Shijiazhuang Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Baoding Weekend Day Trip - Zhengding Ancient City

Zhengding is really suitable for Baoding people to travel on weekends‼️ I'm sharing my travel tips with everyone✅ 🚊Travel 1⃣️The mode of transportation we chose is the train! We bought tickets for the 7:02-8:21 Baoding—Zhengding and♻️19:51-21:06 Zhengding—Baoding trains These two trains are just perfect for a day's play! 2⃣️Upon arriving at Zhengding station, I suggest taking a taxi directly to the Grand Buddha Temple (also known as Longxing Temple), don't go to Yong'an Gate first❌There's nothing there, and it's super far from the real attractions! 💟Sightseeing 1⃣️We didn't do much planning, our plan was a City walk, just strolling and browsing, following the signs to Longxing Temple! Longxing Temple requires a ticket🎫to enter - 50 yuan for adults and 25 for students. My rating is: it's worth the price, 🈶️photos 3-11 are all taken by me inside Longxing Temple, Longxing Temple is known as the foremost temple outside of Beijing for good reason, you can learn about its historical background before you go, it makes the visit more interesting haha! 2⃣️I think Zhongshan Road is a scenery itself! You'll see the super photogenic red walls, you'll see green buses shuttling through the tree-lined avenues... 3⃣️Zhengding Ancient City South Gate Wall It looks especially beautiful when the lights are on at night, standing on the wall you can overlook the entire panorama of Zhengding Ancient City! 🥘Food 1⃣️After visiting Longxing Temple, it was time for lunch, we chose the Wang's Shaomai across the street for lunch, mainly ordering some local specialties - Zhengding collapsed liver, hot cut meatballs, hohhot noodles, as well as cold dishes and millet soup. I think the taste is okay, you can try the local flavors. Also, I highly recommend the millet soup! Super delicious!!! 2⃣️Jar Oven Baked Buns Along the way, you'll encounter many jar oven baked bun shops, I think you can just pick any! Crispy and delicious! 3⃣️Romanlin Do Zhengding people love this ice cream shop, I came across many on one street! But the aesthetic is really high, I personally recommend mint and chocolate flavors, tiramisu and rum are too sweet‼️ ⚠️⚠️⚠️We finished touring around seven o'clock, in the morning after getting off the train we saw a small commodity market next to the station, so we decided to check it out in the evening, and then! We discovered a new world‼️There was a huge night market, the biggest I've ever seen, with all kinds of snacks available. After seeing this night market, I feel like the night markets I've been to before are not worth mentioning😭 No exaggeration, you'll know once you've been there!

Everyone should definitely take the opportunity to visit the ancient city of Zhengding in Shijiazhuang, Hebei

Originally, the trip to the ancient city was not very certain, and it was a last-minute decision, but what I received was an unexpected surprise! Looking around, the entire ancient city is well constructed, preserving the simplicity of the old city while accommodating modern construction. The environment is super clean, and the streets, play facilities, and public restrooms are very well maintained! The commercial atmosphere of the ancient city is not heavy, and it has retained the feel of the original ancient city very well. A variety of specialty foods are gathered here, where you can eat very authentic Hebei cuisine. There are plenty of historical sites, suitable for exploring ancient culture and art. It's suitable for young people to do a City Walk, and you'll end the day with a lot of gains. The consumption is moderate, and the transportation is very convenient. Zhengding ancient city lantern viewing strategy: Navigation can go to the south gate, which is the entrance. There are a lot of people, and the queue is endless, but the police uncles and security are working very hard, and the overall order is very good, and it's quick to get on the city wall. After getting on the wall, pay special attention to your feet, as the ground is not even, and some wire boxes on the ground can easily trip you up, and it may be difficult to notice with the crowd. No reservation is needed, and you can just go up and stroll around, but it's hard to take pictures, it's all people, there are only a few large lanterns, also all surrounded by people, the rest are small lanterns. It's not very suitable for walking with kids, as it will be a long walk, and there are still quite a few places to eat. The price of tricycles is quite high, 20 yuan per person, and it's very hard to get a taxi, so try to park near the south gate as much as possible. During the Spring Festival, there are especially many people, really a lot. If you want to see the lanterns, you need to park your car half a day in advance. Be mentally prepared, because you'll have to queue for public toilets, restaurants, to see the lanterns on the city wall, and to get off the city wall. Many locals are already afraid to go out because it's too congested, and they give the right of way to tourists, as long as everyone is happy. Zhengding welcomes visitors with the greatest sincerity, with free parking and free lantern festival tickets, so the on-site viewing is very crowded, but if there's a charge, netizens complain online about why there's a fee for the lantern festival. The logic is simple, price filters the crowd. If you think there are too many people in the restaurant, you can choose a more expensive one, and naturally, there will be fewer people. Travel is the same, you can only choose one between free and quiet. Under the south gate of Zhengding, there are fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars, and in addition to firefighters, doctors, and police officers, there are also many cultural and tourism bureau staff and cleaners who have sacrificed their holidays to be busy for the scenic area. You should know that the scenic area is free, and they don't get any extra overtime pay. When tourists are spending the Spring Festival reunion time with their families, they are silently contributing at their posts. They may not do well enough, but they have already sacrificed their personal vacation time and are already welcoming guests from all directions with a smile. If it were someone else, could they be so enthusiastic and selflessly work overtime during their annual leave? I hope that visitors to Zhengding can have more understanding for the staff. Don't say that tourists have never seen so many people; the staff have also never seen so many tourists, and probably the locals of Zhengding have never seen so many either. So if you haven't come yet, be mentally prepared, and if you have already arrived in Zhengding, just accept it and don't waste the happy mood of the trip. I hope every friend has fun in Zhengding! I hope the ancient city of Zhengding can be known by more people, it really is a treasure of a tourist destination. Zhengding ancient city

