Hebei 河北

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03177_350s By Jim Gourley. Sourced via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License.

Hébĕi (河北) province surrounds the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin in the north of China. This geographical situation make Hebei easy to visit as most communication route to these two major cities pass through Hebei. The name literally means, "River North," in reference to it's location to the north of the great Yellow River. The main city in the province is Chengde, the one time summer resort for the emperors of China. This city today is a major tourist attraction and the palaces there are a UNESCO world heritage site. Other tourists attractions in the area include many sections of the Great Wall of China.

Tourist Attractions

Below is a list of tourist attractions in Hebei:

by Xiaoxing Wang. Sourced via Flickr.

(保定市安新白洋淀景区; Anxīn Báiyángdiàn jǐngqū): To get to Baiyangdian you should first travel to Baoding city. This is about two hours by train from Beijing. Buses form Baoding run to Anxin city near to the park. Alternativly a taxi from Baoding would be a 40km journey. The largest natural lake in the north of China, Baiyangdian is a popular tourist and leisure area. Its proximity to Beijing and Tianjin make it particularly popular. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by 若昔难得. Sourced via Flickr.

(秦皇岛市山海关景区; Qínhuángdǎo shānhǎiguān lǚyóu jǐngqū): It can be accessed from Qinhuangdao City via bus No.25, 30 or 33. The pass is Located in Hebei Province about 300km east of Beijing. It is accessable via the Jingshen Expressway. Shanhaiguan along with Jiayuguan and Juyongguan, is one of the three major passes in the Great Wall. The wall here forms a box 4km wide with gates on each of the four sides. The walls are 14m tall and 7m wide. Most of the gates have fallen into disrepair but the Zhendong Gate (East) gate remains. Above the gate is the writing "First Pass Under the Heaven" (天下第一关). It is near here that the great wall first touches the sea and this is generally considered to be the eastern end of the Great Wall. Only recently was the wall found to extend north and east into Liaoning Province and even as far as the North Korean border. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale. Open from 8am to 4pm dailly Entrance to Shanhaiguan costs 40 yuan. Other attactions nearby require additional fees from 30 to 50 yuan each.

by Edwin Lee. Sourced via Flickr.

(承德避暑山庄; Chéngdé bìshǔ shān zhuāng): Phone: 0314-2161132. Chengde Mountain Summer Resort and Eight Outer Temples (避暑山庄 Bìshǔ Shānzhuāng) is in Hebei province, 230 kilometers (140 miles) north east of Beijing. The area was developed by the Qing dynasty emperors as a summer retreat to escape form the heat of Beijing. It fell form favour near the end of the dynasty and was left empty and overgrown during much of the twentieth century. As a restult, it escaped the attention of the cultural revolution that affected so many historical sites in china. It is now being restored and was added to the UNESCO world herriage list in 1995. This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale. Most attractions in Chengdu open from 8am to 6pm daily. Entry to the Mountain Resort costs 120 yuan. Other temples have their own ticket prices from 30 to 60 yuan each.

(乐亭县李大钊纪念馆及故居; Lètíng xiàn lǐ dà zhāo jìniànguǎn jí gùjū): 乐亭县新城区觅园街1号 .... This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸娲皇宫景区; Hándān wāhuánggōng jǐngqū): 营盘东路61号书画研究院二楼. Phone: 0310-3922355. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by Questionhead. Sourced via Flickr.

(承德塞罕坝国家森林公园; Chéngdé Sàihǎnbà Guó Jiāsēn Lín Gōng Yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(清东陵; Qīng Dōnglíng): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(抚宁南戴河国际娱乐中心; Fǔníng nán Dài Hé guójì yúlèzhōngxīn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(迁西县青山关旅游区; Qiānxī xiàn qīng shān guān lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛燕塞湖风景旅游区; Qínhuángdǎo Yàn Sàihú fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定满城汉墓景区; Băodìng mǎnchéng hànmù jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(野三坡百里峡景区; Yěsānpō Bǎilǐ Xiá jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

山西五台山北台顶，海拔3058米。 by He Ling. Sourced via Flickr.

