration season.

More Hebei attractions

Guailou Qiyuan 怪楼奇园

The Quirky House

A rebuilt version of the famous 'quirky house' built in the 1930s by an American doctor for sun therapy — a maze of corridors, hidden rooms, sound-and-light tricks and optical illusions. A hit with children.

Admission	¥15 (reference); students ¥12
Hours	08:00–17:30
Address	180 m west of the Lianfeng Road–Baihua Road crossing
Phone	+86 335 4042 960

Tip: best for families — allow an hour; some sound-activated exhibits need a gentle touch.

More Hebei attractions

Activities & Festivalsthe coast's calendar

Sunrise at Geziwo 鸽子窝日出

The town wakes for it: from 3:00 in summer the park opens, and by first light Eagle Rock is lined with photographers waiting for the disc to 'bathe' in the sea.

When: daily · Tip: check the sunrise time and arrive 30–40 min early

Swimming & beach life 海滨游泳

Tiger Rock is the classic swim; Qianshui Bay the family beach; September–October the water is still warm with empty sands. Swim inside marked lanes — the currents are real.

Best: Jul–Aug for swimming · Entry: ¥8 (Tiger Rock) / free (Qianshui Bay)

Bird watching 观鸟

One of Asia's great migration corridors: cranes, gulls, ducks and shorebirds on the Dachaoping mudflats. Binoculars and a field guide make it world-class.

When: mid-Mar–late May, Sep–mid-Nov

Night at the Biluo Pagoda 碧螺塔之夜

Sunset terrace drinks, dinner by the sea, then the shows — music, dance and (in peak season) cabaret acts inside the spiral tower park. The liveliest evening on the coast.

Entry: ¥100 incl. shows after 18:00 · Phone: +86 335 4034 566

Book these Beidaihe experiences

Sunrise trips, seafood tables, show tickets and beach hotels arranged by our team — free of charge, no obligation.

Email us WhatsApp

Where to Stayseafront hotels and family guesthouses

Seafront hotels are the classic choice; family guesthouses in the lanes behind offer real bargains. Peak season (mid-June to late August plus Golden Week) needs prepaid booking — rooms are the town's tightest resource. Our team books any of these free of charge.

Xinhua Holiday Hotel 新华假日酒店

A 4-star seafront property with sea-view rooms in Building A — the solid, comfortable pick. Phone +86 335 4280 888.

From: ¥323 · Address: seafront, east district

Guanhai Hotel 观海楼

Right by the water at No. 7 Yingjiao Road — sea views from the upper floors at a fair price. Phone +86 335 4688 188.

From: ¥224 · Address: 7 Yingjiao Road

Mila Guesthouse 米拉宾馆

A friendly small guesthouse in the lanes behind the beach. Phone +86 139 3354 9481.

From: ¥64 · Note: book early in season

Ruoshuiju Guesthouse 若水居

A homely courtyard guesthouse that steams your seafood for free — a local favourite trick. Phone +86 138 3359 5886.

From: ¥60 · Perk: free seafood steaming

Yayiju Guesthouse 雅逸居

Budget-friendly rooms a short walk from the seafront. Phone +86 136 5335 2751.

From: ¥49 · Type: family guesthouse

Food & RestaurantsBohai seafood, bought by the jin

Beidaihe's table is seafood first, bought live at the market and cooked minutes later. Scenic-area restaurants mark up hard — the market and the local lanes are where it's honest. Prices are reference rates.

Shitanglu Seafood Market 石塘路市场

The local way: pick mantis shrimp, crab, scallops or clams live by the jin, pay market price, and let a market restaurant steam or stir-fry them for ¥1–5 per jin. Restaurants here run about ¥53 per person.

Prices: mantis shrimp ¥11–18/jin · crab ¥45–60/jin · scallops ¥20/jin

The seafood classics 海鲜四宝

Roast prawns, garlic-and-fans steamed scallops, swimming crab and mantis shrimp — the quartet every table orders. Children should go easy on abalone; the market versions are always fresher than the scenic-area ones.

Processing: steamed ¥2 / boiled ¥1 / stir-fried ¥5 per jin

Mung-bean cake 绿豆糕

The famous Qingzhen (halal) sweet cake, ¥25 a jin — Liu's shop sits inside Geziwo Park, and Hui Ji's original at 22 Tianxin Lane, Shanhaiguan.

