Ji is short for Hebei Province. It lies in the southern part in China, 190 thousand square kilometers in area, and with a population is 62.5 million.
Hebei located in the northern part of Huabei Plain, and in the southeastern part of Nei Menggu Plateau. In the southeastern part of Hebei, there are plains. They occupy 40 percent in area, with plateaus and hilly lands occupy 60 percent. They are mainly formed by Zhangbei Plateau, Jibei Hilly land and Jixi Hilly land. Bohai is to the East of Hebei. The rivers here belong to the Hai River.
Amongst the lakes, Baiyangdian is the largest. It has a semi-dry continental monsoon climate in temperate zone.
It abounds in mineral resources, there are coal, petroleum, iron, lime stone, asbestos, phosphorus, vanadium, platinum and lead. And the reserves of them are the most abundant in China. The grain crops in Hebei are wheat, corn, Chinese sorghum and cereals. The output of wheat, cotton, iron and steel, coal, petroleum and textile goods is in the important place in China. And also, there are electric power, machinery, chemical industry and building materials. The communications here are very convenient. Mainly, there is railway.
Also, there is highway, water transport and aviation. Qinhuangdao is the important port of the ocean shipping. The development of piping petroleum is at a high speed.
In Hebei, the history cultural resources is abound. There are some beautiful hills and waters. The places of interest are Chengde Summer Resort Manor, Waiba Temple, Qinhuangdao, Beidaihe, Laishui Yesanpo, Cangyan Mountain in Jingjing and so on. The traditional specialties are Zhangbei mushroom, Hebei pears, Xuanhua grapes, Shenzhou honey peaches, Tangshan pottery and Zhuzhou blankets.
Recommended Scenic Spots
Eight Outer Temples in Chengde
Outside the surrounding wall of the Mountain Resort of Chengde in Hebei Province, lies an orderly array of eight brilliant and golden temples. Located east of the Wulie River are the Puren Temple, the Pule Temple and the Anyuan Temple. To their north and at the foot of the cliff is the Puning Temple. North of the Mountain Resort are the Xumifushouzhi Temple, the Putuozongchengzhi Temple and the Shuxiang Temple. These temples are arrayed around the Mountain Resort on the eastern and northern sides just like stars surrounding the moon in a semicircle.
The formation of the Eight Outer Temples around the Mountain Resort is our miniature motherland. Replicas of the Sanmoye Temple by the bank of the Yalutsangpo River, the Putala Palace in the upper Tibet, the Jashilumbu Monastery in the lower Tibet, and the Guerzha Temple in Yili, representative of Chi
nas southwest and northwest border areas, have appeared here. Shuxiang Temple on the Wutai Mountain, and the Hall of Arhats in the Anguo Temple in Haining County, represent Northern and Southern China. These Temples in Tibetan, Mongolian as well as the Han architectural styles, are not just a simple imitation, but a new creation. For example, the Dacheng Tower of the Puning Temple is an imitation of the main hall of the Sanmoye Temple with the upper story in Indian style, middle story in the style of inland China and lower story in Tibetan style. However, the imitated Dacheng Tower here is all in the style of inland China, except the two sides of the lower story which retain a little characteristics of a Tibetan blockhouse, and the five upturned corner roofs of Sanmoye style. The Xumifushouzhi Temple differs greatly from the Jashilumbu Monastery, but its red platform, gilded cupola and the shape are very much in the style of the Monastery.
Zhaozhou
Bridge in Hebei
Zhaozhou
Bridge, also known as Anji Bridge or Dashi (big stone) Bridge, is across the Jiaohe River in Zhaoxian County, which is 45 kilometers to the northeast of Shijiazhuang City. It was so named for Zhaoxian County used to be called Zhaozhou in the past. It was designed and built by Li Chun in the Sui Dynasty (581-618 ). The span of the main arch is about 37 meters long, with two small arches on each of its shoulders. Having an important position in the bridge building history, Zhaozhou Bridge was designated by an American organization concerned in 1991 as one of the 12 world wonders of historical civil engineering.
Shanhaiguan
Shanhaiguan, also known as "The First Pass under Heaven", stands 15 kilometers northeast of Qinhuangdao City. It was fist built in 1381 in the Ming Dynasty. Situated between two sheer cliffs of the Yanshan Mountains, it has been a strategic place contested by militarists since ancient times. At the eastern end of the Great Wall, there are 4 arched gates, only the eastern one in good condition today.
Its unique geographical position and typically traditional architectural style make the Pass a favorable tourist spot with scenery blending mountain, sea and fortress. Laolongtou, or the Old Dragon Head, the place where the Great Wall drops into the sea proudly overlooks the surging Bohai Sea.