North China

Hebei Province travel guide

河北省 · 2 cities · 22 places

Chengde Mountain Resort, Chengde · AI illustration for China Trip

Cities and areas in Hebei

Chengde

Anyone who has visited Chengde comes away with the same impression: it is a small city. In fact, Chengde has never been a large place. It became famous only because the Kangxi Emperor, who never forgot his roots on horseback, built a imperial summer retreat here. This “imperial retreat,” once reserved exclusively for the Aisin-Gioro family, is now full of visitors, and the pop music drifting from the streets has somewhat dispelled the solemn atmosphere.

Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao is known as "the most liveable place for people." The fresh air and lush greenery are noticeable as soon as you step off the train, and in Beidaihe especially, you'll feel your breathing ease. You'll find yourself wanting to take a few extra deep breaths.
10 places · 3 day itinerary

Overview

Hebei Province

Self-Guided Tours:

Northern Route: World Natural and Cultural Heritage Tour

Route A: Chengde→Eastern Qing Tombs→Qinhuangdao

Route B: Chengde→Mulan Weichang

Self-Driving Tours:

Gallop Across the Boundless Grassland

Beijing→Chengde→Lingyuan→Chifeng→Ulanhot→Arxan→New Barag Left Banner→Evenk Autonomous Banner→Hailar→Genhe

Witness the Bashang Scenery

Beijing→Chengde→Mulan Weichang

Places in Hebei

Chengde Mountain Resort

Chengde · 0.5–1 day

China’s largest surviving ancient imperial garden, with an area twice that of the Summer Palace. The architecture of the palace area is exquisitely ornate. The lake area was where emperors and their consorts once relaxed and held banquets. It was built in imitation of famous scenic spots south of the Yangtze, so the landscape blends the rugged beauty of the north with the refined elegance of Jiangnan. There are also plain and mountain areas, and the resort has a different charm at different times of day: at dawn, mist rises over the lake; at dusk, you can watch the sunset over Chuifeng (Hammer Peak); on moonlit nights, you can listen to the river and admire pear blossoms beneath the moon. The rain over Jinshan Pavilion, where water seems to flood the hillside, and the misty rain at Yanyu Tower are both considered scenic highlights. Here, you can imagine what life was like for the emperors of the past.

Eight Outer Temples

Chengde · 3 hours

Besides the Mountain Resort, the Eight Outer Temples are another major highlight of any Chengde itinerary. They have long been said to be so formidable that “one temple could hold off a hundred thousand soldiers.” The complex also pushed the art of ancient Chinese temple architecture to its peak.

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