Where: Geziwo Park / Shanhaiguan Tianxin Lane

Seafood anti-scam four rules 防骗四计

① Watch them weigh live, not dead; ② refuse the 'help picking' that slips in the bad ones; ③ verify the scales (a bottle of water should read exactly 1 jin); ④ watch the kitchen so your catch isn't swapped. Order by the jin and confirm the total before they cook.

Tip: buy at the market, not from beach touts

Getting There & Aroundtap any card for routes, fares and phone numbers

By train

Bullet trains from Beijing to Beidaihe station

Rail: the easy way

Beidaihe station sees over 120 trains a day. Beijing's bullet trains arrive in about 2 hours 6 minutes (¥81.5); from the station, buses 37/5/22 reach the seafront in about 50 minutes.

Beijing–Beidaihe: ~2 h 6 min, ¥81.5 by bullet train.
Station → beach: buses 37/5/22, ~50 min.
Tip: book morning trains in peak season — the beach fills from lunch.

By coach

Coaches from Beijing and Tianjin to Beidaihe

Coaches & buses

Beijing's Bawangfen coach station runs the classic 3.5-hour coach; a Tianjin West Station coach leaves around 16:30 for about ¥100.

Beijing (Bawangfen)–Beidaihe: ~3.5 h.
Tianjin West–Beidaihe: ~16:30 departure, ~¥100.
Local: buses 5/15/22 across town, ¥1.

By air

Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport — the nearest to Beidaihe

Air: Qinhuangdao airport

Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport (SHP) is 20 minutes' shuttle from the civil-aviation building, then bus 34 to the coast.

Airport shuttle: to the civil-aviation building, ~20 min.
Then: bus 34 to the Beidaihe/Qinhuangdao coast.
Tip: for most travellers rail is faster door-to-door from Beijing.

Self-drive Driving the Beijing–Qinhuangdao expressway to Beidaihe

Self-drive

About 380 km from Beijing on the Jingha expressway — 3–4 hours in good traffic, with beachfront parking in the town's big lots.

Beijing–Beidaihe: ~380 km, 3–4 h.
Parking: large lots near Tiger Rock and the seafront.
Note: holiday weekends the expressway tails jam — leave early.

Taxis

Flag fall ¥5 for the first 2 km plus ¥1 fuel surcharge — cheap enough to use freely within town, and to reach the out-of-town sights.

In town: ¥5 + ¥1, short hops a few yuan.
Shanhaiguan: ~¥80–100, or bus 34→25.
Tip: agree the fare for return trips before boarding.

On foot & by bike Walking the Beidaihe seafront and wetland boardwalks

Walk the coast

The seafront promenade runs the length of the resort — Tiger Rock, the market, the pagoda and the wetland boardwalks are all walkable from the hotel district.

Rent a bike for the long beachfront stretch; hire umbrellas and chairs at the beaches for the day.
Our Hebei travel guides cover the region by rail, road and sea.

Need help with transport?

Train tickets, coaches, airport shuttles and car hire from Beijing or Tianjin — free advice by email or WhatsApp.

Email us WhatsApp

Shopping & Souvenirswhat to take home from the coast

Beidaihe's classic keepsakes

Shell art — pictures and ornaments made from Bohai shells, the resort's traditional souvenir. Fresh pearls from the local shops, sold by the strand. Dried seafood — shrimp, scallops and squid for the trip home.

More Hebei local specialties

Where to shop

The lanes behind Tiger Rock and around Shitanglu market carry the full souvenir range. Buy pearls from the shops with a scale and a refund promise; shell art is cheaper at the market than on the beach.

Practical Informationhospitals, banks and useful numbers

Hospitals & banks

Beidaihe Hospital — +86 335 4041 624. CCB — 74 Haining Road, +86 335 4043 017. ATMs are plentiful in town but absent on the beaches — carry cash for the market.

Useful numbers

Tourist hotline +86 335 3661 001; complaints +86 335 3661 010 or 12301; Beidaihe complaints +86 335 4186 310. Emergencies: 120, 110. For bookings, email [email protected] or WhatsApp our team any time.

Day Trips: Shanhaiguan & the Great Wall Coasttwo classic outings from the resort

The First Pass Under Heaven at Shanhaiguan

Shanhaiguan & the First Pass (1 day) 山海关·天下第一关

Bus 34 to Sidaoqiao then 25 (about 3 hours round trip): the First Pass Under Heaven (¥50), the old town lanes, and the Old Dragon Head (¥60) where the Great Wall enters the sea. The full Great-Wall-meets-ocean day.