Three-Day Tour of Shijiazhuang: Zhengding Ancient City~Zhaozhou Bridge~Hebei Museum

Itinerary: Xiamen - Zhengding Airport in Shijiazhuang, Zhengding Ancient City, Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area, Berlin Zen Temple, Hebei Museum Must-visit attractions: Zhengding Ancient City, Hebei Museum Must-try delicacies: Donkey Burger, Hele Noodles, Beef Shaomai, White Sugar Cake Accommodation recommendation: Homestays within the ancient city are economical and affordable Practical Tips: Zhengding Ancient City is highly recommended for Longxing Temple, it's simply breathtaking. Inside, there is the 'Goddess of Beauty of the East' as praised by Mr. Lu Xun, the Reclining Guanyin. The Dabeige Pavilion houses a tall bronze statue of the Great Mercy Bodhisattva, known as 'Dabei Bodhisattva', standing 19.2 meters tall on a 2.2-meter-high Sumeru stone platform, the best-preserved and tallest bronze statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It's recommended to buy tickets for Longxing Temple online for 44 yuan per person, which can save a few yuan. It is suggested to hire a guide for 130 yuan, and you can share the cost with other tourists, making it not expensive per person. The ticket for Rongguofu is 36 yuan per person, and it's not that impressive after a stroll. However, as it's the filming location of the 1987 version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber', it's worth visiting for a check-in. Kaiyuan Temple, Tianning Temple, Linji Temple, and Guanghui Temple are all good for check-ins and photos. The tickets are 7.5 yuan per person, except for Kaiyuan Temple, which is 10 yuan per person, and tickets are purchased on-site. In the evening, you can climb up to Yanghe Tower, where the ticket is 3 yuan per person. The night view is very beautiful. It's recommended to walk on the South City Wall, which has the 'Three Passes Majestic Town' plaque. Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area is some distance from Zhengding Ancient City, and it's recommended to drive yourself or use Didi. The 'Zhao County One-Day Tour' mentioned online is not practical, as it requires 20 people to depart, and even on holidays like May 1st, they can't form a group. The Didi ride from Zhengding costs about 103 yuan for 2 people. Near Zhaozhou Bridge, there is a temple called Berlin Zen Temple, which is worth a visit when in Zhao County. The Hebei Museum is highly recommended, with national treasures such as the Changxin Palace Lantern and the Jade Suit Sewn with Gold Thread.

Zhengding Ancient City 2-Day Itinerary Guide, a must-see for retracing the path of Liang and Lin

Although I've always felt that Guoji Zhuang is a tourism desert, in fact, you just need to move north of the Hutuo River to Zhengding, and that's where the treasure truly unfolds. I first learned about Zhengding from the field trip of Liang and Lin when they were building the Xueshe, and it was then I discovered the Longxing Temple with its unique Northern Song Dynasty cross-shaped architectural layout and the Mani Hall, as well as the 'blue brick and wood' Four Pagodas. This time I arranged a day and a half in Zhengding, basically got to see most of the ancient relics, checked off all 10 national protected sites, and personally feel that each cultural preservation site in Zhengding is very worthwhile. Not only are they of high historical value, but they are also very interesting to see. However, the ancient city of Zhengding is somewhat lacking, with almost no well-preserved residences, only some imitation ancient buildings on the main street, and calling it an ancient city seems a bit of a stretch. 🚸About the itinerary DAY1: Tang Dynasty Qinghe County King's Merit Stele→Longxing Temple→Tianning Temple Lingxiao Pagoda→Yuanqu Museum→Kaiyuan Temple Sumi Pagoda and Bell Tower→Zhengding Liang Family Ancestral Hall→Yanghe Tower→Linji Temple Chengling Pagoda→Guanghui Temple Flower Pagoda→Zhengding City Wall (South Gate) DAY2: Zhengding Confucian Temple Dacheng Hall→Zhengding Prefecture Confucian Temple→Zhengding City Wall (North Gate Ruins)→Zhao Yun Temple→Zhengding City God Temple 🚗About transportation The best way to tour Zhengding is by Citywalk, with most attractions being about a 10-minute walk from each other. However, some spots are indeed a bit far, such as the city wall ruins on the north side of Zhengding and Zhao Yun Temple, since there are no shared bicycles in Zhengding, so these farther attractions can only be reached by taxi, which is slightly inconvenient, but it's just a starting fare. 🏡About the attractions ✅Longxing Temple: As the foremost ancient temple outside the capital, it is definitely the C position of Zhengding. The Mani Hall from the Song Dynasty, the sitting Guanyin praised by Lu Xun as the beauty goddess of the East, the Song Dynasty's revolving sutra repository, China's tallest bronze cast Thousand-Handed Guanyin... really, any one of these, if placed in another province, would be of national protected status. ✅Kaiyuan Temple: The most interesting of Zhengding's four ancient pagodas, including the Tang Sumi Pagoda + half of a Tang wooden bell tower + a huge Pixiu. ✅Guanghui Temple Flower Pagoda: A unique Song Dynasty pagoda of national first-class status, shaped like a bouquet of flowers, even Liang Sicheng was amazed, and it is also the most internet-famous of the four pagodas in Zhengding. ✅Linji Temple Chengling Pagoda: An octagonal solid brick pagoda rebuilt in the Jin Dynasty, Linji Temple is also the birthplace of the Linji school, which had a great influence on Japan and Korea. ✅Lingxiao Pagoda: A combination of the Song and Jin Dynasties, the wooden pillar that reaches the top of the pagoda is the prototype for the Tower of Babel in the movie 'Detective Dee'. The Yuan Dynasty stone lions at the entrance are quite special. ✅Zhengding County Confucian Temple: Dated by Liang Sicheng to the Five Dynasties period, it is the oldest existing Confucian temple in China. ✅Zhengding Prefecture Confucian Temple: No longer complete, only the Yuan Dynasty Halberd Gate is still worth a look. ✅Tang Dynasty Qinghe County King's Merit Stele: A towering Tang stele, witnessing the history of the He-Shuo military governor's separatist rule. ✅Liang Family Ancestral Hall: A national protected site that has stood tall since the Five Dynasties. ✅Zhengding Ancient City Wall: The southern city wall has been more completely restored, and you can overlook the four ancient pagodas of Zhengding, with especially picturesque views at dusk and night; the northern city wall is mainly ruins, and can be skipped if time is short. ✅Zhao Yun Temple: Apart from a few steles, it is almost all newly built, Three Kingdoms enthusiasts might take a quick look. ✅Zhengding City God Temple: A high imitation rebuilt on the original site in 2019, can be skipped if time is short.