(灵寿五岳寨风景旅游区; Língshòu wǔ yuè zhài fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): The five Sacred Mountains or Wutaishan are located on the border between Hebei and Shanxi provinces in the north of China. The Hebei side of the mountain is within Lingshou county of Shijiazhuang prefecture, However the Shanxi side is the more common route to access Wutaishan via Xinzhou city. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄天山海世界; Shíjiāzhuāng tiān shān hǎi shìjiè): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(河北天下第一城; Héběi tiānxiàdìyī chéng): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛野生动物园; Qínhuángdǎo yěshēngdòngwùyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(廊坊茗汤温泉度假村; Lángfāng míng tāng wēnquán dùjiàcūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(临城崆山白云洞旅游区; Línchéng kōng shān báiyún dòng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(吴桥杂技大世界; Wúqiáo zájì dàshìjiè): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(怀来黄龙山庄旅游区; Huáilái Huánglóng Shān zhuāng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(遵化万佛园景区; Zūnhuà yīwàn fó yuán jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

by keso s. Sourced via Flickr.

(丰宁京北第一草原; Fēngníng jīng běi dì yī cǎoyuán): Located about 280km form Beijing or 250km from Chengde. This is the closest grassland of Mongolia to Beijing. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(正定隆兴寺; Zhèngdìng lōng xīng sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

Nikon D90 + Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX II by pudelklopper vs. China. Sourced via Flickr.

(普陀宗乘之庙; Pǔtuó zōng chéng zhī miào): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛集发农业观光园; Qínhuángdǎo jí 发nóngyè guānguāng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄苍岩山景区; Shíjiāzhuāng cāng yán shān jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄抱犊寨景区; Shíjiāzhuāng bào dú zhài jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄天桂山景区; Shíjiāzhuāng tiān guì shān jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛新澳海底世界; Qínhuángdǎo xīn ào hǎidǐ shìjiè): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(清西陵; Qīng Xīlíng): Here is the final resting place of half of the Emperors and other royal family members of the Chinese Qing dynasty. The show unique architecture and cultural believes of China. This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(山海关长寿山风景旅游区; Shānhǎiguān chángshòu shān fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口沽源塞外庄园; Zhāngjiākŏu gūyuán sàiwàizhuāngyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄西柏坡纪念馆景区; Shíjiāzhuāng xībǎipō jìniànguǎn jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(张北中都原始草原度假村; Zhāngběi zhōng dōu yuánshǐ cǎoyuán dùjiàcūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

Nikon D90 + Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX II by pudelklopper vs. China. Sourced via Flickr.

(承德市普宁寺; Chéngdé shì pǔníng sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(平山驼梁山风景区; píngshān tuó liángshān fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(迁西县景忠山旅游区; Qiānxī xiàn jǐng zhōng shān lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄赵县赵州桥; Shíjiāzhuāng Zhàoxiàn Zhàozhōu Qiáo): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛北戴河鸽子窝公园; Qínhuángdǎo bĕi dài hé gē zĭ wō gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定古莲花池; Băodìng gŭ lián huā chí): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定晋察冀边区革命纪念馆; Băodìng jìn chá jì biān qū gé mìng jì niàn guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邢台前南峪; Xíngtái qián nán yù): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定天生桥风景区; Băodìng tiān shēng qiáo fēng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸朝阳沟旅游风景区; Hándān cháo yáng gōu lǚ yóu fēng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸八路军一二九师司令部旧址; Hándān bā lù jūn yī èr jiŭ shī sī lìng bù jiù zhĭ): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸响堂山风景名胜区; Hándān xiăng táng shān fēng jĭng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸东山文化公园; Hándān dōng shān wén huà gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸黄梁梦吕仙祠; Hándān huáng liáng mèng lǚ xiān cí): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸丛台公园; Hándān cóng tái gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(丰宁白云古洞景区; Fēngníng Báiyún Gŭ Dòng Jĭng Qū): Fengning, Chengde, Hebei, China Baiyun Cave is an ancient, natural cavern. The largest chamber in the cave system is 600 square metres and can accommodate thousands of people. This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德双塔山风景区; Chéngdé shuāng tă shān fēng jĭng qū): About 15 km southwest of Chengde City. Phone: +86 314 4301575. This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale. Entry costs 35 RMB per person.

