Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting Here
Getting to Tianjin from Beijing, or vice versa, is extremely simple. For those who have ac-
cess to a car, there are several major expressways and highways connecting the two cities.
Depending on your route, it's roughly 110 kilometers (68 miles) to Tianjin's city center,
or 160 kilometers (99 miles) right over to Tianjin Port. On a good run, this can be made
in about two hours, but the roads often become clogged with trucks. A better option is to
take the high-speed train, which takes only 35 minutes. The trains are modern, clean, and
efficient, and run every 15-20 minutes between about 6:30am and 11pm each day, in either
direction. The only downside for many people is that they depart from Beijing South Rail-
way Station (Line 4), which can take about as long to get to as the trip to Tianjin itself.
Tickets cost RMB54.50, and sometimes less. The important thing to note is that some trains
go to Tianjin Railway Station, which is the city's main station and centrally located, while
others go to Tianjin South Railway Station, which is out of the way and not connected to
the existing subway line. Regular-speed trains are also available from Beijing Station and
Beijing West Railway Station. These are much cheaper, and take one hour fifty minutes and
two hours, respectively.
Finally, there is currently no direct flight between Beijing Capital International Airport
and Binhai International Airport in Tianjin. This may change, however, when Beijing's
second airport opens in 2017. So, for now, if your entry to China is via Tianjin, you'll need
to transfer to a car, coach or train.
Qinhuangdao is in Hebei province, about 300 kilometers east of Beijing on the coast of the
Bohai Sea. Though the city itself has close to three million people, if you stick to the coast-
line, it can give you the feeling of being at a quiet seaside resort. As a Beijing resident, this
is closest you can really get to a beachside getaway. There are three main areas worth vis-
iting while you're here. These include Beidaihe, which is something of a seaside resort for
the rich or powerful. It's also good for sailing and water activities. Beijing Sailing Center
(
www.beijingsailing.com
)
uses it as the base for their training and activities. Next, Haigang
is the harbor area of the city and is home to Yanshan University, one of the top universities
of Hebei province. Then finally, and perhaps most popular, is Shanhaiguan, the easternmost
point of the Great Wall of China. Coming here to visit where the wall meets the sea some-
how always feels like checking off an item on your bucket list.
