2025 Dingzhou Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

🏛️【Dingzhou Museum Guide】 ⭐Visitor Guide: ‌Tickets and Stamps‌: Dingzhou Museum tickets are priced at CNY 38, including a stamp card. After purchasing at the machine at the entrance, you can stamp it at the stamping machine next to it. There are several stamping machines in the museum, located in the exhibition halls on the 2nd and 3rd floors, some at the exit of the exhibition hall, and some in the middle of the exhibition hall against the wall‌. In addition, the cultural and creative store on the 3rd floor also offers free stamps, but two of them are duplicates‌. 🌟Must-visit: ‌Third-floor exhibition hall‌: ‌Hometown Stars‌: Displays figures from various periods in Dingzhou's history, such as Su Dongpo, Liu Yuxi, etc‌. ‌A Thousand Years Outside the Dust‌: Displays precious cultural relics and scene restoration unearthed from the base palace of Jingzhi Temple Pagoda and the base palace of Jingzhong Temple Pagoda‌. ‌The World is White‌: Introduces the development history and craftsmanship of Ding porcelain, including the national treasure-level cultural relics of the Northern Song Dynasty Ding kiln white glaze carved dragon head vase‌. ‌Second-floor exhibition hall‌: ‌Han Family Mausoleum‌: Displays cultural relics unearthed from the tomb of the Han Zhongshan King, including the national treasure-level cultural relics of the Eastern Han Dynasty dragon chi ring pattern green jade bi and the Eastern Han Dynasty openwork story jade seat screen‌. ‌Northern Dynasty Buddha‌: Displays Buddha statues from the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, and Northern Qi periods‌. ‌Golden Pearls‌: Displays gold, silver, and jade ornaments from the Liao Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties‌. ‌First-floor exhibition hall‌: Currently, there is a temporary exhibition called 【See Dongpo Again】, which displays the life of Su Dongpo and his connection with Dingzhou‌. 🚉Transportation Guide: ‌Public Transportation‌: You can take Dingzhou Bus No. 1 or 2 to 【Wenboyuan】, or take a taxi‌. ‌Self-driving‌: Exit from Dingzhou Exit of G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, turn into Jinggang Line along Yingbin Avenue, drive south and then turn into Zhongshan East Road to reach‌. 🕙Opening Hours: ‌Opening Hours‌: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30), closed on Mondays‌. 🧳Preparation: ‌Reservation Method‌: You can search for "Leyou Ji" through the mini program to make an online reservation, or use the QR code to make a reservation directly (the QR code can be used to enter the museum directly)‌.

Built in 1738, the 3rd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Dingzhou Gongyuan has a history of nearly 300 years and is a relatively well-preserved imperial examination site in northern China. It was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 2001. The Gongyuan is divided into three parts: ⬆️The central axis is the main gate of the Gongyuan. After entering the main gate, you can see the "Qianlong Double Pagoda Tree", which is said to have been planted by Qianlong when he passed by on his way to Jiangnan. The main building is the examination hall and Kui Pavilion, with the main hall and Lansheng Building at the back. ↗️The east side is the entrance to the martial arts field, with a huge white shadow wall with the word "武" (martial arts) written on it. Inside the courtyard, there are stone-picking, sword-dancing, bow-drawing, and archery examination fields. At the back, there is the Martial Arts Hall and Wenchang Palace. ↖️The west side is now the Imperial Examination System Exhibition Hall, which introduces the evolution of the imperial examination system in Chinese history and its impact on the world. It introduces people, events, and objects related to the imperial examination, and there is a panoramic short film at the innermost part that you should not miss. The slogan here is "Go Ashore, Come to the Gongyuan", which is attractive enough for all kinds of candidates. 🎫Ticket: CNY 50 (half price for all during the Spring Festival).

Meet Dingzhou ❤️, fall in love with Dingzhou ❤️, and never want to leave ❤️ Fall in love with Dingzhou, starting with a stay at this hotel in Dingzhou Songcheng! 1️⃣ The location is super easy to find, right next to Dingzhou Museum, inside Songcheng. 2️⃣ The hardware is excellent 👍. The room is full of sunlight, with high ceilings and a large space, and the areas are clearly divided and spacious. 3️⃣ The service is excellent, definitely a five-star experience 😘😘 The front desk is full of books, high-end, and the procedures are fast and thoughtful ❤️ 4️⃣ The ancient charm of the window view, a thousand years in one glance 👀 Open the window lattice, and it feels like traveling through a time tunnel. Outside the window is the Song Street with blue bricks and gray tiles, and in the distance, the Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda stands tall and majestic. The sunset glow spills over the mottled walls, and at that moment, time slows down, and the heart becomes calm.