(承德罄锤峰国家森林公园; Chéngdé qìng chuí fēng guó jiā sēn lín gōng yuán): Phone: +86 314 2057090 ‎. This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德魁星楼景区; Chéngdé kuí xīng lóu jĭng qū): South Ring Road Chengde, Hebei, China. This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定满城汉墓景区; Băodìng măn chéng hàn mù jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定直隶总督署博物馆; Băodìng zhí dài zŏng dū shŭ bó wù guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄市正定荣国府; Shíjiāzhuāng shì zhèng dìng róng guó fŭ): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄水上公园; Shíjiāzhuāng shuĭ shàng gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄正定县赵云庙; Shíjiāzhuāng zhèng dìng xiàn zhào yún miào): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄矿区清凉山景区; Shíjiāzhuāng kuàng qū qīng liáng shān jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(石家庄井陉县仙台山风景区; Shíjiāzhuāng jĭng xíng xiàn xiān tái shān fēng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德兴隆县青龙潭景区; Chéngdé xìng lóng xiàn qīng lóng tán jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德兴隆县金牛洞景区; Chéngdé xìng lóng xiàn jīn niú dòng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德宽城县塞外"潘龙湖"景区; Chéngdé kuān chéng xiàn sāi wài \ pān lóng hú \ jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德隆化县茅荆坝森林公园; Chéngdé lóng huà xiàn máo jīng bà sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德隆化县董存瑞烈士陵园; Chéngdé lóng huà xiàn dŏng cún ruì liè shì líng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德九龙松景区; Chéngdé jiŭ lóng sōng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德关帝庙景区; Chéngdé guān dì miào jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德城隍庙景区; Chéngdéchéng huáng miào jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(衡水冀州灵秀山庄; Héngshuĭ jì zhōu líng xiù shān zhuāng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德龙凤洞景区; Chéngdé lóng fèng dòng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(承德冰雪城景区; Chéngdé bīng xuĕ chéng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山遵化鹫峰山风景旅游区; Tángshān zūn huà jiù fēng shān fēng jĭng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定留法勤工俭学运动纪念馆; Băodìng liú fă qín gōng jiăn xué yùn dòng jì niàn guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定涿州三义宫; Băodìng zhuō zhōu sān yì gōng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(衡水宝云寺; Héngshuĭ băo yún sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(衡水武强县年画博物馆; Héngshuĭ wŭ qiáng xiàn nián huà bó wù guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州东光县铁佛寺景区; Cāngzhōu dōng guāng xiàn tiĕ fó sì jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口中国长城葡萄酒有限公司; Zhāngjiākŏu zhōng guó cháng chéng pú táo jiŭ yŏu xiàn gōng sī): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口天漠旅游区; Zhāngjiākŏu tiān mò lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口永定河峡谷漂流; Zhāngjiākŏu yŏng dìng hé xiá gŭ piāo liú): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口金河口旅游区; Zhāngjiākŏu jīn hé kŏu lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口大境门旅游区; Zhāngjiākŏu dà jìng mén lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口鸡鸣山风景区; Zhāngjiākŏu jī míng shān fēng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛山海关望峪山庄景区; Qínhuángdǎo shān hăi guān wàng yù shān zhuāng jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛北戴河怪楼奇园景区; Qínhuángdǎo bĕi dài hé guài lóu qí yuán jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山丰润区燕东生态观光园; Tángshān fēng rùn qū yàn dōng shēng tài guān guāng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口察汗淖蒙古度假村; Zhāngjiākŏu chá hàn nào méng gŭ dù jiă cūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口蒙古大营; Zhāngjiākŏu méng gŭ dà yíng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口金莲山庄; Zhāngjiākŏu jīn lián shān zhuāng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(张家口塞北滑雪场; Zhāngjiākŏu sāi bĕi huá xuĕ cháng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛北戴河联峰山景区; Qínhuángdǎo bĕi dài hé lián fēng shān jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(秦皇岛北戴河老虎石海上公园; Qínhuángdǎo bĕi dài hé lăo hŭ shí hăi shàng gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山迁安市白羊峪长城旅游区; Tángshān qiān ān shì bái yáng yù cháng chéng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山迁西县雄关大刀风情园; Tángshān qiān xī xiàn xióng guān dà dāo fēng qíng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山乐亭县祥云湾海滨温泉度假村; Tángshān lè tíng xiàn xiáng yún wān hăi bīn wēn quán dù jiă cūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山丰润区潘家峪惨案纪念馆红色旅游景区; Tángshān fēng grun qū pān jiā yù căn àn jì niàn guăn hóng sè lǚ yóu jĭng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(唐山乐亭县浅水湾浴场; Tángshān lè tíng xiàn qiăn shuĭ wān yù cháng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸大名县石刻博物馆; Hándān dà míng xiàn shí kè bó wù guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(邯郸峰峰矿区磁州窑富田遗址; Hándān fēng fēng kuàng qū cí zhōu yáo fù tián yí zhĭ): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(衡水安平县党支部纪念馆; Héngshuĭ ān píng xiàn dăng zhī bù jì niàn guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(衡水市内画展览馆; Héngshuĭ shì nèi huà zhăn lăn guăn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州铁狮子; Cāngzhōu tiĕ shī zĭ): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州泊头清真寺; Cāngzhōu bó tóu qīng zhēn sì): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州青县青云观; Cāngzhōu qīng xiàn qīng yún guān): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州盐山千童祠; Cāngzhōu yán shān qiān tóng cí): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(保定市大慈阁; Băodìng shì dà cí gé): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(邢台太行奇峡群景区; Xíngtái tài xíng qí xiá qún jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(邢台前南峪生态观光旅游区; Xíngtái qián nán yù shēngtài guānguāng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(邢台天梯山景区; Xíngtái tiān tī shān jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(邢台内邱县扁鹊庙风景名胜区; Xíngtái nèi Qiū Xiànbiǎn què miào fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州市盐山千童祠; Cāngzhōu shì yánshān qiān tóng cí): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(沧州市青县觉道庄青云观; Cāngzhōu shì qīngxiàn jiào dào zhuāng qīng yún guān): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

