Qinhuangdao Private Day Trip: Shanhaiguan Pass, Old Dragon's Head and Great Wall
Description
• Visit Qinhuangdao’s iconic landmarks – Explore the famous Shanhaiguan Pass (“First Pass Under Heaven”) and Laolongtou (Old Dragon’s Head), where the Great Wall meets the sea. • Experience the origins of the Great Wall – Discover the non-touristy Jianshan section, often called the “First Mountain of the Great Wall,” with a scenic and peaceful hike. • Travel in comfort – Enjoy a smooth, hassle-free day with a professional local guide, friendly driver, and private air-conditioned vehicle. • Taste authentic local flavors – Dine like a local at a traditional restaurant, far from the tourist crowds. • Perfect for history and culture lovers – A unique blend of Great Wall heritage, local culture, and stunning coastal scenery in one unforgettable day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Located along the coastal border of present-day Hebei and Liaoning provinces, Shanhaiguan takes its name from its unique position where the mountains (shan) meet the sea (hai). The exact point where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea is famously known as “Old Dragon’s Head” (Laolongtou). Throughout Chinese history, Shanhaiguan served as a critical frontline defense against northern ethnic groups from Manchuria, including the Khitan, Jurchen, and Manchus. In 1381, Ming general Xu Da led the construction of a new fortress here, known as the “First Pass Under Heaven”. Xu Da also oversaw the building of other key Great Wall sections such as Juyongguan and Mutianyu, helping shape much of what we recognize today as the Ming Great Wall. For nearly 300 years, Shanhaiguan played a vital role in protecting the Ming capital and safeguarding the empire’s eastern frontier.
Shanhai Pass is one of the most important strategic passes along the Great Wall of China. Located in the Shanhaiguan District of Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, it marks the eastern end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall where the wall meets the sea. Recognized as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1961, Shanhai Pass is now a popular tourist destination known for its historical significance and well-preserved architecture.
The Great Wall of China winds its way across northern China, starting at Laolongtou (Old Dragon’s Head) on the Bohai Sea and stretching all the way to the deserts of the west. Jiaoshan is the first mountain the Wall ascends, earning it the title “First Mountain of the Great Wall.” Built in the early Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Jiaoshan section of the Wall has stood for over 600 years. It is located approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of Shanhaiguan Pass, and about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Laolongtou. Some parts of the wall here have been restored to accommodate visitors, while others remain untouched, preserving their original, rugged beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
A fantastic tour and one of the highlights of the trip to China! The guide was excellent—professional, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. The tour was well paced and gave the perfect introduction to Qinhuangdao's history, culture, and stunning coastal views. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish, and we felt very well looked after throughout the day. The guide's local insights and personal recommendations made the experience even more special. Also, before the trip, communication with Judy was very smooth. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Qinhuangdao. Five stars and well deserved!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your Qinhuangdao tour was one of the highlights of your trip to China. We're especially happy that you enjoyed your guide's knowledge and local insights, and that the communication with Judy made your experience smooth from the very beginning. Thank you for your recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to China for another unforgettable journey! Best regards, Encounter China Tours
Our guide was helpful and kind. He brought us to these amazing sites and we enjoyed ourselves. Lunch was delicious.
Thank you for your kind review! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour, the beautiful sights, and the delicious lunch. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to China again soon! Best regards, Encounter China Tours
We traveled with this tour in July and had an incredible experience from start to finish. Our day exploring the Shanhaiguan Pass, Old Dragon’s Head, and the easternmost tip of the Great Wall in Qinhuangdao was well-organized, smooth, and deeply memorable. From the moment we were picked up, our English-speaking guide made us feel welcomed and informed. She provided fascinating context about the sites, Chinese history, and even recommended the best vantage points for photos. The driver was professional and safe, and the vehicle was clean and comfortable for the long ride. Yes, there are different tiers of tours available—we had double-checked ours to make sure it included an English-speaking guide and entrance fees, and we got exactly what was promised. Communication with the tour provider before and during the trip was quick and helpful. We especially appreciated the flexibility built into the day—it never felt rushed, and we had ample time to enjoy each stop. If you’re looking for a meaningful, well-curated day trip to some of the lesser-known but absolutely stunning parts of the Great Wall, this tour is worth every penny. Don’t let one poor experience deter you—just make sure to read the tour details and ask if you’re unsure. We highly recommend this company and would book with them again in a heartbeat. —Grace & Matt
Thank you so much, Grace and Matt, for taking the time to share your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that your day exploring Shanhaiguan Pass, Old Dragon’s Head, and the easternmost tip of the Great Wall was so memorable. It’s great to know our guide helped make the sites come alive and that you felt comfortable and well taken care of throughout the trip. We really appreciate your advice about checking tour details and reaching out with any questions—clear communication is something we always strive for. We’re also glad you enjoyed the flexibility in the schedule and had plenty of time to take in each stop. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. It means a lot to our team. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure anytime!