Escape from Shijiazhuang on the Weekend | Longquan Ancient Town, a Gaze Through History

Longquan Ancient Town Scenic Area is located in Luquan District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, situated in the heartland of the North China Plain. It has been named as one of the 'Top Ten Cultural Industry Projects of Hebei Province in 2020', covering a total area of 948 acres. The ancient town is constructed from building materials that have been collected from all over the country over the course of more than 30 years. These include complete sets of hundred-year-old houses, doors, bridges, stone carvings, and other old items, which have been reassembled and rebuilt to form a large-scale architectural cluster of the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. 🚘Self-driving: Navigate to 'Longquan Ancient Town', about an hour from the city center. 🚌Public Transport: Take Metro Line 1 to Xiwang Station, then transfer to Bus 304. 🎫Tickets: Adult ticket: 68 yuan, Double ticket: 134 yuan, Student ticket: 58 yuan Family ticket (2 adults and 1 child): 186 yuan ⏰Opening Hours: 10:30-21:00 (Summer until 23:00) 📍Address: 250 meters southeast of the intersection of Huai'an West Road and Shanqian Avenue in Luquan District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. 🍝Recommended Food: ✔ Smoked Meat Pancake Ordering the set meal inside is more suitable, with soup and other items free of charge, and the cold dishes are incredibly delicious. The smoked meat inside the pancake is also very fragrant, and there's no disappointment as it's always crowded. ✔ Ginger Coke in a Large Cup Be sure to get the one with ginger, it doesn't have too strong a ginger taste. The other option is a large bottle of Coke with ice, which doesn't seem as good as the ginger Coke. The cup is topped with buckwheat slices, which taste good. ✔ Stirred Yogurt The flavor is quite rich, worth a try. 📸Sightseeing and Photography: ❶ Folk Museum: Step through history with vintage items right before your eyes, perhaps ones you've never seen before, with a strong sense of historical and cultural atmosphere. ❷ Costume Hall: Experience the charm of Hanfu, with the Yingyue River right opposite the hall. You can also take a boat ride on the water and feed the fish. ❸ Tea and Book Bar: Don't worry about arriving early, cold weather, or being tired from playing. This place is specially provided for visitors to rest, with sofas to sit on and loungers to lie on. ❹ Flight Cinema: In the darkness of the room, you can experience stories that take you soaring through the sky and diving into the earth, with an immersive experience that's fantastic. ❺ Antique Piano Museum: Highly recommended to feel the accumulation of a thousand years of ancient piano. If you're lucky, you might encounter a performance. ❻ White-Haired Girl Film and TV Base: Check in at the TV drama filming location, no need to go to Beijing, here you can find a standard courtyard house.

Longquan Ancient Town in Shijiazhuang, a place worth exploring (with guide)

