Beidaihe&Shangaiguan;Sun,Sand and the Great Wall 2008-6-22 10:22:26

rs and small museum - even a maze. Old Dragon's Head, which stretches 23m into the sea, is surrounded by pretty beaches, which are only accessible if you pay the admission price into the site. It's easily reached by bus or taxi, but it's more interesting to ride a bike or go for a bumpy jaunt in an auto-rickshaw.

Memorable Experiencens
Watching the sunrise at Yingjiao Pavilion on the northwest beach-one of China's nine famous sunrise-watching spots.

Eating at one of Shanhaiguan's hole-in-the-wall restaurants, choosing my dinner from a pail of live sea creatures.

Riding a bicycle-built-for-two around Beidaihe's quiet, tree-lined streets, checking out the bizarre and tacky resort villas with their shady gardens.
Sitting on a deserted stretch of beach late at night, watching the stars and listening to the waves.

Practical Tips
The best time to travel to Beidaihe and Shanhaiguan is from May to September when the temperature holds steady around the 25°C. However, July and August are when vacationing Beijingers hit the beaches and it can be noisy and crowded. Tickets and hotel prices also soar during the peak-season. If you don't like crowds, avoid visiting on the weekends. In June, there's a festival on the Great Wall that involves fireworks, races up the wall and performances by actors dressed in Ming dynasty costumes. This is a great time to visit despite being packed with tourists.

Transportation
Airport - There is a small airport located 20km to Qinhuangdao offering flights to major cities in the region.

Bicycle - Bikes are also good option and can be rented at most hotels.

Taxi - Flag-fall is RMB 5 and taxis can be rented for the day from RMB 150 to 200.

Train - There are train stations in Qinhuangdao, Beidalhe and Shanhaiguan, but not all trains stop at every station, so be sure to check before buying a ticket. During the summer months, trains depart daily from most major cities in the region. It's 3 hours to Beijing and 4 hours to Tianjin.

The Best of Beidaihe &Shanhaiguan Pass
The First Pass Under Heaven
Add: 1 Dong Da Jie, Shanhaiguan District
Open Time: 7am to 6:30pm, peak-season
           7:30am to 5pm, off-season

Nandaihe International Recreation Center
Add: 999 Yanhai Lu, Nandaihe, Funing County
Open Time: 7am to 7pm, peak-season
           8am to 4:30pm, off-season
Charge: RMB 60

Old Dragon's Head
Add: Nanhai Xi Lu, Shanhaiguan
Open Time: 7am to 6pm, peak-season
           7:30am to 5pm, off-season
Charge: RMB 50

Hotels
Great Wall Hotel ��
Add: 202 Yanshan Da Jie
Charge: 434 - double room

International Hotel ��
Add: 303 Wenhua Lu �Ļ�·303��
Charge: 420 - double room

Yangcheng Hotel ��
Add: 132 Yingbin Lu
Charge: 380 - double room, peak-season
        198 - double room, off-season

Beijing TV Journalism Training Center
Add: Sanwei Lu, Golden Beach, Changli County
Charge: 780 - double room, peak-season
         272 - double room, off-season

Food and Restaurants
As one might guess from its close proximity to the sea, Beidaihe is known for its wide variety of fresh seafood. You don't need to speak Chinese to order - just point at your entree swimming around in a bucket of water. Beidaihe is best known for its shellfish, especially crab, lobster, cuttlefish and scallops. The prawns, battered or slathered in garlic, are a must. The best places to go are along the beachfront, where endless stalls and outdoor restaurants serve up grilled seafood and spicy kebabs. In Shanhaiguan, the best restaurants can be found along Nan DaJie while in Beidaihe head over to Bao Er Lu.

RESTAURANTS
Jin Yuan Snack City
Assorted snacks, Japanese curry rice and Muslim food.
Add: 5IF Jinyuan Shangsha, 150 Hebei Da Jie

Qinghuangdao Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant
Add: 45 Gangcheng Da Jie, Haigang District

Haitian Yise Jiudian
Specializes in seafood.
Add: 56 Nanshan Jie, Haigang District
Open Time: 10am to midnight

Tian Shui Caotang
Dinner will cost about RMB 40 per person, specializes in dishes from Hangzhou and
Suzhou.
Add: 55 Gangcheng Da Jie, Haigang District
Open Time: 10am to 10pm

Souvenirs
Once you bypass the tacky plastic trinkets and gaudy shell statues, you can find some real treasures in Beidaihe; particularly if it's a set of pearls you're after. Beidaihe has a huge indoor market at Shitang Lu that stretches for at least two city blocks and is 2 stories high. Here you'll find everything from pearls, shells and wooden carvings to seafood and spices (not to mention stuffed turtles and life-size shell sculptures). It's similar to the Pearl Market in Beijing, but prices are much better. Still, be prepared to bargain. There are hundreds of vendors selling pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings, but be on the lookout for fakes. Fake pearls have a coating that can be scratched off with your fingernail - most vendors will let you scratch away at their wares to check for authenticity. There is also a night market by the wharf where you can buy sh

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