In Hebei, imperial sites, sections of the Great Wall, and natural areas each offer a different focus. Plan your trip around whether you want to center it on historical architecture, the history of the Wall, sites of remembrance, or landscapes and birdwatching.
Imperial History, the Great Wall, and Remembrance
The Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples in Chengde covers 611.2 hectares and is China’s largest surviving imperial palace, garden, and temple complex. Built between 1703 and 1792, it served as a remote summer palace for the Qing emperors. Its landscape was designed to follow the natural topography of hills and waterways. The scale of the complex and the way its terrain was designed are both central to the site.
The Nuwa Palace in Shexian also combines an important religious role with an official tourism designation: it is a national scenic area, a national 5A-rated tourist attraction, and one of China’s five most important ancestral worship sites.
In Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao, Laolongtou is the eastern starting point of the Ming Great Wall. It is the only military defense system of the Great Wall of China that connects mountain, sea, pass, and city. The Great Wall Shanhaiguan Scenic Route begins at the north gate of Shanhaiguan Old Town and runs via Jiaoshan Road, the tourist road in the foothills, and tourist and scenic roads to Shoushan Scenic Area. The route is 10 kilometers long. Jiaoshan Scenic Area is a distinct attraction, combining natural mountain scenery, Great Wall structures, and Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist culture; it is a national 4A-rated tourist attraction. Shoushan Scenic Area features 18 historical and 19 contemporary cultural landscapes, as well as 40 natural landscapes.
Construction of the Qing Western Tombs in Yixian began in 1730. The site contains the imperial tombs of the emperors Yongzheng, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Guangxu, as well as the tombs of more than 80 imperial consorts. For those interested in Qing dynasty history, this offers a different perspective from the Great Wall sites, with a focus on the tombs and imperial burials.
Xibaipo in Pingshan is associated with specific events in 1948 and 1949. In May 1948, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi met there with the central bodies of the Communist Party of China and the Central Working Committee; the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army also moved to Xibaipo. In March 1949, the Party’s central leadership left from there for Beiping. Visitors come to Xibaipo to commemorate the revolutionary martyrs, experience red culture, and receive patriotic education.
Forest Landscapes and Birdwatching
Saihanba National Forest Park was established on the basis of Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm and is China’s largest forest park with planted forests. Forest and grassland intermingle here, and the park is home to more than 100 species of wild animals. It also includes scattered lakes and wetlands, including Qixing Lake, Saihan Lake, and Shanaopaozi. Together, they cover about 5,000 hectares. Forest, grassland, and bodies of water thus represent different aspects of this natural area.
At Hengshui Lake, nature conservation and migratory birdwatching come together: the lake is a national nature reserve and an important stopover on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. In designated viewing areas, visitors can watch swans, herons, and other migratory birds. This makes Hengshui Lake a good choice for travelers who want to focus on birdlife and protected areas.
Acrobatics and Living Culture
Wuqiao Acrobatics World combines performances with insights into acrobatics: visitors can watch acrobatic shows and visit the Wuqiao Acrobatics Museum. The acrobatics theme park also offers opportunities to take part in folk customs, experiences related to intangible cultural heritage, and museum-based learning. At Chuangguandong Cultural Experience Park, visitors can experience scenes from everyday life during the Chuangguandong migration period. Both places focus on experiential culture, but with different themes.
When choosing a hotel, your travel focus can help guide you: Chengde and the Qing Western Tombs represent imperial history, Shanhaiguan the Great Wall, Xibaipo remembrance and revolutionary history, and Saihanba and Hengshui Lake nature and birdwatching. First decide which of these themes and specific places matter for your trip, then tailor your hotel search to your own plans.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Tangshan, Shijiazhuang, Cangzhou, Qinhuangdao, Langfang, Chengde, Baoding, Zhangjiakou, Hengshui, Handan, Xingtai.
For the main travel overview: China.
