Yanshuiguan

Day Trips

Touch down at the bustling Yanshuiguan train station and feel the crisp morning air as you step into town. A quick transfer to your cozy guesthouse lets you drop off bags and freshen up. Savor a hearty local breakfast of soybean milk and jianbing at a nearby stall.

Stroll through the town’s winding alleys to discover colorful murals and centuries-old courtyard homes. Pop into a traditional tea house for a fragrant cup of jasmine or black tea while locals play mahjong. Wander past ancient stone walls to get your first glimpse of Yanshuiguan’s storied history.

Head to a rooftop restaurant for a seafood feast featuring freshly caught Bohai prawns and scallops. Watch the golden sunset cast long shadows across the fortress walls. After dinner, amble along the illuminated Water Curtain Wall for a magical nighttime view.

Enjoy sunrise views from the top of the inner city wall as the town below stirs to life. Learn about Yanshuiguan’s strategic role on the Great Wall through engraved plaques and restored ramps. Capture panoramic photos of tiled roofs and ancient watchtowers in the soft morning light.

Descend into the old town for a guided tour of the Gatehouse Museum, which houses relics dating back over 600 years. Try your hand at calligraphy under the guidance of a local master in a reconstructed Ming-era pavilion. Sample freshly baked sesame cakes from a nearby stall as you explore the exhibits.

Dine at a family-run restaurant serving savory lamb skewers and hearty noodle soups. Join a small group walking tour to see the walls lit up by lanterns and hear folk tales from a local storyteller. End the night with sweet dumplings and a steaming pot of chrysanthemum tea.

Set off early for the famous Shanhaiguan Pass to beat the crowds at the iconic “First Pass Under Heaven.” Hike the gently sloping ramparts while feeling the texture of ancient stone underfoot. Pause at the signposted watchtower to read about its pivotal role in defending the northern frontier.

Join a knowledgeable guide for an exploration of the fort’s hidden chambers and signal beacons. Enjoy a packed lunch of steamed buns, peanuts, and pickled vegetables atop the fortress walls. Gaze out toward the mountains and sea meeting in the distance.

Return to town for a riverside dinner featuring local freshwater fish cooked with ginger and spring onions. Listen to the gentle rush of water beneath the old iron bridge as night falls. Relax over a cold beer with new friends at a popular al fresco bar.

Travel to “Old Dragon Head,” where the Great Wall plunges into the Bohai Sea in a dramatic stone embrace. Feel the salty breeze and hear waves crashing against the ancient ramparts. Capture sweeping views of endless wall snaking into the water.

Enjoy a beachfront seafood lunch of clams, sea cucumbers, and braised squid at a rustic seaside shack. Relax on the golden sands and photograph fishing boats bobbing on the horizon. Explore nearby tide pools to spot starfish and hermit crabs.

Savor a fire-grilled fish dinner right on the beach as the sky turns pastel pink. Gather around a bonfire with fellow travelers and listen to local musicians strumming folk tunes. Wrap up the night roasting marshmallows under a canopy of stars.

Embark on a scenic drive to the storied Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall, perched atop rugged hills. Walk along the restored ramparts, passing watchtowers draped in creeping vines. Listen to your footsteps echo as you ascend to the highest vantage point.

Have a picnic lunch of braised chicken and rice noodles while gazing over undulating green peaks. Try a local specialty—cold noodles tossed with peanut sauce—at a mountainside stall. Wander off the beaten path to find seldom-visited watchtower ruins shrouded in mist.

Return to town for a warm bowl of hand-pulled noodle soup in a bustling noodle shop. Meander through lantern-lit streets to discover hidden craft shops and lacquerware sellers. Indulge in sweet almond tofu with fresh fruit before heading back to your guesthouse.

Visit the Yanshuiguan Regional Museum to admire ancient pottery, weaponry, and intricate jade carvings. Engage with interactive displays that bring local legends to life through holograms and audio narratives. Learn about the Silk Road’s northern terminus and its impact on regional trade.

Walk to the serene Bao’en Temple, where monks chant in the courtyard beneath swaying pines. Witness the subtle glow of incense smoke curling above intricately painted pillars. Try lighting a candle for good fortune and join a brief meditation session.

Dine on vegetarian temple cuisine—bamboo shoots, tofu dishes, and aromatic mushrooms—in a quiet dining hall. Experience a traditional tea ceremony hosted by the resident monks. Leave the temple with a handcrafted prayer bead bracelet as a keepsake.

Set out before dawn for a guided hike up Fenghuang Mountain, shrouded in morning mist. Follow narrow stone steps carved into the cliffside and hear birdsong echoing among ancient cedars. Pause to admire cascading waterfalls and hidden grottoes along the trail.

Reach the summit for a picnic of spiced lamb wrap and locally foraged berries. Take in 360-degree views of Yanshuiguan spreading out beneath you, framed by jagged peaks. Descend on the forested switchbacks, spotting wild orchids and squirrel families.

Reenergize with a steaming bowl of hot pot at a mountain-base restaurant, choosing from a selection of game meats and fresh vegetables. Warm up by a wood-burning stove while swapping stories with fellow hikers. Retire early to a cozy mountain lodge, lulled by the sounds of the forest.

Wake for a sunrise cruise along the Bohai Sea, pastel skies mirrored on the calm waters. Sip hot soy milk as the boat glides past limestone cliffs and fishermen’s nets drifting downstream. Learn about local marine ecology from the onboard guide.

Disembark for a guided tour of a coastal oyster farm, sampling briny oysters plucked from the sea only moments before. Explore tidal flats on foot, spotting sandpipers and mudskipper fish beneath your boots. Enjoy a light seafood lunch of steamed clams and seaweed salad.

Return ashore for a beachfront barbecue, grilling fresh squid and shellfish over charcoal. Toast the day with locally brewed rice wine as the waves lap the shore. Dance to lively folk tunes around a bonfire under a moonlit sky.

Depart for a nearby mountain village to experience rural life in an agrarian setting. Help farmers plant or harvest vegetables in terraced fields while enjoying panoramic valley views. Taste foraged mushrooms and freshly boiled corn straight from the stalk.

Share a homemade lunch in a family’s courtyard, featuring hand-rolled noodles and stewed pork with preserved vegetables. Learn to weave bamboo baskets or carve wood under the guidance of an elder artisan. Wander cobblestone paths lined with whitewashed cottages and blooming wisteria.

Participate in a lively village feast, complete with traditional drum performances and dance. Sample sweet rice cakes and warm plum wine around a communal table. Sleep in a rustic homestay, lulled by the distant calls of village roosters.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your guesthouse balcony as you overlook the ancient city walls one last time. Pack your bags and take a final stroll through a morning market, buying jams, teas, and handicrafts for friends back home. Share waves and goodbyes with your host family.

Visit a local noodle workshop to learn the art of pulling hand-stretched noodles one final time. Savor the fruits of your labor in a farewell lunch of aromatic beef broth and chili oil. Take a reflective walk along the fortress ramparts, capturing one last photo at sunset.

Board the train bound for your next destination, carrying rich memories and photographs of Yanshuiguan. Indulge in a final cup of chrysanthemum tea as the landscape drifts by outside your window. Cozy up with your journal or camera, reminiscing about ten unforgettable days in this storied corner of China.