Basics

Geography

Most of central and southern Hebei lies within the North China Plain. The western part of Hebei rises into the Taihang Mountains (Taihang Shan), while the Yan Mountains (Yan Shan) run through northern Hebei, beyond which lie the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. The Great Wall of China cuts through northern Hebei from east to west as well, briefly entering the border of Beijing Municipality, and terminates at the seacoast of Shanhaiguan in northeastern Hebei. The highest peak is Mount Xiaowutai in northwestern Hebei, with an altitude of 2882 m.

Hebei borders Bohai Sea on the east. The Hai He watershed covers most of the province's central and southern parts, and the Luan He watershed covers the northeast. Not counting the numerous reservoirs to be found in Hebei's hills and mountains, the largest lake in Hebei is Baiyangdian, located mostly in Anxin County.

Climate

The climate of Hebei Province is temperate continental. It has a cold winter in the north, but hot and rainy summer in the south. It has a windy spring and sunny and pleasant autumn. The average temperature of January, the coldest month is -22ºC to -3ºC (-7.6ºF to 26.6 ºF).  from the north to south; that of the hottest month July is 17ºC to 28ºC (62.6ºF to 82.4 ºF) from the north to the south. The annual average precipitation is between 400mm to 800mm.

Brief History

The territory of the ancient China was divided into nine Zhou. Hebei used to belong to Ji and Yan Zhou. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.) and Warring States Period (475 B.C. - 22 B.C.), it was the fief of the Kingdoms of Yan and Zhao. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907) Hebei belonged to Hebei Dao. Dao was the equivalent to today's province. This is how Hebei Province came into being. In the subsequent dynasties the name and confines of the province changed a great deal. In 1928 it was renamed as Hebei Province.

Hebei Local Products

Hebei Province is one of the main wheat-producing areas in China. Oil-bearing plants, fibre plants, sugar beets, tobacco and cotton are the five main cash crops of province. The apples of Changli, pears of Zhaoxian County, honey peaches of Shenzhou, white grapes of Xuanhua and chestnuts of Zunhua are famous fruits of the province. Prawns and crabs from Bohai Sea and carps from Baiyangdian Lake are the best liked aquatic products.

The Great Wall" white grape wine and "Drunken Liuling" are famous wines of the province. The northern region of Zhangjiakou is pastureland which produces the best horses and sheepskin. Mushrooms from Guyuan and other counties in the northern region of Zhangjiakou are also very famous.

The traditional arts and crafts of Hebei Province include golden thread tapestry of Zhuoxian County, stone carvings of Quyang, shell paintings of Qinhuangdao, horse saddles of northern Zhangjiakou, ink slabs of Yishui, straw weavings of Chengde, ceramics of Handan and porcelain of Tanshan. Tanshan produces a great variety of porcelain of daily use and decorative porcelain. Its famous white jade porcelain is as white as snow and as bright as white jades. Its glazed colour porcelain has an exotic style and elegant design. Handan used to be one of the five big porcelain kilns in the Song Dynasty. Apart from imitations of the Song porcelain, it also produces porcelain of daily use and decorative porcelain. The best known is the ivory-like porcelain.

Hebei Places of Interests and Tourist Attractions

Zhaozhou Bridge

This bridge was built on the Jiaohe River about 2.5 kilometers south of Zhaoxian County, which was called Zhaozhou in ancient times. The bridge was constructed in A.D. 605 - 616. Designed by a well-known Chinese mason, Li Chun, it is made of stone, 50.82 meters long and 10 meters wide, with an unusual arch that is 7.23 meters high with a span of 37.35 meters. The stone railing and columns on the bridge were carved with beautiful dragon and phoenix designs. One of the earliest Chinese arch bridges with a long open-spandrel arch in the middle and two smaller arches on each side, this bridge occupies an important place in the history of Chinese bridge building and has been of interest to tourists and engineers alike.

Cangyan Mountain

This mountain is situated 78 kilometers southwest of the city. With its pleasant weather and towering ancient trees, it is a popular mountain resort.

Dating from the Sui Dynasty more than 1,400 years ago, Cangyan resort boasts magnificent pavilions and monasteries, as well as an architecturally ingenious palace constructed between two sheer rocks high above a gorge.

Fortune Celebration Temple (Fuqingsi) in Cangyan contains a particularly fine statue of Princess Nan Yang, allegedly the eldest daughter of the Sui Dynasty Emperor Yang (A.D. 604-618) who became a nun here.

Great Prosperity Monastery (Longxingsi)

This monastery, situated in Zhengding County of Hebei Province, dated from A.D 586 in the sixth year of the rule of emperor Kai of the Sui Dynasty. Its three-storied main building, the Great Benevolence Pavilion (Dabeige) has five eaves and contains a twenty-two-meter-high bronze statue of a Goddess of Mercy with forty-two arms. A collection of historical monuments, tablets, statues, and other relics of the Shijiazhuang area can also be found here.

Zhangbei

Zhangbei, a county in Hebei province, is one of the best getaways during summer, offering cool weather and refreshing air. It is also one of the most accessible destinations from Beijing - only three hours' drive away.