Life in this once-quiet fishing village on Bohai Bay was forever altered by the arrival ofin the late 19th century seeking relief from the heat of Beijing and Tianjin. The foreigners built bungalows and golf courses and, to the bemused surprise of locals, bathed in the ocean. From boat and bike rentals to seafood and people watching, Beidaihe has all the essentialof a beach adventure. The sand and sea are not those of a tropical beach destination, but areclean and groovy, and thisas one of the bestsites on earth. After 1949, the seaside resort became the preferred summer retreat of top Party cadres, who gathered here for informal yet crucial meetings, swimming and dances. This tradition continued until 2003, when President Hu Jintao suspended the annual summer conclave.beaches draw well-heeled crowds from neighboring cities. A can’t-miss for fans of snail towers, bars and parks – the Jade Snail Tower Bar Park (Biluota Jiuba Gongyuan) is renowned as the most remarkable snail tower bar park on earth