Hebi
A small city in northern Henan, known for Xunxian Ancient Town, its lively Lunar New Year temple fair and nigugu clay figurines.
Hebi lies in northern Henan, with the Taihang Mountains to the west and the North China Plain to the east. Its name comes from an ancient legend of red-crowned cranes nesting on the cliffs of Nanshan, and the Qi River that flows through the area is celebrated many times in the Classic of Poetry (Shijing). Xunxian Ancient Town preserves its old city walls and Wenzhi Pavilion, while Daipi Mountain is home to a Northern Wei cliffside Great Buddha. The grand temple fair held in the first lunar month is a highlight, and nigugu are the local folk clay figurines. Qixian County has the Zhaoge ruins and Yunmeng Mountain, and the banks of the Qi River are quiet and scenic. The Spring Festival temple fair has the richest folk atmosphere, though spring and autumn are also good times to visit. The Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway has a Hebi East Station, not far from either Zhengzhou or Anyang.