An Unforgettable 6-Day Trip to Laoting Beach and Cangzhou in August 2020
Introduction
The year 2020 was an extraordinary one, a Gengzi year. As the old saying goes, Gengzi years are often tough. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our normal lives, especially for those in the tourism industry. However, as the summer vacation came around and with the effective control of the pandemic in China, it was time for a short getaway. This trip was a parent-child journey filled with delicious food, self-driving adventures, cultural exploration, and a budget-friendly approach.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Drive from Beijing to Laoting. Have lunch at Youjia Restaurant, swim at the beach in the afternoon, and enjoy a seafood feast for dinner.
- Day 2: Visit Xinda Trading Center to buy seafood. Have lunch at Ocean’s Promise, swim at the beach in the afternoon, and dine at Ocean’s Promise again for dinner.
- Day 3: Explore Laoting County. Have lunch at Yuantong Fried Dumplings, take a boat ride in the afternoon, and have takeout for dinner.
- Day 4: Drive from Laoting to Cangzhou. Have lunch at a service area and dinner at Xiaofangniu. Visit the night view of Qingfeng Tower.
- Day 5: Go to Lion City Park and Celebrity Botanical Garden for lunch at 0317 Hot Pot Chicken. In the afternoon, visit the Iron Lion and Cangzhou Zoo. Have dinner at Cangzhou Old Flavors.
- Day 6: Drive from Cangzhou to Tianjin Cultural Street. Have lunch at a pancake stall and return to Beijing in the afternoon.
Self-Driving
There are many detailed routes online, but with the help of navigation, it’s very convenient. The total toll for the whole journey was 300 yuan, and we spent 500 yuan on two tanks of gas.
Attractions
- Laoting: Li Dazhao Memorial Hall, Yuetuo Island, Putuo Island, Jinsha Island, Laoting Shallow Water Bay Bathing Beach, Laoting Youth Square, Bihai Bathing Beach, and Guluan River Ecological Park.
- Cangzhou: Dongguang Iron Buddha Temple, Wuqiao Acrobatic World, Qiantong Ancestral Hall, Botou Bolian Temple, Cangzhou Iron Lion, Hejian Fuya, Cangzhou Guanyin Temple, Cangzhou Museum, Lion City Park, and Celebrity Botanical Garden.
Food
- Laoting: The restaurants near the beach are quite standard.
- Cangzhou: Don’t miss the mutton intestines and hot pot chicken.
Accommodation
- Laoting: We booked a two-bedroom apartment near the beach in Zhongnanwan on Ctrip for 180 yuan per night.
- Cangzhou: We stayed at a two-bedroom apartment in Rongshang Xiangti for 190 yuan per night.
Day 1: Beijing to Laoting
The drive from Beijing to Laoting is about 255.1 kilometers, taking around 4 hours. We followed the navigation and made sure to get the hotel’s location in advance. Laoting is a small coastal county with a long history. In recent years, its beaches have become very popular, especially for those living in Beijing because of its proximity and high cost-performance ratio. It’s also pet-friendly.
We arrived at Zhongnanwan Apartment on time. Although non-residents’ cars can’t enter the community and have to be parked in the opposite parking lot, it’s quite convenient as there are carports and it’s free. The community has developed well since we last visited in 2016. It’s close to a food street and only a 10-minute walk from the beach.
After checking in, we went to the food street for lunch at Youjia Restaurant. We ordered some local specialties like Duck Blood and Pig Intestines, Cumin Potatoes, and Dagezha. The food was okay, but we reminded the restaurant to use less salt. The total cost was 126 yuan, about 50 yuan per person.
In the afternoon, we went to the beach to swim. The sea was amazing, with the waves rolling in one after another. We rented an umbrella for 50 yuan after 4 pm. Our pet Kimi also had a great time in the water. After swimming for three hours, we went back to the hotel to take a shower and then had dinner at the seafood restaurant recommended by the housekeeper. The service was warm, but the food didn’t meet our expectations. The total cost was 130 yuan, about 50 yuan per person, and they gave us free watermelon.