The Longquan Ancient Town is even more vibrant during festivals, where visiting the old city, watching lantern shows, admiring the night view, and tasting delicious food have become popular activities for tourists. Here, the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties' ancient town is recreated, with antique buildings, bustling streets, and a wealth of folk performances, as if traveling back to the prosperity of ancient times. Join Xi Rong today to take a look, and if you like it, save it for later ➤Introduction to Longquan Ancient Town Located in the cultural tourism and leisure core area of Luquan District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, it is a large ancient architectural complex rebuilt from a complete set of old houses, bridges, stone carvings, and doors, mainly featuring the architectural styles of the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. With a long water system, all buildings are built along the water, restoring the old street scenes of money houses, teahouses, wine shops, pharmacies, tea houses, and grocery stores, and recreating the style of the Republic of China in Shijiazhuang. The combination of commerce, culture, and immersive live performances here perfectly transforms everyone into a character in a movie, making it an excellent choice for those who love cultural museums and trendy movie locations. In the evening, red lanterns are hung high, wooden bridges span across, and boats dock, filled with the flavor of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River. The market has more than a hundred kinds of specialty snacks and various performances, with a super beautiful night view, as if traveling through time and space, back to the bustling era, the charm and style of the ancient town are unforgettable ➤Famous Attractions Ming and Qing Courtyards, Longquan Water Street, Huang's Mansion, Cliff Square ❶Ming and Qing Street The core area of the ancient architectural complex of the town, with the Moon-Reflecting River running through the town, and the rocking Luo River is like returning to the dreamy water towns of the south of the Yangtze River in poetry. Mingxi Alley, Tiangong Street, Yudong Street, Ruining Street, Jundu Alley, and other districts each have their own characteristics ❷Republic of China Street Here you can see the shadow of old Shanghai during the Republic of China period. Holding a wooden oil umbrella, wearing a cheongsam, strolling on the old stone-paved street, you can feel the unique historical charm of the ancient town. The old sewing machine museum and the old piano museum are memories of several generations ❸Huang's Mansion Consisting of a three-entry courtyard and a two-entry compound, it authentically reproduces the traditional structure of ancient mansions, with main houses, wing rooms, and ear rooms all available. TV dramas such as 'The White-Haired Girl' and many other film and television dramas have been filmed here ➤Address 250 meters southeast of the intersection of Huai'an West Road and Shanqian Avenue in Luquan District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province ➤Ticket Price: 68 RMB per person There are self-paid items in the scenic area, such as the Star Exploration Orbit Car, Magic Time Shuttle, and Mysterious World Fantasy Platform ➤Opening Hours: 9:00~21:00 ➤Opening Months: Open all year round ➤Transportation ❶For self-driving, use mobile navigation to search for 'Shijiazhuang Longquan Ancient Town' ❷In the city, take Metro Line 1 to 'Xiwang' station, then transfer to bus 304 to 'Xinzhuang Xincun' station ❸In Luquan District, take bus Tourism Route 3 (Zhongyi Agricultural Science and Health Town ⇄ Tumenguan) to 'Xinzhuang Xincun' station ❹For high-speed rail, get off at Shijiazhuang Station, and it's about a 20-minute taxi ride ➤Nearby Attractions Longquan Lake Wetland, Xishan Forest Park, Shuanglong Mountain Scenic Area, etc. ❣️I hope this guide is useful to you. I am Xi Rong, follow me to unlock more exciting content!!

So close, so beautiful, head to Hebei for the weekend

So close, so beautiful, head to Hebei for the weekend? I must be out of touch with the trends, it took me three minutes to decide to leave, dressed in recommended Hanfu, Cheongsam, and retro black, white, and red. It's definitely the little Jiangnan of the north, not very big, but the charm is enough for the northern people to appreciate (part of it is like the Qinhuai River, and part of it has the feel of the small buildings from the 'Chinese Paladin' with the character Zi Xuan); following the program schedule, listening to the 'Guardian of Flowers', watching the retro song and dance performances, stepping into the Republican-era movie scenes, there are also big balloons, bubble interactive scenes, it's quite captivating among the many ancient towns; acrobatics and magic shows... Well, it's worth a look, follow the program schedule to get a seat early; the food, it's similar across the country, prices are totally touristy (smoked meat pancakes are 18 a portion, very tasty, worth a try). There are surrounding attractions like wetland parks, Baodu Village, botanical gardens, etc., for those interested to wander around.

Adventure in the Ancient Town of Longquan: A Day's Journey Through a Thousand Years

Shijiazhuang Longquan Ancient Town is a tourist destination that integrates sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Here is a one-day and one-night tour arrangement for your reference: - Morning: - Arrive at Longquan Ancient Town at 9:30. There are wonderful performances such as the large-scale live historical drama 'Han Xin - A Battle Against the Water', and the horse show 'Three Heroes Fight Against Lv Bu', which will instantly transport you to ancient times and let you feel the charm of history. - Follow the Ming and Qing courtyards, Night Mooring by the Qinhuai River, Shimen Old Street (Republic of China style street view), Jiangnan scenery, Kangxi Old Bridge, Wangjing High-rise and other attractions, to feel the vicissitudes of history and the cultural heritage. - Go to the Cultural Scene Experience Hall (tea house, wine shop, pharmacy, grocery store, dart bureau, bank, etc.) to let you experience the clothing, food, housing and transportation of the ancients in real scenes. - Noon: - Taste local special dishes at the intangible cultural heritage food street by the river, such as Guangwei Restaurant, popular food street Yudong Lane, Mingxi Street, leisure space, etc. - Afternoon: - Participate in special activities such as Ming and Qing costume change tour, Republic of China costume change tour, Shimen Old Street immersion tour, etc., to let you travel through ancient and modern times and feel different cultural atmospheres. - Visit the Ancient Architecture Museum, Ancient Piano Museum, Gramophone Museum, Music Box Museum, Projector Museum, Sewing Machine Museum, Camera Museum, etc., to understand the changes of history and the inheritance of culture. - Evening: - Rowing on the river, feeling the poetic and picturesque dream of Jiangnan. - Participate in activities such as Monkey King Touring Longquan, Metaverse Illusion Space, Alien Ring Screen Track Riding, Children's Amusement Center, etc., to enjoy a happy time. - Stay in a homestay around Longquan Ancient Town, which is affordable and has a beautiful environment. Precautions: - The opening hours of Longquan Ancient Town are 9:30-22:00, and the ticket price is 98 yuan/person. - Children under 1.2 meters in height can enter the park for free, and soldiers, disabled people, students, and people over 60 years old can buy tickets at a discount at the window. - You can bring some personal items, such as sunscreen, mosquito repellent, thick clothes, sunglasses, snacks, etc. - Bring a camera or mobile phone and other shooting tools to record the beautiful travel moments.

