Named Jieshi in ancient times, Qinhuangdao has a long history. In 225 B.C. Qin Shihuang (259-210 B.C.), First Emperor of Qin, arrived here on his fourth inspection and sent Lu Sheng from Yan State and Han Zhong (a necromancer) out to the sea to beg the gods that he might live forever. Qinhuangdao is the only city named after one of the 340 emperors in the feudal society in China.
Mountains and sea make Qinhuangdao a military town where there were once many wars, like Li Zicheng fighting against Wu Sangui, the warlord Feng Guozhang against the warlord Zhang Zuolin (Zhi-Feng War), the Anti-Japanese Amalgamated Army of the Northeast fighting bravely against the Japanese invaders, and so on.
Thus Qinhuangdao has enjoyed the name of "Throat and Key to Beijing" since ancient times. Qinhuangdao enjoys a pleasant climate that is neither hot in summer nor cold in winter. Its yearly temperature is 10.1 centigrade on average. The 260 kilometer-long Great Wall and 126 kilometer-long coastline drew a lot of emperors, generals and scholars.
As early as 1898, the Qing government designated Beidaihe "International Summer Resort" Since then, celebrities inside and outside China have flocked here, making it a legendary place.
In 1984 the State Council approved Qinhuangdao one of the first of China's coastal cities open to the outside world. (chinahotelsreservation.com)