Getting there: bus 34 → 25 · Entry: ¥50 + ¥60 · Phone: +86 335 5051 106

First Pass guide

The wetland and bird-viewing towers of Beidaihe

Geziwo & the Wetland Loop (half day) 鸽子窝湿地线

A gentle half-day on the town's doorstep: Geziwo Park at dawn for the sunrise, then the bird museum, the wetland boardwalk and Qianshui Bay — the classic free-and-easy morning.

Entry: ¥20 (Geziwo) · Rest: all free · Best: spring and autumn for birds

Geziwo guide

Travel Tipsfive things to remember

1 · Book rooms with prepayment in season

Mid-June to late August and Golden Week are the crunch weeks — most hotels want prepayment, and the good ones sell out. Our team books any of the listed properties free of charge.

2 · Master the seafood four rules

Watch them weigh live, refuse 'help' picking, check the scales, and watch the kitchen. Buy by the jin and confirm the total before cooking — the market is honest, the beach touts are not.

3 · Swim inside the lanes

The Bohai coast has real currents and rip spots. Swim inside the marked swimming lanes; July–August is the safe, warm season, and September still fine.

4 · Timing beats crowds

Sunrise at Geziwo, early-morning Tiger Rock, late-afternoon beaches — the resort is transformed outside the 10:00–16:00 peak. September–October gives you empty sand and warm sea.

5 · Protect the camera

Sea air and sand attack lenses and shutters. A dry bag for the beach, a lens cloth for the salt spray, and keep the camera off the sand — the classic Beidaihe repair-shop trade is sand-damaged cameras.

Background & HistoryChina's first seaside resort

Geography & climate

Beidaihe sits on the Bohai coast, its forests covering 54% of the town — the reason it escapes both the Beijing heat and the northern winters: no bitter cold, no scorching summer. The mild maritime climate made it the natural choice for a resort.

A brief history

In 1893 a British engineer, Jinda, discovered the beach while surveying the Beijing–Shanhaiguan railway; by 1898 the Qing court opened it as China's first official seaside resort. In 1954 Chairman Mao wrote the famous poem "Langtaosha · Beidaihe" here after swimming in the sea, and the resort became the summer retreat of generations of leaders and families.

The resort today

Beyond the hotels and beaches, Beidaihe is one of the world's great bird migration stopovers and the western gateway to the Great Wall coast — a place that pairs a century of resort history with a serious natural shoreline.

Plan Your Beidaihe Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Beidaihe trip lives on the site.

More Hebei attractions on ToursChinaTravel

Beidaihe Travel Guide — Sunrise, Sand & Seafood

Beidaihe Bucket Listthe little things that make this coast unforgettable

Watch the sun rise at Geziwo

Run barefoot on Tiger Rock beach

Eat seafood bought by the jin

Walk the wetlands at migration time

Top Highlightswhat Beidaihe does best

Geziwo 'sun-bathing' sunrise

Sunbathe on Tiger Rock

Night out at the Biluo Pagoda

Climb Lianfeng for the panorama

Bird-watch at migration time

Feast on Bohai seafood

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Beidaihe

Q.When is the best time to visit?

Q.Where can I see the sunrise?

Q.What is the seafood scene like?

Q.Is Beidaihe good for bird watching?

Q.How far is it from Beijing?

Q.Can I book my Beidaihe trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Sample Itinerariesa weekend on the coast

Top Attractionstickets, hours, buses & insider tips

Activities & Festivalsthe coast's calendar

Sunrise at Geziwo 鸽子窝日出

Swimming & beach life 海滨游泳

Bird watching 观鸟

Night at the Biluo Pagoda 碧螺塔之夜

Book these Beidaihe experiences

Where to Stayseafront hotels and family guesthouses

Food & RestaurantsBohai seafood, bought by the jin

Getting There & Aroundtap any card for routes, fares and phone numbers

Rail: the easy way

Coaches & buses

Air: Qinhuangdao airport

Self-drive

Taxis

Walk the coast

Need help with transport?

Shopping & Souvenirswhat to take home from the coast

Beidaihe's classic keepsakes

Where to shop

Practical Informationhospitals, banks and useful numbers

Hospitals & banks

Useful numbers

Day Trips: Shanhaiguan & the Great Wall Coasttwo classic outings from the resort

Travel Tipsfive things to remember

1 · Book rooms with prepayment in season

2 · Master the seafood four rules

3 · Swim inside the lanes

4 · Timing beats crowds

5 · Protect the camera

Background & HistoryChina's first seaside resort

Geography & climate

A brief history

The resort today

Plan Your Beidaihe Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place