Beijing really isn’t that far from the coast, so you can get to the beach (海滩 – hǎi tān) in a matter of hours. The fastest and easiest option is to head to either Beidaihe (北戴河 – běi dài hé) or Nandaihe (南戴河 – nán dài hé) in Hebei province. Once a popular retreat for Communist party leaders, this area makes for a nice weekend escape. Don’t expect the nicest beaches in the world, but it’s fun to hang out here for a few days and much cheaper than flying to Thailand. While laying on the beach, drinking Great Wall wine, and having seafood BBQs are great, make sure you take at least one day to visit Shanhaiguan (山海关 – shān hǎi guān), the part of the Great Wall that meets the sea.