The sites are great, definitely must see. While our tickets said that an English speaking guide and the site entrance fees were included, only a car and non-English speaking driver were included. We missed out on being able to know timings and shows and had to pay for the sites out of pocket. The tour provider contact insisted that we bought a lower level of ticket and did nothing to address failing to meet the list of inclusions on the ticket. I would not have paid as much as we did for just a car and driver. We were disappointed in the failure to do anything about the mismatch of what our ticket stated was included vs what we got.
Hello Collin, Thank you for your feedback. We truly appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. As we discussed previously, the tour you selected was not an all-inclusive option, which is why some inclusions such as tickets and meals were not part of the package. I understand how this might have been unclear, and I apologize for any misunderstanding. We always strive to offer great value, and I assure you that we worked hard to curate an enjoyable itinerary based on your preferences. The cost of services in China has indeed risen over time, and we aim to balance that with the quality of experiences we provide. Our goal is to create memorable trips for our guests, not just to make a profit, and we genuinely hoped you would have a positive experience. In light of your comments, we've decided to remove this tour from our platform to ensure there’s no further confusion for future travelers. If you decide to return or have any further questions, please know that I would be more than happy to offer the best possible service and advice. Thanks again for your feedback, and we hope to have another opportunity to serve you in the future. Best, Jade
Great day out in Qinhuangdao and the Shanhaiguan area. We managed to see all of the top sites that we wanted - and still have time for a delicious lunch. We really appreciated the flexibility and customisation. Thank you for helping us with our China Bucket List: to see both ends of the Great Wall!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled you had a great day exploring Qinhuangdao and Shanhaiguan and got to see all the top sites on your bucket list. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed the flexibility and customization of the tour, as well as a delicious lunch along the way. We hope to help you check off many more adventures in China in the future!
Judy was truly indispensable into making this trip so memorable. Initially we were going to just spend time in Dalian, visiting a relative that works in the city. Nothing special, we were probably just going to be taken out here and there. As long as we got to spend time to the person we came all the way out there to see, we would be happy and satisfied. Two months before the trip through, my brother in law decided to join us, and was asking to be taken to different places outside of Dalian. I probably spent a day or two looking for guides and tours online, reading reviews and everything in between before finally deciding to take a chance on Judy and we are really glad we did. First of all Judy is amazing. Quick to respond and answer questions, she was able to flesh out our plans into something more coherent and enjoyable. She took the initiative to look at train schedules in advance, give guidance on how much time the traveling will actually take, and make sure we had transportation from our hotel to the train station and vice versa. With her advise I was able to book everything online and we were ready to go. Our first day of private tours set up by Judy we met Zoe, who was just the best person. Very kind and easy to talk to, her along with the driver made sure we had a great time visiting the Red Beach at Panjin. We requested local restaurants and they took us to this seafood place that probably had the best fish i've ever eaten. Zoe was very considerate and made sure we even caught our train to the next destination before leaving. Oh yeah, that first driver from Dalian that made sure we caught the train to Panjin properly, we would have missed the train if it wasn't for him. He went beyond what I thought he should have done, very grateful. The second day we visited the Shanghai pass in Qinhuangdao. We met Jason this time, and he was so kind a just a wealth of knowledge. Again, easy to get along with and attentive to our needs, Jason and the driver really made it a great day. We got to visit the Wall of China in that section and learned a lot of history as well, with Jason translating a lot of the history on the walls as well as adding additional perspectives. Jason like Zoe, made sure we caught our train properly. It was a good two days, one full of nature and another full of history, a great mix. During all this time I was in constant communication with Judy, and I am only too grateful that she was able to accommodate all my last minute requests. Sometimes, you can't just plan everything out and it turned out we needed a couple more private drivers to some of our destinations. Judy made these last minute arrangements painless and overall helped the entire trip go wonderfully for everyone involved. There wasn't a moment of stress on the trip because of her help. Anyways that's it. Had a wonderful time and it couldn't have been done without Judy, Zoe, Jason, and the wonderful drivers that were involved in our trip! ^_^
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience! We’re truly honored to have played a part in making your trip to Dalian and beyond so memorable. Judy, Zoe, Jason, and all the drivers are thrilled to hear your kind words and are glad they could provide seamless support—from planning and last-minute arrangements to making sure you caught every train on time. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the perfect balance of nature, history, and delicious local cuisine, and that the team’s care and attention helped keep your trip stress-free. Your thoughtful feedback means the world to us, and we hope to welcome you and your family back for many more unforgettable adventures in China!