(邢台市邢台县紫金山旅游区; Xíngtái shì xíngtái xiàn zǐjīn shān lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as A on China's national tourism scale.

History

the plains in Hebei were the home of Peking man, a group of Homo erectus that lived in the area around 200,000 to 700,000 years ago. Neolithic findings at the prehistoric Beifudi site date back to 7000 and 8000 BCE.

During the Spring and Autumn Period (722 BC - 476 BC), Hebei was under the rule of the states of Yan (燕) in the north and Jin (晉) in the south. Also during this period, a nomadic people known as Dí (狄) invaded the plains of northern China and established Zhongshan (中山) in central Hebei. During the Warring States Period (403 BC - 221 BC), Jin was partitioned, and much of its territory within Hebei went to Zhao (趙).

The Qin Dynasty unified China in 221 BC. The Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) ruled the area under two provinces (zhou), Youzhou Province (幽州) in the north and Jizhou Province (冀州) in the south. At the end of the Han Dynasty, most of Hebei came under the control of warlords Gongsun Zan in the north and Yuan Shao further south; Yuan Shao emerged victorious of the two, but he was soon defeated by rival Cao Cao (based further south, in modern-day Henan) in the Battle of Guandu in 200. Hebei then came under the rule of the Kingdom of Wei (one of the Three Kingdoms), established by the descendants of Cao Cao.

After the invasions of northern nomadic peoples at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern Dynasties ensued. Hebei, firmly in North China and right at the northern frontier, changed hands many times, being controlled at various points in history by the Later Zhao, Former Yan, Former Qin, and Later Yan. The Northern Wei reunified northern China in 440, but split in half in 534, with Hebei coming under the eastern half (first the Eastern Wei; then the Northern Qi), which had its capital at Ye (鄴), near modern Linzhang, Hebei. The Sui Dynasty again unified China in 589.

During the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) the area was formally designated "Hebei" (north of the Yellow River) for the first time. During the earlier part of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, Hebei was fragmented among several regimes, though it was eventually unified by Li Cunxu, who established the Later Tang Dynasty (923 - 936). The next dynasty, the Later Jin Dynasty under Shi Jingtang, posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu of Later Jin, ceded much of modern-day northern Hebei to the Khitan Liao Dynasty in the north; this territory, called The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, became a major weakness in China's defense against the Khitans for the next century, since it lay within the Great Wall.

