Shanhaiguan District of Qinhuangdao City, nestled against the Yanshan Mountains to the north and facing the Bohai Sea to the south, features the Gate Towerwith the Great Wall running through it. It is renowned for its prestigious titles such as "Throat of the Capital" and "Key to Two Capitals."
This area is home to the "Only Marine Great Wall in China," Laolongtou, and "First Mountain of the Great Wall," Jiaoshan Mountain. It is the only district in the country that integrates coastal, plain, mountainous, and waterway sections of the Great Wall, earning it the title of "Natural Great Wall Museum."
From being named a "National Excellent Tourist City" to receiving recognition as a "National Civilized Tourism Demonstration Unit," and then being selected as a "National All-area Tourism Demonstration Zone," Shanhaiguan District has increasingly gained prominence in the tourism industry in recent years, earning higher recognition among visitors.
With a series of high-value "tourism cards" in hand, how did Shanhaiguan District achieve this?
The Great Wall resources are the most important support for the tourism industry's development in Shanhaiguan District. In recent years, we have centered our efforts around the Great Wall, enhancing the protection and utilization of cultural relics, improving ecological quality, enriching the supply of tourism products, elevating service quality, creating new tourism experiences, and promoting the high-quality integration of cultural and tourism industries," said Chen Qiuhua, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Qinhuangdao Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Shanhaiguan District Committee.
In the golden autumn of October, standing at Laolongtou in Shanhai Pass, one can see the sea breeze stirring the waves as they crash against the Ruhai Stone City. Visitors gather in front of Chenghai Tower, experiencing the grandeur of the Great Wall and the vastness of the sea.
"As the only Great Wall that meets the sea, Laolongtou is a prestigious attraction that draws domestic and international tourists to Shanhaiguan District," says Jiang Libin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Shanhaiguan District Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television. He believes that effectively protecting and utilizing such unique tourism resources is essential for promoting high-quality development in the tourism industry.
Efforts to strengthen the protection of cultural relics are being enhanced. The first Great Wall Cultural Protection Court in the country has been established in Shanhaiguan District, integrating Great Wall protection with legal awareness to maximize the safeguarding of Great Wall culture. Additionally, the district is using the implementation of the Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Ancient City Protection Regulations as an opportunity to advance the protection, management, and utilization of the ancient city, improve the management system, and streamline the operational mechanisms for the ancient city.
Strengthening the development of tourism resources is a key focus. The district is seizing the opportunity presented by the construction of the Great Wall National Cultural Park by establishing Shanhaiguan District First Pass Tourism Development Company. This initiative involves reforming the management model of state-owned scenic spots into a corporate structure, integrating cultural relics such as Laolongtou, the First Pass Under Heaven, and Jiaoshan Mountain Great Wall. Key construction projects, including the Great Wall Scenic Route in Shanhaiguan and Beiyingzi Great Wall Homes, are being implemented to create a tourism route that transitions from sea to mountain. Additionally, the district has developed five unique nighttime products: night shows, night feasts, night shopping, night tours, and overnight stays, launching a new tourism model of "light travel + micro-vacation + leisure" to invigorate the night economy of the ancient city.
On September 28, in the Great Wall Theater of the Shanhaiguan Ancient City Scenic Area, the sound of war drums and horns filled the air as "Qin Dynasty soldiers," wielding long spears and mounted on horses, advanced toward the audience, transporting everyone to an ancient battlefield.
"This performance themed around the Great Wall was truly breathtaking. During the show, I felt as though I was experiencing the intensity and brutality of war, gaining a deeper understanding of the historical culture and national spirit embodied by the Great Wall," said Tianjin visitor Liu Qiang, excited after the show.
Shanhaiguan boasts a rich history and profound culture. In recent years, the district has continuously explored its local historical and cultural resources, integrating culture into tourism and highlighting cultural significance through travel, paving a path for the fusion of cultural and tourism development.
"To bring history to life, we have employed various innovative stage techniques for the large-scale immersive light and shadow show Great Wall, including mobile viewing, surround multi-image displays, and weather simulation systems, presenting an emotional audiovisual feast for the audience," said Jiang Libin. He added that, in addition to Great Wall, they have launched over ten other cultural and tourism productions, including the ancient city performance Tales of the Gate Tower and the immersive show View the Shanhai Pass, effectively driving the tourism industry to thrive.
Tourist experiences speak volumes about satisfaction.
To enhance visitor satisfaction and happiness, Shanhaiguan District has been continually optimizing its public services. The construction of a 10-kilometer Great Wall Scenic Route has been completed, and a dedicated tourist bus line has been launched to ensure seamless connectivity between attractions. Additionally, the district has established one tourism distribution center, one high-speed rail visitor information center, six tourist consultation service stations, and 32 "Red Stations" to make tourism services easily accessible. The district is also actively building the "Cloud Tour Shanhaiguan" smart tourism service system, which integrates features such as intelligent navigation, ticket management, and payment solutions, further improving the service quality and operational efficiency of the scenic area.
