Introduction
Hebei Province, 269km (168 miles) SW of Beijing
Hebei's nondescript capital is one of the few places in China where the intention to rebuild everything from scratch in only 20 years is actually improving the city. Down-at-the-heel Shijiazhuang is an accident arising from the crossing of major north-south and east-west railway lines -- here X really does mark the spot. It's grown from village to provincial capital in 100 years.
Even that status is a hand-me-down from Tianjin, after the metropolis gained the right to report directly to Beijing rather than through the provincial government. As a result there's little of glamour here. But the city has a decent infrastructure for visitors and provides a base for exploring marvelous sights in the surrounding countryside, including Zhengding, about 15km (10 miles) northeast. It was an important town for centuries before anyone had heard of Shijiazhuang. Today it is still home to Longxing Si, one of the oldest, most atmospheric,...
more local info
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Zhaozhou Qiao
Also known as Anji Qiao (Safe Crossing Bridge) and Da Shi Qiao (Big Stone Bridge), this is often labeled the oldest surviving bridge in China....
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- Landmarks
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Cangyan Shan
This wooded mountain is part of the Taihang range, about 80km (50 miles) southwest of Shijiazhuang; its summit is at 1,044m (3,424 ft.). The main...
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Bailin Si
The Cultural Revolution was so thorough here that only the Jin dynasty (1115-1234) pagoda was left standing. The extensive complex has been reconstructed...
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