During the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), the sixteen ceded prefectures continued to be an area of hot contention between Song China and the Liao Dynasty. The Southern Song Dynasty that came after abandoned all of North China, including Hebei, to the Jurchen Jin Dynasty in 1127.

The Putuo Zongcheng Temple of Chengde, Hebei, built in 1771 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.

The Mongol Yuan Dynasty divided China into provinces but did not establish Hebei as a province. The Ming Dynasty ruled Hebei as "Beizhili" (北直隸, pinyin: Běizhílì), meaning "Northern Directly Ruled", because the area contained and was directly ruled by the imperial capital, Beijing; the "Northern" designation was used because there was a southern counterpart covering present-day Jiangsu and Anhui. When the Manchu Qing Dynasty came to power in 1644, they abolished the southern counterpart, and Hebei became known as "Zhili", or simply "Directly Ruled". During the Qing Dynasty, the northern borders of Zhili extended deep into what is now Inner Mongolia, and overlapped in jurisdiction with the leagues of Inner Mongolia.

The Qing Dynasty collapsed in 1912 and was replaced by the Republic of China. Within a few years, China descended into civil war, with regional warlords vying for power. Since Zhili was so close to Peking (Beijing), the capital, it was the site of frequent wars, including the Zhiwan War, the First Zhifeng War and the Second Zhifeng War. With the success of the Northern Expedition, a successful campaign by the Kuomintang to end the rule of the warlords, the capital was moved from Peking (Beijing) to Nanking (Nanjing). As a result, the name of Zhili was changed to Hebei to reflect that fact that it had a standard provincial administration, and that the capital had been relocated elsewhere.

The founding of the People's Republic of China saw several changes: the region around Chengde, previously part of Rehe Province (historically part of Manchuria), and the region around Zhangjiakou, previously part of Chahar Province (historically part of Inner Mongolia), were merged into Hebei, extending its borders northwards beyond the Great Wall. The capital was also moved from Baoding to the upstart city of Shijiazhuang, and, for a short period, to Tianjin.

On July 28, 1976, Tangshan was struck by a powerful earthquake, the Tangshan earthquake, the deadliest of the 20th century with over 240,000 killed. A series of smaller earthquakes struck the city in the following decade.

In 2005, Chinese archaeologists unearthed what is being called the Chinese equivalent of Italy's Pompeii. The find in question, located near Liumengchun Village (柳孟春村) in Cang County in east-central Hebei, is a buried settlement destroyed nearly 700 years ago by a major earthquake. Another possible explanation may be the four successive floods which hit the area around the time when the settlement met its sudden end. The settlement appears to have been a booming commercial center during the Song Dynasty.

People and Culture

 The population is mostly Han Chinese with minorities of Mongol, Manchu, and Hui Chinese.

Ethnic groups in Hebei, 2000 census
Nationality Population Percentage
Han Chinese 63,781,603 95.65%
Manchu 2,118,711 3.18%
Hui 542,639 0.78%
Mongol 169,887 0.26%
Zhuang 20,832 0.031%

 Excludes members of the People's Liberation Army in active service.
Source: Department of Population, Social, Science and Technology Statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics of China and Department of Economic Development of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission of China , eds. Tabulation on Nationalities of 2000 Population Census of China . 2 vols. Beijing: Nationalities Publishing House (民族出版社), 2003. (ISBN 7-105-05425-5)
In 2004, the birth rate was 11.98 births/1000 population, while the death rate was 6.19 births/1000 population. The sex ratio was 104.52 males/100 females.

Culture

Dialects of Mandarin are spoken over most of the province, and most Mandarin dialects in Hebei are in turn classified as part of the Ji Lu Mandarin subdivision. Regions along the western border with Shanxi, however, have dialects that are distinct enough for linguists to consider them as part of Jin, another subdivision of Chinese, rather than Mandarin. In general, the dialects of Hebei are quite similar to and readily intelligible with the Beijing dialect, which forms the basis for Standard Mandarin, the official language of the nation. However, there are also some distinct differences, such as differences in the pronunciation of certain words that derive from entering tone syllables (syllables ending on a plosive) in Middle Chinese.

