Hong Kong —
This summer vacation, some of the world’s most influential people will be soaking up the sun in Saint-Tropez before cruising up the coast to Monaco.
But you won’t find China’s political elite sipping Champagne on a superyacht.
Every summer, they secretly retreat to Beidaihe, a humble seaside town frequented by crowds of ordinary Chinese families, around 186 miles (300 kilometers) east of Beijing, that’s long been a haven for Communist Party leaders.
The annual leaders’ vacation is cloaked in mystery — it’s not known exactly which day they’ll descend on the town, but security starts tightening in early July. Drones are banned, and visitors are not allowed to take hot air balloon rides or private trips on boats around the coast.
