Shijiazhuang石家庄

Overview

Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, is a young capital city with deep historical roots. Zhengding Ancient City has over 1,600 years of history, Longxing Temple's giant Buddha is renowned, ancient walls and pagodas well-preserved. Zhaozhou Bridge, built in the Sui Dynasty, is the world's earliest open-spandrel stone arch bridge, nearly 800 years before European equivalents. Xibaipo was the CPC Central Committee's location in late Liberation War, 'New China came from here.' Shijiazhuang is a key North China transport hub with Beijing-Guangzhou railway and expressway. Gaocheng palace lanterns and Zanhuang jujubes are famous nationwide.

Key Facts

Top Attractions

Zhengding Ancient City

Millennium-old city, Longxing Temple bronze Buddha world-famous, four ancient pagodas stand tall, restored walls magnificent, night view stunning

Zhaozhou Bridge

World's earliest open-spandrel stone arch bridge, designed by Li Chun in Sui Dynasty, standing after 1,400 years, architectural miracle

Xibaipo

Late Liberation War CPC Central Committee location, command center of Three Major Campaigns, red sacred site 'New China came from here'

Longxing Temple

Top temple beyond the capital, Song dynasty architecture, 21.3m bronze thousand-armed Avalokitesvara magnificent, Lu Xun praised the seated Guanyin as Eastern goddess of beauty

Cangyan Mountain

Buddhist and Taoist sacred mountain deep in Taihang, bridge hall spans two cliffs, filmed in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, steep and serene

Food & Snacks

Zhengding Eight Bowls

Zhengding traditional banquet dish, eight courses mainly steamed and braised, balanced meat and vegetables, essential for local celebrations

Beef Cake (Niu Rou Zhao Bing)

Shijiazhuang specialty snack, crispy flatbread broken up and drenched in rich beef broth with chunks of tender beef

Ganglu Shaobing (Kiln-baked Sesame Bread)

Sesame bread baked in a special kiln, crispy outside and layered inside, rich sesame aroma, a daily Shijiazhuang delicacy

Gaocheng Palace Noodles

Handmade noodles from Qing imperial kitchen, thin as silk and smooth, made with egg and salt, stays firm when boiled, clear broth and fresh taste

Festivals & Events

World & Intangible Heritage

• Gaocheng Palace Lantern (2008) — Lantern-making craft from Qing imperial court, bamboo-wood frame with silk covering, hand-painted auspicious patterns, national intangible heritage
• Jingxing Lahua Dance (2006) — Traditional folk dance of Jingxing County, dancers hold fans and umbrellas, bodies sway like blooming flowers, Hebei's most representative folk dance

Practical Tips