Xingtai

An ancient city at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains, linked to Kongshan Baiyun Cave, Tianhe Mountain and the Xingtai Grand Canyon; Yingtan stone village, Qingfeng Tower and Kaiyuan Temple tell 3,000 years of local history.

Xingtai lies in southern Hebei at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains. Known in the past as Xingzhou and Shunde Prefecture, it is an ancient city with more than 3,500 years of history, nicknamed the “Crouching Ox City.” The land slopes from high in the west to low in the east: the western areas of Xindu District, Shahe, Neiqiu and Lincheng are in the Taihang Mountains, while the east belongs to the North China Plain. A visit divides into two parts: the old city and the Taihang Mountains. The old city centers on Qingfeng Tower, from which you can walk to Kaiyuan Temple (first built in the Tang dynasty), Tianning Temple, the Shunde Prefecture Confucian Temple, Dahuoquan Park and the Guo Shoujing Memorial Hall; the Xingtai Museum is good for learning about the Shang-dynasty capital at Xing and Xing ware white porcelain. The Taihang Mountains to the west are the main event: Xindu District has canyon and mountain scenic areas such as Tianhe Mountain, the Xingtai Grand Canyon, the Taihang Qixia Gorges, Jiulong Gorge, Zijin Mountain and Yunmeng Mountain, best known for their red quartz-sandstone cliffs and autumn foliage; Yingtan Ancient Village and Wangnao Village in Shahe are well-preserved stone villages, and Qiannanyu has the former site of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University. Kongshan Baiyun Cave in Lincheng is a renowned karst cave in northern China, and Neiqiu has the Bian Que Temple and the Xing Kiln ruins. The best seasons are Apr–May and October, with Taihang autumn colors peaking in mid-to-late October; in summer the canyons are great for splashing in streams and escaping the heat. Winters are cold in the mountains and some scenic areas offer fewer facilities. Getting there: Xingtai East on the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway is about 30 minutes from Shijiazhuang and about 1.5 hours from Beijing. Driving is the easiest way into the mountains; Tianhe Mountain and Yingtan are about 1–1.5 hours from the city, and the winding mountain roads call for care. Allow 3 days: one for the old city and museum, two for the Taihang canyons and stone villages. Local specialties include Xingtai shaobing (sesame flatbread), Qinghe mutton soup and Neiqiu donkey meat. Ticket prices and opening hours at mountain sites change seasonally; check official announcements.

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