🌟Highlights: The Tomb of King of Zhongshan is one of the eight ancient scenic spots in Dingzhou. There are 175 Han tombs, which are the tombs of the kings and upper-class nobles of the Zhongshan Kingdom during the Han Dynasty. The tombs date from the third year of the reign of Emperor Jing of Han (154 BC) to the first year of the reign of Emperor Zhongping of the Eastern Han Dynasty (184 AD).

🌟Recommended Reasons: Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda, built in the 4th year of the Xianping period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1001), has stood for a thousand years. It is not only a landmark building in Dingzhou, but also a miracle in the history of ancient Chinese architecture. With its unique architectural style, profound historical and cultural heritage, and rich artistic value, Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda attracts countless tourists. 📍Detailed Address: 330 meters southeast of the intersection of Zhongshan Middle Road and Zhongxin South Street, Dingzhou City, Baoding City, Hebei Province 🕒Opening Hours: 08:30–17:30 (last entry at 17:00) 🎟️Ticket Information: Adult ticket: CNY 30/person (please refer to the official announcement of the scenic area for the specific ticket price) 📸Highlights: 1. Long history and profound cultural heritage: • Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda was built in the Northern Song Dynasty and has witnessed the historical changes of Dingzhou and even China for thousands of years. It is not only a holy place of Buddhist culture, but also a treasure in the history of ancient Chinese architecture. 2. Unique architecture and exquisite craftsmanship: • Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda is an octagonal pavilion-style brick pagoda with eleven stories. The tower body shrinks layer by layer from bottom to top in proportion, and the shape is dignified and majestic. The internal structure of the tower is complex, with the outer tower body surrounding the inner tower body, and the stairs spiraling from the inner tower body to the top of the tower body, showing the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient craftsmen. 3. High artistic value: • The tower preserves exquisite murals, sculptures, and other artworks, showing the charm of Song Dynasty architectural paintings and Buddhist figure murals. At the same time, the tower also preserves many steles and inscriptions by celebrities, providing us with valuable historical materials. 4. Climb the tower and enjoy the infinite scenery: • Although the number of people climbing the tower is limited every day, once you reach the top, you will be able to overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire Dingzhou City and feel the heroic spirit of "not afraid of floating clouds to cover your eyes, just because you are at the highest level." 5. Charming night view not to be missed: • The Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda at night is even more mysterious and beautiful under the light. Whether it is the outline of the tower body or the decoration of the tower top, it is particularly charming in the night, making it an excellent place for taking photos.

🌟Recommended reasons: The Dingzhou Zhongshan Han Tombs are a group of ancient tombs with a history of over 1,700 years. They not only showcase the splendor and mystery of the Zhongshan Kingdom during the Han Dynasty, but also attract countless history and archaeology enthusiasts with their well-preserved tomb structures and abundant burial items. This is a cultural journey through the millennia, allowing you to experience the luxurious life and burial customs of ancient nobles up close. 📍Detailed address: No. 86, Zhongshan Middle Road, Dingzhou City, Baoding City, Hebei Province 🕒Opening hours: 09:00-16:30 📸Highlights: 1. Well-preserved tomb structure: • The Zhongshan Han Tombs are famous for their well-preserved tomb structures. The tomb chamber is 24 meters long from north to south and 10 meters wide from east to west, consisting of a front chamber, east and west side chambers, a middle chamber, and a rear chamber. The structure is clear and the layout is reasonable. The tomb chamber is built with rectangular bricks and fan-shaped bricks, showcasing the superb architectural skills of the Han Dynasty. 2. Rich display of burial items: • The tomb chamber exhibits a large number of burial items from the Eastern Han Dynasty, including precious jade dragon chisel grain large jade bi, jade seat screens, fan-shaped jade ornaments, as well as gold-threaded jade garments and silver-threaded jade garments. These burial items not only showcase the luxurious life of Han Dynasty nobles, but also provide valuable physical materials for the study of Han Dynasty history, culture, and art. 3. Han Dynasty stone carvings and stele group: • The tomb area also houses a group of valuable stone carvings and steles from various dynasties, including Han Dynasty stone carvings unearthed from the tomb of Liu Yan, King of Zhongshan, the "Guan Yu Wind and Rain Bamboo Stele," and the "Qianlong Imperial Stele." These stone carvings and steles not only have artistic value, but also serve as important materials for the study of Han Dynasty history, culture, and calligraphy. 4. Rich historical and cultural heritage: • The Dingzhou Zhongshan Han Tombs are not only the burial site of ancient nobles, but also an important window for studying the history and culture of the Zhongshan Kingdom during the Han Dynasty. By visiting the tombs, you can gain a deep understanding of the political, economic, and cultural conditions of the Zhongshan Kingdom during the Han Dynasty, as well as their burial customs.

