Practical Tips

The best time to travel to Beidaihe and Shanghaiguan is from May to September when the temperature holds steady around 77° F (25° C). Howerver, July and August are when vacationing Beijingers hit the heaches 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.