Central Hebei

Baoding, Langfang, Xiong'an and Cangzhou, the hinterland of Beijing and Tianjin: Zhili heritage, Baiyangdian lotus ponds, Yesanpo scenery and Wuqiao acrobatics.

Central Hebei is one of Hebei's four regions and includes the three prefecture-level cities of Baoding, Langfang and Cangzhou, as well as the Xiong'an New Area. The main body of Baiyangdian now lies within the Xiong'an New Area and is combined with Baoding as a single destination in this scheme. Baoding was once the capital of Zhili Province; the Zhili Governor-General's Office and the Ancient Lotus Pond preserve the look of a Qing dynasty government office and garden. Nearby are the Western Qing Tombs, Langya Mountain and the Mancheng Han Tombs; Yesanpo in Laishui is known for canyons such as the Hundred-Mile Gorge and for the Juma River, and the glass skywalk at Baishi Mountain in Laiyuan is also popular. Baiyangdian is one of the largest freshwater lakes in North China, and in summer, a boat ride through the reed marshes and lotus ponds is the classic experience; you can also see the construction of the Xiong'an New Area. Wuqiao in Cangzhou is known as the home of acrobatics, the Wuqiao Acrobatics World shows traditional performances, and the Cangzhou Iron Lion is an important cultural relic. Langfang is right next to Beijing, and large new cultural-tourism projects have drawn many weekend visitors in recent years. A classic itinerary is one day in the old city of Baoding, one day at Baiyangdian, and one to two days at Yesanpo or Baishi Mountain, for three to four days in total; from Beijing it can also be split into several short weekend trips. For transport, the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway, the Beijing–Xiong'an intercity railway and the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway cover Baoding, Xiong'an, Langfang and Cangzhou, Beijing Daxing International Airport is right at the Beijing–Hebei border, and mountain sights are more convenient by self-drive. Thunderstorms are frequent in the mountains in summer, so heed flash-flood warnings when visiting canyons, and scenic areas on Beijing's outskirts are crowded on holidays.

Destinations

Itineraries