Baoding
(Hebei Onlie)
Updated: 2004-07-16 15:07

Baoding lies in the central part of Hebei Province.It is characterized by the loftiness and majesty of the towering Taihang Mountains and the boundless and level North China Plain.

It has a total area of 22,000 square kilometers, with the capital Beijing on the north, Tianjin on the east, Shijiazhuang on the south and Shanxi on the west. It has a total population of more than 10 million and is the most populated area in Hebei Province. Welcome to travel in Baoding, a land where ancient civilization and modern culture add radiance and beauty to each other.

Anguo was the fief of Wang Ling in the reign of the Han Emperor Liu Bang. Besides, Zhuozhou, Mancheng and so on have a history of over 1,000 years. Its geographical position of being on the south of the State of Yan and the north of the State of Zhao and in the vicinity of the royal capital made it a place contested by strategists in every dynasty.

Baoding was first built in the Song Dynasty and the name "Baoding"was given after the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty made Dadu (Beijing) its capital, because it was very close to Dadu, its meaning is "to protect Dadu and the world" Up to now, Baoding is still called "the South Gate of the Capital"

The varied terrain and its topographic features, together with its long history and splendid culture, will enable you to both enjoy the beautiful natural mountain scenery and appreciate the precious historical human landscape. There are more than 300 scenic spots that can be divided into eight categories or five series.

There are one world cultural heritage site, eight national and provincial scenic spots and holiday resorts, three national grade 4A scenic spots, twenty-four cultural relics under state protection and 109 cultural relics under provincial protection, which will enable you to enjoy yourself.

Among all the natural resources, there are lots of green mountains in the western part with the Great Wall running through them. There are the summer resort, Laiyuan, where the average temperature in summer is 21℃ and the national scenic spot, Ye-sanpo, which is full of wild interest and brimming with an exotic atmosphere. There is a vast expanse of fertile land on the plain in the east. Baiyang-dian, "the North China Pearl" is bright-colored and sparkling. Besides, there are Anguo, "the Capital of Herbs"and Fuping Tianqiao Waterfalls, the largest waterfall group in North China.

Among the human resources, there is the world cultural heritage site-the West Qing Tombs, where half of the kings of the Qing Dynasty are buried. There is the best preserved ancient provincial government office in China, the Zhili Governor's Office, which was built 300 years ago. There is the ancient Lotus Pond, one of the ten famous gardens in China. There are the Mancheng Han Tombs which are famous for "the jade suit sewn with gold thread" There is the well preserved Wangs Manor, the architectural complex of siheyuan in the Qing Dynasty, etc.

These cultural relics are embodiments of the traditional culture which goes back to ancient times and emits the splendid rays of an ancient civilization. There are the Site of Tunnel Warfare in Ranzhuang, the former site of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Area, the place where the five heroes jumped off the cliff, Chengnanzhuang Memorial Hall in Fuping County, the Memorial Hall to commemorate the practice of working while studying in France and so on, in making optional tours, the problem most concerning people is the problem of transport. In Baoding you can be assured, because the transport in Baoding is highly developed.

With the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and Beijing-Shenzhen Expressway which run south and north as the link, the crisscross network of roads on the plain and the mountainous roads reaching out in all directions, a transportation pattern is formed. Tianjin-Baoding Expressway and Beijing-Shenzhen Expressway meet here. Buses, mini-buses, taxies and tricycles are everywhere in the city. In addition, public services are arranged rationally and are compactly laid out, so no matter where you go, it is very convenient.

The local products in Baoding will also bring you a sudden surprise. The ballad "Baoding has three treasures, namely, iron ball, sauce made of fermented flour and potherb mustard"has been passed on from generation to generation for over 300 years.

Besides, there are the well-known Mas Muslim pot-stewed chickens, Huaimao pickles, Mancheng peaches, Gaobeidian shredded bean-curd, Wangdu peppers, Xushui lurouhuoshao (baked wheaten cakes with donkey meat in them), Fuping Chinese dates, Yixian Yishui ink-slabs, Quyang marble statues, Anguo Chinese medicinal herbs and so on.

In recent years, there appeared many regional characteristic industries famous both in Hebei Province and China. Such as, Baigou suitcases and bags in the town of Baigou in Gaobeidian city, the textile products in Gaoyang, "the hometown of textile" the clothes in Rongcheng County, "the clothes city in the north of China" If you don't have enough time to go to the places of production, you can buy these local products in the urban area of Baoding. There are many commercial networks and centres in Baoding. The large comprehensive shopping malls located to the east of the Railway are Baoding Shopping Mall, Baoding Department Store, Commercial Building, Zhili Shopping Center, Great Mercy Pavilion Shopping Center, Jiale Supermarket, Fuhe agricultural trade market and so on.

Yuhua Road and West Pedestrian Street are both commercial streets. To the west of the Railway, there are the Shidai Commercial Building, Big World Commercial City, Dong Feng Shopping Plaza, Wanjiafu Supermarket and Wumei Supermarket, Xianfeng Street agricultural trade market and so on.

There are restaurants and hotels of various levels spreading all over Baoding. Among them, there are twelve star-leveled hotels such as Yanzhao Grand Hotel and Baiyangdian Xinyu Building. There are 50 designated foreign affairs hotels such as Dongfang Grand Hotel and Baoding Hotel. There are amusement and body-building facilities spreading all over the urban area, such as golf courses, kart grounds, song and dance halls, tea houses, bath centers and so on, which you can choose to visit according to your own will.

There are four international travel agencies and more than forty national travel agencies, which will provide you with convenience when you go travelling.

The telephone number of service in Baoding is 86-312-5026947. If you have any problems while travelling, please feel free to contact them.

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