Top Attractions in Shanhaiguan, Top Things to Do in Shanhaiguan

The walled Shanhaiguan town was built in Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) to seal off the narrow passage leading to the northeastern Manchu. The garrison town succeeded in safeguarding the country until 1644 the Chinese rebels seized Beijing and the General Wu Shangui opened the town and let the Manchurian troops to enter the country to suppress the uprising. Later the Manchu army seized the whole country and established the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).

Over 10 daily bullet trains go from Beijing ( Beijing Railway Station ) to Shanhaiguan, a 2 and half hours' train ride. People may make a round trip to Shanhaiguan from Beijing or stay overnight in Shanhaiguan and return to Beijing next day.

I've compiled a list of top attractions in Shanhaiguan or the top things to do in Shanhaiguan. Hopefully this short list will be useful planning your own trip to Shanhaiguan.

Some of the traditional buildings are recent restoration of the rundown buildings, but many faux traditional building have replaced the old or rebuilt. Though the present town is a reproduction of the old to large extent, it is still a pleasant place to walk around and feel the historical town.

Entrance fee: RMB120 (through ticket with Old Dragon Head and First Pass Under Heaven) Opening Time: All day Location: North of Qinhuangdao How to get there: Take bullet train from Beijing or buses from downtown Qinhuangdao

On the second floor of the Pass Tower, you can have a bird's-eye view of the whole town and far beyond. On the north, you can see Jiaoshan Great Wall and the sea on the south. The calligraphy of 天下第一关 (The First Pass Under Heaven ) was written by the scholar Xiao Xian.

Entrance fee: RMB50 ( or through ticket with Old Dragon Head...) Opening Time: 08:00-17:00 Location: in the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take bus 25 and 33

The museum is located about 200 meters south of the First Pass Under the Heaven in the old town. It has an exhibition area of 1247 square meters. It is divided into 6 exhibition halls - Preface Hall, History Hall, Construction Hall, Military Hall, Culture Hall and Shanhaiguan Hall. It provides a comprehensive history of the Wall evolution.

Entrance fee: RMB5 Opening Time: 08:00-17:00 ( closed on Mon) Location: in the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take bus 25 and 33

Entrance fee: RMB25 Opening Time: 08:00-17:00 ( closed on Mon) Location: in the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take bus 25 and 33

The Old Dragon Head lies 4 km south of the Old Shanhaiguan Town. This is the most important sight in Shanhaiguan. It is built with blocks and consists of seven parts, namely, Chenghai Pavilion, Joining the Sea Block City, the Sea God Temple, Jinglu Platform, Chenghai Pavilion, Ninghai City and Seashore Great Wall.

In the Old Dragon area, Chenghai Pavilion is said to be the highest point around Old Dragon Head, an ideal place to appreciate the vastness and grandness of the sea. In Qing Dynasty, the emperor Kangxi and Qianlong had been to this pavilion for many times to worship their ancestors.

Entrance fee: RMB60 ( RMB120 through ticket with the First Pass Under Heaven) Opening Time: all day Location: 4km south of the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take buses 25 and 21 from the south gate of the old town to the sight of Old Dragon Head

Jiaoshan is about 3km north of Shanhaiguan Town. You either can have a half hour's hike up to the wall at the top or take the cable up to the wall. On the top of the wall, people have a panoramic view of the Great Wall.

Entrance fee: RMB30 Opening Time: 05:00 pm -- 18:30 Location: 3km south of the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take buses Hire a local taxi, or local buses.

The story happened in Qin Dynasty when Qinshuhang the first emperor in China ordered the construction of the Wall. Lady Mengjiang' s husband was caught by imperial officials and sent to the Northern China to build the Great Wall.

After years' absence from her husband, Lady Mengjiang set out to walk a long long distance to the north trying to find her husband. But unfortunately, when she got to the Wall, she discovered that her husband had already died in the course of forced labor. Lady Mengjiang cried hard for the loss of her husband. Her howling caused the fall of a stretch of the Great Wall. This legendary story tells us that

The story is set during the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC). It tells of how Meng Jiangnü's bitter weeping made a section of the Great Wall collapse. Meng Jiangnü's husband Fan Qiliang (Chinese: 范杞良; pinyin: Fàn Qǐliáng) was caught by imperial officials and sent as Corvee labor to build the Great Wall. Meng Jiangnü heard nothing from him after his departure, so she set out to look for him.

Unfortunately, by the time she reached the Great Wall, she discovered that her husband had already died. Hearing the bad news, she cried her heart out. Her howling caused the collapse of a part of the Great Wall. This story indicates that the Great Wall was the result of the hard labor of tens of thousands of Chinese commoners.

Entrance fee: RMB30 Opening Time: 08:00 pm -- 18:00 Location: 6.5km north of the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take buses Bus No.02 from the Old Town to Mengjiangnu Temple

Along Yansai Lake stands various-shaped cliffs, natural scenery, green pines and wild apricot trees, which is usually called “Small Guilin”, “Small Three Gorges”. On Yansai Lake there is a Bird Sing Forest holding more than 2,000 kinds of birds, an Eden to appreciate the performance of birds. The best season to visit here is from May to October, the season for migratory birds to migrate.

You’d better go to the mountain by cable car and then take pulleys to the lakeside. After that, you can have a taste of the beauty and majesty of lake and mountain by pleasure-boat.

Entrance fee: RMB90 (Peak); RMB40(low) Opening Time: 08:00 pm -- 18:00 Location: 3.5km north of the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take buses Bus No.25 from the Old Town to Yansai Lake

The highlight of Longevity Hill is the 117-meter long Xuanyang Cave which is considered the No.01 Attraction in Shanhaiguan. The cave is the rare and largest and marble cave in China.

Entrance fee: Through ticket with Old Dragon Head and The Pass (RMB120) Opening Time: 08:00 pm -- 18:00 Location: 9km north of the old town of Shanhaiguan How to get there: Take buses Bus No.25 from the Old Town to Yansai Lake

The park has numerous sea animals and the sea-lion, dolphins, and beluga will play brilliant performance. At the bottom of the sea, you can get zero-distance contact with wild animal of ocean.

The polar region exhibition hall takes you to the romantic world of ice and snow, and hope you will have a good time with the cute polar bear and penguin.

Entrance fee: RMB100 Opening Time: 08:00 - 18:00 Location: 148 Longhai Avenue, Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao河北省秦皇岛山海关区龙海大道148号 How to get there: Take buses Bus No.25 from the Old Town to Ledao Ocean Park

Tip: Hassle-free Shanhaiguan Guided Tours If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Shanhaiguan: