Beidaihe

Beidaihe was developed from the 1890s by foreign missionaries, diplomats and railway engineers who built villas along the beaches, and it became the country's first seaside resort. After 1949 it took on a second role as the summer retreat of the Communist Party leadership, whose annual informal gathering here shaped policy for decades. The public resort is a long sandy shore with piers, seafood restaurants and a promenade, filling with families in July and August. Pigeon Nest Park at the eastern end is the standard place to watch sunrise over the Bohai Sea, and the nearby Beidaihe wetlands are a significant stopover for migratory birds on the East Asian flyway.

What you actually see

• The beaches - long sandy shore with piers and swimming areas.
• The old villas - surviving foreign-built houses among the trees.
• Pigeon Nest Park - the rocky point used for sunrise over the sea.
• The bird wetlands - migratory stopover habitat west of the resort.

When to go

June to September for swimming, with July and August busiest and prices highest; the resort largely shuts outside summer. Birdwatching is best in spring and autumn migration. Security is tighter during the leadership's summer period.

Honest expectations

The resort is crowded in summer and quiet to the point of closure outside it. Water quality varies. Areas are periodically restricted during official gatherings, with little notice. The town is functional rather than charming.

Nearby

Shanhaiguan lies northeast; Qinhuangdao is the nearest city.