The Ming dynasty clay Amitabha Buddha, gilded and dedicated to single-mindedly chanting the dharma name by Buddhist devotees

❤️ In Longxing Temple of Zhengding County, Hebei Province, after exiting the Great Compassion Pavilion and continuing northward, you will arrive at the Amitabha Hall. Built in the fifth year of the Zhengde era of the Ming dynasty (1510), it was extensively repaired during the Qing dynasty. The hall features a single-eave hipped-gable roof, is five bays wide and four bays deep. As the hall does not have bracket sets, the entire beam frame is constructed by connecting large and small extra beams, purlins, etc., with the columns, displaying a style reminiscent of the Yuan dynasty. 🧡 In the center of the hall, on a 1.57-meter-high Sumeru pedestal, the Ming dynasty clay Amitabha Buddha is enshrined, gilded and magnificent. To the west, stone sculptures of the Eighteen Arhats are offered. The Buddha has a flesh bun and snail-like hair, long earlobes, eyes looking downward, is draped in a kasaya, with hands folded in front of the abdomen in a meditative gesture, seated in a lotus position on a lotus base, measuring 3.99 meters in height. It is said that Buddhist devotees believe that as long as one chants the name 'Amitabha Buddha' wholeheartedly, Amitabha Buddha will guide the chanters to be reborn in the Pure Land. 💜 Some compare Longxing Temple to a beautiful symphony with ups and downs, pleasing to the eye and heart. If the Great Compassion Pavilion is the climax of this symphony, then the Amitabha Hall is the subdued and gentle passage that follows the climax.

Hebei doesn't promote this place, you're missing out! A one-day guide to Zhengding Ancient City

After visiting Zhengding, you'll understand what a treasure trove of an ancient city it is! Ancient temples, pagodas, and city walls, you'll be immersed in the rich architecture and historical atmosphere all day long. 🚗Transport Three hours by car from Beijing, or one hour by high-speed train to Shijiazhuang or train to Zhengding then transfer to a bus. Free parking is available at various scenic spots within the ancient city, which is very considerate. You can also choose to walk between the sights, as the distances are not too far. . 🚶🏻‍♀️Tour Route 1️⃣Longxing Temple: A must-see! One of China's top ten famous temples, built during the Sui Dynasty, expanded in the Northern Song Dynasty, it has witnessed numerous prosperous eras, with all Buddha statues and murals exquisitely stunning. ▪️The Reclining Guanyin, hailed by Lu Xun as the "Eastern Goddess of Beauty," captivating to the point where it's hard to look away. ▪️The bronze Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue, over 20 meters tall, a miracle of ancient metallurgy. ▪️The bronze Vairocana Buddha, made by the order of Emperor Wanli during the Ming Dynasty, with over a thousand Buddha figures on its surface, a rare artistic treasure. ▪️The wooden Maitreya, carved from a single piece of wood during the Northern Song Dynasty. ▪️Giant murals, with walls in the Mani Hall fully painted, using lead powder and gold leaf, the colors and layers are of superior quality. ▪️The revolving sutra cabinets, wooden scripture storages from the Song Dynasty, are also the oldest existing ones. 🎫50 🕘2-3 hours 2️⃣Have lunch at Wangquan Ancient Street, with local delicacies like the Eight Great Bowls, donkey meat, covered pancakes, meatball soup, and Hele noodles. 3️⃣Rongguo House: If you like 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' you can visit here. It's quite large and includes some scenes from the 1987 TV series, but the Grand View Garden is not here. 🎫40 🕜30 minutes 4️⃣Tianning Temple: The entire structure is made of brick and wood, and the design of the central pillar of the fourth floor reaching to the sky is unique in the country. 🎫15 🕑15 minutes 5️⃣Kaiyuan Temple: Home to the largest existing Pixiu in China, and the only remaining Tang Dynasty bell tower. Also, the stone carvings of the powerful warriors at the base of the tower are worth seeing. 🎫20 🕑20 minutes 6️⃣Linji Temple: The origin of the Linji school, one of the most widely spread schools of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China. 🎫🆓 🕑15 minutes 7️⃣Guanghui Temple: An octagonal brick-carved, wood-structured pagoda, very exquisite, called a 'unique treasure within the seas' by Liang Sicheng. 🎫15 🕑15 minutes (Personally, I think Kaiyuan Temple is worth entering, the others can be appreciated from a distance as well) 8️⃣Yanghe Building: Originally built during the Jin Dynasty, recently reconstructed, climbing the building offers a bird's-eye view of the ancient city's central axis. The night view is also beautiful. 🎫🆓 🕑15 minutes 9️⃣South City Gate: Climbing the city wall allows you to see all four pagodas in one frame. Inside the city gate, there is also a barbican. 🎫🆓 🕑30 minutes