Day 2: Xinda Trading Center and Beach
Laoting has some beautiful islands, but due to construction and the pandemic, we decided not to visit them. Instead, we went to Xinda Trading Center to buy seafood. The prices were reasonable, with crabs starting from 25 yuan, razor clams at 25 yuan per catty, and mantis shrimp at 20 yuan per catty.
For lunch, we went to Ocean’s Promise, a restaurant run by a former Beijing director. The service was excellent, and the chef was very skilled. We brought our own seafood and paid a reasonable processing fee. The dishes like Fried Meatballs were really delicious. The total cost was 178 yuan, about 60 yuan per person.
In the afternoon, we went back to the beach to swim again. Kimi, our萨摩耶, was so cute and seemed to be smiling all the time.
For dinner, we went to Ocean’s Promise again. The food was still good, and we had a great time.
Day 3: Laoting County and Boat Ride
We drove to Laoting County to have a change. We first went to the local seafood market and bought some local specialties like Liu Mei Roast Chicken and Qi Zi Sesame Cakes. Then we had lunch at a local restaurant. The highlight of the meal was the Lenggun Fish (Bighead Fish). The total cost of 7 dishes was only 150 yuan, and the seafood processing was free.
In the afternoon, since the water was a bit cold, we decided to take a boat ride to see the outer view of Putuo Island and Jinsha Island. The boat ride cost 50 yuan per person, and children and pets were free. Kimi was very excited on the boat. The boat could accommodate about 10 people, and we almost had the whole boat to ourselves.
After the boat ride, we went back to the hotel and had takeout for dinner. We needed to rest well as we were going to Cangzhou the next day.
Day 4: Laoting to Cangzhou
It was raining in the morning, but we still set off for Cangzhou. The drive took about 4 hours. Due to the rain, we had lunch at a service area.
We stayed at Rongshang Xiangti Apartment in Cangzhou. The service was a bit impersonal as we didn’t see any staff, and we had to clean the room ourselves. The room was clean, but the small room didn’t have an air conditioner.
For dinner, we went to Xiaofangniu, a popular restaurant on the 7th floor of Huabei Commercial Building. The service was extremely warm, with all the waiters bowing at a 90-degree angle. They also provided free water, watermelon, and set a time limit for serving the dishes. If the dishes weren’t served within the time limit, they would be free. We ordered some of their signature dishes like Ancient Dregs Meatballs, Beef Sesame Cakes, and Half a Roast Chicken. The total cost was 181 yuan, and the food was really delicious.
After dinner, we walked to Qingfeng Tower to enjoy the night view. The Grand Canal in Cangzhou was very calm, and many locals were there enjoying the night view, singing, and dancing. The current Qingfeng Tower was rebuilt in 2008. Although it’s a modern building, it still has a magnificent appearance.
Day 5: Lion City Park, Celebrity Botanical Garden, and Iron Lion
In the morning, we had breakfast delivered to our room and then took a taxi to Lion City Park. The park is named after the famous Cangzhou Iron Lion. The new iron lion in the park was cast in 2009. It’s much larger than the original one, with a length of about 8.5 meters, a width of about 4.18 meters, and a height of about 6.9 meters. It weighs about 120 tons and is designed to last for 2000 years.
We also visited the pigeon square in the park. The pigeons were very friendly, and many children were feeding them. Then we went to Celebrity Botanical Garden. The main entrance has a magnificent Han Dynasty-style city gate. Along the Celebrity Avenue, there are 20 bronze sculptures of famous historical figures from Cangzhou, which is a great place for children to learn about history.
For lunch, we had Cangzhou Hot Pot Chicken at 0317 Hot Pot Chicken. It’s a very popular local dish, with a spicy and delicious taste. There are also some free snacks and vegetables.
In the afternoon, we drove to the Iron Lion Scenic Area. The area has been renovated this year, and the ticket is 30 yuan. The iron lion is a very important cultural relic in China, and it’s really worth visiting.
Day 6: Cangzhou to Tianjin and Back to Beijing
We had pancakes for lunch in Tianjin Cultural Street and then started our journey back to Beijing.
This trip was really unforgettable. We not only enjoyed the beautiful scenery and delicious food but also had a great time with our family and pets. It was a perfect combination of relaxation and cultural exploration.
