Handan

Ancient capital of the State of Zhao and home of Chinese idioms, linking the water-ringed tai chi town of Guangfu, the Northern Qi grottoes of Xiangtangshan and the cliffside temples of Wahuang Palace in She County.

Handan sits at Hebei's southern tip, backed by the Taihang Mountains to the west and opening onto the North China Plain to the east. Capital of the State of Zhao in the Warring States period and a National Famous Historical and Cultural City, it is linked to more than a thousand idioms and allusions — "learning to walk in Handan", "returning the jade intact to Zhao", "bearing thorns to beg forgiveness" and "the Yellow Millet Dream" among them — earning it the title "Home of Chinese Idioms". In the city you can visit Congtai Park, the Handan Museum, Xuebu Bridge, Huiche Lane and Chuancheng Street, the ruins of the Zhao Royal City, and the Shanxi–Hebei–Shandong–Henan Martyrs' Cemetery, with the Lü Dongbin Temple at Huangliangmeng in the northern suburbs. About 25 km northeast, Guangfu Ancient City in Yongnian is a Ming-dynasty water town and the birthplace of Yang-style and Wu-style tai chi. To the southwest, the Fengfeng Mining District holds the Northern Qi Xiangtangshan Grottoes; in the Taihang Mountains of Wu'an to the west are scenic areas such as Jingniang Lake, Qibu Valley, Gu Wudang Mountain and East Taihang; further west, She County has the cliff-hung Wahuang Palace, the former headquarters of the 129th Division and its dry-farmed terraces. To the south, Linzhang has Cao Cao's Three Terraces of Ye City, and to the east lie Daming Ancient City and Guantao's grain-art town. The best seasons are Apr–May and Sep–Oct; summers are hot on the plain but cooler in the mountains, and winters are dry and cold. Handan East Station is on the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed line: about 2.5 hours to Beijing, 40 minutes to Shijiazhuang and 1.5 hours to Zhengzhou. Allow 3–4 days: 1–2 days for the city and Guangfu, 1 day for Xiangtangshan and the Wu'an mountains, and 1 day for She County. A car or hired driver is best for mountain and county sights.

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