Zhengding Longxing Temple

I really regret it, I actually came here now! The ancient buildings of Zhengding Longxing Temple are really too beautiful, completely beyond my imagination. These buildings with a history of 1400 years, every brick and tile are full of the traces of time and the precipitation of history. The moment I stepped into the temple, it seemed that the whole world had quieted down, leaving only me and this sacred ancient building. The architecture here is really ingenious, every detail is full of artistic breath. The unique form of the Mani Hall, the beauty of the colorful hanging Shuo Guanyin statue, and the exquisite bronze cast Vairocana Buddha, all make me amazed. Moreover, there are six national bests here! From the most peculiar Mani Hall, to the most beautiful colorful hanging Shuo Guanyin statue, to the earliest existing regular script stele Sui 'Longzang Temple Stele', every place makes me linger. In addition, Longxing Temple also has six major landscapes! The precepts altar, the Great Compassion Pavilion, the Gateless Temple, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mani Hall, and the Wheel-turning Treasury Pavilion, each has its unique charm. I had a very pleasant afternoon here, drinking tea while enjoying the lakeside scenery, it was really comfortable.

Zhengding Ancient City·Longxing Temple

Ticket price is 50 yuan, free for those above 60 years old. The architecture and statues inside the temple are really beautiful; if you have ample time, you should definitely take a longer look. Wandering around Longxing Temple, it feels like you've arrived at the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi ~ The temple was originally built in the sixth year of the Sui Kaihuang era (586 AD), initially named Longzang Temple, renamed to Longxing Temple during the Tang Dynasty, and in the forty-ninth year of Kangxi's reign (1710 AD) it was bestowed the name 'Longxing Temple' which has been used to this day. Let me pick the most impressive part to talk about (official introduction): Inside the Mani Hall, the north wall of the trough is a Song dynasty polychrome clay relief of a hanging mountain, with over 30 Buddha statues on it. The most eye-catching is the polychrome Avalokitesvara sitting in the middle, commonly known as the 'Upside-Down Avalokitesvara'. The Avalokitesvara is 3.4 meters tall, with the left foot on a lotus and the right leg bent up, both hands embracing the knee, the body slightly leaning forward, the face is beautiful and serene, and the posture is elegant and dignified. Below the willow-shaped eyebrows, those deep and wise eyes look down slightly, forming an emotional exchange with the worshippers looking up (this reading comprehension, a hundred faints! ^_^), this humanized Buddha statue was referred to by Mr. Lu Xun as the 'Goddess of Beauty of the East'. During the Spring Festival holiday, while strolling in Jizhou, Tianjin, I also saw a similar 'Upside-Down Avalokitesvara' in the Dule Temple, but it was a smaller version.

Hebei Museum Intangible Heritage Reception Hall

"Enjoy Hebei" Intangible Heritage Reception Hall is the first provincial-level intangible heritage exhibition hall in Hebei Province. Visitors can admire the "antique reception hall" formed by the "Eight Wonders of Yanjing", including the carved lacquer inlaid screen throne, the cloisonné incense burner and fragrance, the lacquer carved hanging screen, and the representative famous kilns and porcelains from the whole province; they will experience the "antique study" assembled with various stationery, the writing desk and curio shelves made with ancient furniture craftsmanship, the snuff bottles with inside painting that are a world of their own, the colorful twisted porcelain, and the exquisite lacquer carved paperweights and pen containers. At the same time, the exhibition hall periodically invites inheritors of intangible heritage to perform live demonstrations and interactions of their skills, and to host performances of Hebei Bangzi, Pingju, shadow play, woodblock drum, Xihe drum, folk dance, acrobatics, and other shows, allowing the audience to closely appreciate the unique folk performing arts of Hebei and various intangible heritage stunts.

Visit Hebei Museum

Hebei Museum is a national first-class museum in China, established in 1953, located at No. 4 Dongda Street, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. The Hebei Museum includes three parts: the main campus, the Jianhua campus, and the Yucai campus. Among them, the main campus is divided into southern and northern areas, with a total construction area of over 53,000 square meters, which is a symbolic cultural landscape of Shijiazhuang City. The Hebei Museum currently has a collection of 240,000 cultural relics, including 340 first-class relics (pieces/sets), 1,926 second-class relics (pieces/sets), and 17,383 third-class relics (pieces/sets). The most characteristic collections are the cultural relics from the Mancheng Han tombs, ancient ceramics from the four famous kilns of Hebei, Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain, stone carvings, calligraphy and paintings of famous people from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as revolutionary relics from the period of the War of Resistance against Japan. The museum has 10 permanent exhibitions, such as 'The Stone Age in Hebei', 'The Civilization of the Shang Dynasty in Hebei', 'A Generous Elegy - Stories of Yan Zhao', 'The Majestic Warring States - The Ancient Zhongshan State', 'The Great Han's Swan Song - The Mancheng Han Tombs', 'Quyang Stone Carvings', etc. Through more than 5,000 (sets) of exquisite cultural relics and modern exhibition methods, it records the human development history of Hebei over the past two million years.