Traditional forms of Chinese opera in Hebei include Pingju, Hebei Bangzi (also known as Hebei Clapper Opera), and Cangzhou Kuaiban Dagu. Pingju is especially popular: it tends to be colloquial in language and hence easy to understand for audiences. Originating from northeastern Hebei, Pingju has been influenced by other forms of Chinese opera like Beijing opera. Traditionally Pingju makes use of just a xiaosheng (young male lead), a xiaodan (young female lead), and a xiaohualian (young comic character), though it has since diversified with the use of other roles as well.

Hebei cuisine is typically based on wheat, mutton and beans.

Industry

In 2008, Hebei's GDP was 1.62 trillion yuan (US$233 billion), an increase of 10.1% over the previous year and ranked 6th in the PRC. GDP per capita reached 23,239 Renminbi. Disposable income per capita in urban areas was 13,441 RMB, while rural pure income per capita was 4,795 RMB. The primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of industry contributed 203.46 billion, 877.74 billion, and 537.66 billion RMB respectively. The registered urban unemployment rate was 3.96%.

Hebei's main agricultural products are cereal crops including wheat, maize, millet, and sorghum. Cash crops like cotton, peanut, soya bean and sesame are also produced.

Kailuan, with a history of over 100 years, is one of China's first modern coal mines, and remains a major mine with an annual production of over 20 million metric tonnes. Much of the North China Oilfield is found in Hebei, and there are also major iron mines at Handan and Qian'an.

Hebei's industries include textiles, coal, steel, iron, engineering, chemical production, petroleum, power, ceramics and food. 

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.

Hebei has a continental monsoon climate, with temperatures of -16 to -3 °C in January and 20 - 27 °C in July, and with annual precipitation of 400 to 800 mm, occurring mostly in summer. 

Hebei is made up of 11 prefecture-level divisions, which are all prefecture-level cities:

Map # Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Type
A map of Hebei province in China 1 Shijiazhuang 石家莊 Shíjiāzhuāng Prefecture-level city
2 Baoding 保定 Bǎodìng Prefecture-level city
3 Cangzhou 滄州市 Cāngzhōu Prefecture-level city
4 Chengde 承德 Chéngdé Prefecture-level city
5 Handan 邯鄲 Hándān Prefecture-level city
6 Hengshui 衡水 Héngshǔi Prefecture-level city
7 Langfang 廊坊 Lángfāng Prefecture-level city
8 Qinhuangdao 秦皇島 Qínhuángdǎo Prefecture-level city
9 Tangshan 唐山 Tángshān Prefecture-level city
10 Xingtai 邢台 Xíngtái Prefecture-level city
11 Zhangjiakou 張家口 Zhāngjiākǒu Prefecture-level city
 

Transportation

Hebei surrounds Beijing, so many important railway lines radiating out of Beijing pass through Hebei. The Jingguang Railway (Beijing-Guangzhou) is one of the most important: it passes through many major cities like Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai and Handan on its way through Hebei from north to south. Other important railways include the Jingjiu Railway (Beijing-Kowloon), the Jinghu Railway (Beijing-Shanghai), the Jingha Railway (Beijing-Harbin), and the Jingbao Railway (Beijing-Baotou). Under the 11th five-year plan, Beijing and Hebei are collaborating on a new passenger railway. The RMB 82.6 billion network will add 844 kilometers to the system. Current railway systems for Hebei trains are also being upgraded and will soon be able to travel at speeds of between 160 and 200 kilometers per hour.

The recent expressway boom in China has not left Hebei behind. There are expressways to every prefecture-level city of Hebei except Chengde, totalling to approximately 2000 kilometers. The total length of highways within Hebei is around 40,000 kilometers.

There are a number of ports along the Bohai Sea, including Qinhuangdao (the second busiest in China with a capacity of over 100 million tons), Huanghua, and Jingtang. Shijiazhuang's Zhengding Airport is the province's center of air transportation, with domestic and international flights.

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