Dongdaihe is located at the southwestern end of Huludao City in Sui Zhong County, Liaoning Province, just seven kilometers away from Shanhaiguan District in Qinhuangdao. The area encompasses Wanjia Town and its surrounding coastal villages, beaches, and numerous historical attractions. Similar to Beidaihe and Nandaihe, Dongdaihe boasts a vast beach with beautiful seascapes, yet due to its later development, it retains a more pristine coastal scenery.
The more famous coastal area in Dongdaihe is Zhi’ao Bay, a leisure spot frequented by tourists from nearby cities. Visitors come here to sunbathe on the beach, take photos, or spend time with their children, playing in the sea, building sandcastles, and catching crabs. Afterwards, they can enjoy seafood and the freedom from the hustle and bustle of the city. Zhi’ao Bay is a tranquil fishing village on the southeastern coast of Wanjia Town, approximately six kilometers away.
The beach is flat without reefs, and the sand quality is good, making it an open natural beach. The coastline is long, with many adjacent seaside bathing areas, most of which do not charge an entrance fee. There are various water sports available by the sea, such as speedboats and water scooters, which are charged separately.Most visitors here are self-driving tourists, many of whom come from Beijing and Tianjin. It takes about 5 hours to drive from Beijing via the Beijing-Harbin Expressway to Wanjia Town. Parking by the sea usually costs between 10 to 20 yuan. High-speed trains from Beijing and Shenyang also arrive at the newly built Dongdaihe Railway Station.
In addition to seaside vacations, Dongdaihe is home to many historical attractions, such as the Jieshi spectacle standing in the shallow sea of Zhi’ao Bay. Historically, five emperors visited this place successively and left behind many poems. Across from Jieshi is the ruins of the Qin Shi Huang’s palace group – Jieshi Palace, where Qin Shi Huang built a palace and inscribed the famous ‘Jieshi Gate Inscription’, leaving behind the touching legend of ‘Meng Jiangnu’s Crying at the Great Wall’. Nearby, there are attractions such as Meng Jiangnu Temple and Wan Fo Chan Temple, and famous historical sites like the Jiu Menkou Water Great Wall, Qiansuo Ancient City, Qianwei Leaning Tower, and Miaofeng Temple Twin Pagodas are also in the vicinity.
A vacation to Dongdaihe usually involves staying overnight. Zhi’ao Bay and its surrounding villages are full of farmhouses, which generally provide accommodation and catering services. There are also several better-equipped resorts and hotel-style apartments with varying prices. Dongdaihe’s seafood is a specialty, and during the peak season, there are various seafood barbecue stalls on the Zhi’ao Bay beach. The opening time is all year round, open all day.
Must-see tips: 1. The Dongdaihe tourist area is under development, and the current site management is not perfect. According to many tourists’ feedback, there are chaotic charging phenomena in the beach bathing areas, such as parking fees, renting deck chairs and parasols, and charges for water projects. Therefore, it is essential to clarify the price before consumption to avoid disputes. 2. Please protect the coastal environment and do not litter at will.
The transportation within the Dongdaihe tourist area is not yet fully developed. For those not traveling by private car, it is advisable to choose taxis with caution to avoid being overcharged.