Three-Day Tour of Shijiazhuang: Zhengding Ancient City~Zhaozhou Bridge~Hebei Museum

Itinerary: Xiamen - Zhengding Airport in Shijiazhuang, Zhengding Ancient City, Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area, Berlin Zen Temple, Hebei Museum Must-visit attractions: Zhengding Ancient City, Hebei Museum Must-try delicacies: Donkey Burger, Hele Noodles, Beef Shaomai, White Sugar Cake Accommodation recommendation: Homestays within the ancient city are economical and affordable Practical Tips: Zhengding Ancient City is highly recommended for Longxing Temple, it's simply breathtaking. Inside, there is the 'Goddess of Beauty of the East' as praised by Mr. Lu Xun, the Reclining Guanyin. The Dabeige Pavilion houses a tall bronze statue of the Great Mercy Bodhisattva, known as 'Dabei Bodhisattva', standing 19.2 meters tall on a 2.2-meter-high Sumeru stone platform, the best-preserved and tallest bronze statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It's recommended to buy tickets for Longxing Temple online for 44 yuan per person, which can save a few yuan. It is suggested to hire a guide for 130 yuan, and you can share the cost with other tourists, making it not expensive per person. The ticket for Rongguofu is 36 yuan per person, and it's not that impressive after a stroll. However, as it's the filming location of the 1987 version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber', it's worth visiting for a check-in. Kaiyuan Temple, Tianning Temple, Linji Temple, and Guanghui Temple are all good for check-ins and photos. The tickets are 7.5 yuan per person, except for Kaiyuan Temple, which is 10 yuan per person, and tickets are purchased on-site. In the evening, you can climb up to Yanghe Tower, where the ticket is 3 yuan per person. The night view is very beautiful. It's recommended to walk on the South City Wall, which has the 'Three Passes Majestic Town' plaque. Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area is some distance from Zhengding Ancient City, and it's recommended to drive yourself or use Didi. The 'Zhao County One-Day Tour' mentioned online is not practical, as it requires 20 people to depart, and even on holidays like May 1st, they can't form a group. The Didi ride from Zhengding costs about 103 yuan for 2 people. Near Zhaozhou Bridge, there is a temple called Berlin Zen Temple, which is worth a visit when in Zhao County. The Hebei Museum is highly recommended, with national treasures such as the Changxin Palace Lantern and the Jade Suit Sewn with Gold Thread.

The Changxin Palace Lamp | A lamp that lit up the long nights of the Han palace

Visiting the Hebei Provincial Museum was mainly for the Changxin Palace Lamp and the gold and silver inlaid Baoshan Furnace, both of which have been featured in the CCTV documentary series 'If National Treasures Could Talk' (which I've been revisiting recently, highly recommended, with four seasons, 25 episodes each season, one relic per episode, with superb writing and narration that is not only rational but also emotional, giving life and feelings to the artifacts, making them even more touching). Seeing all the artifacts introduced in the documentary series is a small goal for the future, with the next stop likely being Hunan or Henan. The Western Han Changxin Palace Lamp, unearthed in 1968 from the tomb of Liu Sheng's wife Dou Wan in Mancheng County, Hebei Province, was named after the Changxin Palace where it was once placed, which belonged to Empress Dowager Dou (Liu Sheng's grandmother). As for the original owner of the palace lamp, there is no consensus among scholars. One theory, based on the inscription 'Yangxin family' on the body of the lamp, speculates that it originally belonged to the family of Liu Jie, as there are indeed six instances of the 'Yangxin family' inscription on the lamp. Another group of scholars believes that according to the records of bronze artifacts from the 'Yangxin family' during the Han Dynasty, including the Changxin Palace Lamp, a large number of 'Yangxin family' bronzes belonged to Princess Pingyang (Princess Yangxin), the sister of Emperor Wu of Han. The Changxin Palace Lamp is famous for its smooth and beautiful shape, ingenious design, and environmentally friendly concept, and is one of the treasures of the Hebei Provincial Museum. A lamp, its mission was to illuminate the long nights of the Han palace. Its background is that dynasty, those people, those stories. Today, through time, it touches us in the modern era, and the dynasty, people, and stories it represents have become the background of our time. The significance of cultural relics lies in connecting the past and present, in not being forgotten. As history brushes past, the traces are faint yet enduring.

Rong Guofu must be familiar with everyone. I have seen the 86th edition of the Dream of Red Mansions will feel very cordial, here is the location of the TV series. Every important holiday, Liu Wei of Rongguofu will welcome the guests at the door, and the girls in the palace will all appear together, all smiles. It will really bring people's thoughts to novels or TV dramas. Buy a bunch of candied haws or sugar people, go shopping in the house, and go on a journey through time and space to make the weekend life more fulfilling!

The Grand View Garden is gradually brimming with the essence of spring

😊🌞🕰️ On the first day of March, I took a leisurely stroll in the Grand View Garden in the afternoon. The area where the Grand View Garden is located was a royal vegetable garden during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1984, the garden was redesigned according to the Grand View Garden described in 'Dream of the Red Chamber', to serve as a filming location for the 1987 TV adaptation. 🍃🏞️😊 😊📺🏯 There are two main filming locations for the 1987 version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber': one is the Grand View Garden in Beijing, and the other is Ning Rong Street in Zhengding. Ning Rong Street was also specially built for the filming of the 1987 'Dream of the Red Chamber' as a group of ancient-style buildings, serving as the setting for the Ningguo and Rongguo mansions. It has played a significant role in the economic development of Zhengding. 🎬👣😊 😊🚪🌆 The entrance fee for the Grand View Garden is 40 yuan, making it the most expensive free attraction included in the Beijing Park Annual Pass. Visiting the Grand View Garden three times a year makes the annual pass worthwhile. Today, I also stumbled upon a volunteer service market on Baizhifang Street in the small square, which was bustling with many people. At first, I thought it was the continuation of the Red Chamber Temple Fair. 🎉😃😊 😊👥🎉 The Grand View Garden is not very large in size; if you're just looking at the scenery, half an hour is enough to take a tour. Many people find the ticket price not worth it because of the small area and limited scenery. However, if you reminisce about specific episodes from 'Dream of the Red Chamber' while wandering through the corresponding courtyards or carefully observing the details, you will remember the stories and classic dialogues that took place at each site, and analyze the character traits of the related characters. In that case, it would take at least half a day to complete the tour, and you would definitely find it very rewarding. 📚🌿😊 😊📚🌿 Many courtyards in the Grand View Garden attract tourists, such as the Yihong Courtyard where Jia Baoyu lived, the Xiaoxiang Pavilion where Lin Daiyu lived, and the Hengwu Garden where Xue Baochai lived. The stories that take place in these locations are the most numerous in the novel, and many tourists specially dress in ancient costumes to take photos there. In addition, the largest architectural complex in the Grand View Garden is probably the Provincial Relatives' Villa. This place has been turned into the 'Red Chamber Culture and Art Museum', with the main hall and the side halls serving as exhibition rooms. The Grand View Tower behind the main hall also has exhibitions related to the culture of the Red Chamber, and the content is quite rich. 🏛️🖼️😊 😊🏛️🖼️ Today, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the second floor of the Grand View Tower is now open for visitors. Previously, access to the upper floors was blocked, but now you can go up to enjoy the view and visit the exhibition rooms. Currently, only the Cui Bi Mountain Villa on the west side of the Provincial Relatives' Villa in the Grand View Garden remains closed, and all other places are open. 🔓🌳😊 😊🔓🌳 The afternoon sun is bright and although the temperature has not fully warmed up, the willow branches in the garden have started to turn green, and the lake has completely thawed. The blue lake water reflects the shadows of trees and ancient-style buildings in the garden, a large group of ducks swim freely on the water, and geese march in a row along the lakeshore, adding to the increasingly strong sense of spring. In the Lü Cui An north of the Yihong Courtyard, a tree of wax plum with full yellow blossoms attracts countless tourists to take photos. After all, this should be the only flower shadow in the entire Grand View Garden at this time. 🌼📷😊

Come now while you can, the begonias in the Grand View Garden have bloomed

🔔 The Grand View Garden of Rongguo Temple is a human paradise in April, when the begonias bloom in April, full of spring vitality! During the flower viewing season, the begonias in the Grand View Garden are also extremely beautiful. I personally feel that it's somewhat not worth it to visit the Grand View Garden usually, but at this time, the magnolias and begonias have all bloomed. ❤️ Basic Information: 🎫 Ticket price: 40 yuan❤️ Admission time: 9:00-16:59 🏠 Address: Located at No. 51 Xingrong Road, Zhengding, Shijiazhuang City 🚎 Transportation🚌: Zhengwei 1 route, 134 route, 135 route, 143 route. ⛩️ Grand View Garden | 2024 Flower Viewing Festival is from March 27th to April 10th 🔔 Flower Viewing Festival Performance Times From March 27th to April 10th, you can enjoy flowers and performances in the Grand View Garden, with a total of four scenes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon each day. ❤️ Enter【Dream】Performance times: 9:30, 14:00, 18:30 Performance location: At the entrance of the scenic area ❤️ Rush【Joy】Performance times: 10:00, 14:30, 19:00 Performance location: Rongxi Hall courtyard ❤️ Bao【Dai】Reading 'The Romance of the Western Chamber' Performance times: 10:30, 15:00, 19:30 Performance location: Inside the passageway courtyard ❤️ (Bao) Dai【Chai】Meeting Performance times: 11:00, 15:30, 20:00 Performance location: Rongqing Hall courtyard 📝 Tips: ✅ The blooming period of the begonias is short, so don't miss it. The magnolia flowers have already withered. ✅ It is not recommended to buy things inside. ✅ If you go on the weekend, be sure to go early, go early. ✅ It is suggested that the visiting time should be about 2 hours, and nearby attractions include: Longxing Temple, Tianning Temple, etc. ✅ It is very worthwhile to take the elderly from your family to see.

Zhengding County Rongguo Mansion, the shooting location of Dream of the Red Chamber

Rongguo Mansion is an ancient architectural complex with the cultural background of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It is designed and built according to the 'Rongguo Mansion' depicted in the Chinese classic 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. From the entrance, you can first visit the Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, then the outer ceremonial gate, the south hall, the inner ceremonial gate, Jia Zheng's study, Rongxi Hall, Wang Xifeng's residence, Rongqing Hall, flower hall, through the hall, hanging flower gate, and finally to Yiyuan. Coming out of Yiyuan is Ningrong Street. 📍Detailed address: No. 51 Xingrong Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province 💰Ticket price: Tickets are 40 yuan, free for the elderly and children Because it was winter when I went, there were fewer people, and the visiting experience was not bad, but the lack of flowers and trees made it less perfect.