Travel Preparation Dingzhou in December is getting colder, so be sure to bring thick cotton clothes, scarves, and gloves 🧣, and don't forget thermal underwear. Only when you are fully armed can you enjoy a comfortable trip. You can choose to stay near Dingzhou Ancient City, which is convenient for travel, and you can also enjoy the night view of the ancient city at night. In terms of transportation, if you take the high-speed train, it is fast to take a taxi to various attractions after getting off the train; if you drive, plan your route in advance and pay attention to the signs when parking in the city. Must-visit Attractions Dingzhou Pagoda This thousand-year-old pagoda is a landmark of Dingzhou, and it looks more simple and majestic in the warm winter sun. When you walk under the pagoda and look up, the brick carvings and dougong are exquisite, and the weight of history is overwhelming. The ticket price is affordable, and you can climb the pagoda to enjoy the view of Dingzhou City. Although the stairs are a bit steep, the moment you reach the top, the cold wind turns into pride. There are many stalls around selling Dingzhou's special cultural and creative products, and it is very suitable to pick some souvenirs 🎁. Dingzhou Museum This treasure is open to the public for free, and the heating is sufficient, so you can travel through the long river of history. From the cultural relics of the State of Zhongshan to the fine Ding porcelain, each piece is exquisite, and the explanations in the museum are detailed. Following the explanations, you can learn about the past and present of Dingzhou, as if you have had a dialogue across time and space, and you will be full of knowledge after the visit. Dingzhou Cuisine Dingzhou Menzi In the cold winter, a steaming menzi, with pork and yam powder perfectly blended, is fragrant and tender, either fried or pan-fried. Sitting in a small street shop, with freshly baked huoshao, the happiness of carbohydrates and meat hits the soul, and you will be very satisfied with one bite 🥓. Lamb Offal Soup Milky white lamb soup, with a large amount of lamb offal, sprinkled with a handful of coriander and chopped green onion, is warm and heartwarming when drunk hot. After a bowl, the coldness of the whole body disappears instantly, and every morning starts with this bowl of soup 🍲. Travel Tips It gets dark early in Dingzhou in winter, so plan your time for visiting attractions so as not to delay your return trip. The lights in the ancient city are gorgeous at night, and the photos are very beautiful, so remember to bring a power bank. If you go to the market to buy specialties, don't be afraid to bargain, and you can find many affordable and good things 🛍️. Dingzhou in December is full of ancient charm and fireworks, waiting for you to explore.

The mosque is one of the main types of Islamic architecture and is a place for Muslims to perform prayers, religious lessons, religious education, and missionary activities. The mosque in Dingzhou, Hebei, is a thousand-year-old temple and is said to be one of the earliest mosques built in China, with a history of more than 1,300 years. The architectural style of the mosque is very unique, adopting elements of traditional Chinese palace-style architecture and Islamic architecture, which is both solemn and elegant, and has a strong Islamic cultural characteristic. The main buildings in the temple include the gate, the main hall, the lecture hall, the library, etc. Each building is very exquisite and breathtaking. 🙌What impressed me the most was the main hall of the mosque, which is spacious and bright, with gorgeous decorations, and many exquisite murals and calligraphy works hanging on the walls, showing the cultural connotation and artistic charm of Islam. There is also a small stage in the hall, where Muslims pray and pray every day, and the scene is very solemn and sacred. 👉In addition, there is a library in the mosque, which houses a large number of Islamic classics and cultural books, and is an important carrier of Islamic culture. The architecture of the library is also very exquisite, adopting the traditional Chinese garden-style architectural style, which makes people feel very comfortable and pleasant. Overall, the Dingzhou Mosque in Hebei is a very worthwhile ancient temple, which is not only an important heritage of Chinese Islamic culture, but also a perfect combination of traditional Chinese culture and Islamic culture. If you are interested in Islamic culture or want to experience the charm of traditional Chinese architecture and culture, then the mosque is definitely a place not to be missed.

Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda 🗼, also known as Liaodi Pagoda, is definitely a landmark of Dingzhou! This pagoda is super tall, over 80 meters! 😮 Can you imagine standing on top of the pagoda and overlooking the whole city? It's amazing! The history of this pagoda can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty 🤓, more than a thousand years ago! It has witnessed so many historical changes, which is really touching 😔. Moreover, the architectural style of Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda is also very unique. It is an octagonal pavilion-style brick pagoda, and each floor has exquisite carvings and decorations 🎨. I have to say, the ancient craftsmen were really amazing! If you have the chance to come to Dingzhou, you must go to see Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda! Believe me, you will be shocked by its magnificence and beauty!

Dingzhou Gongyuan is located in Dingzhou, Hebei Province, and was one of the important examination halls in the ancient Chinese imperial examination system. As an important venue for the imperial examination, Dingzhou Gongyuan undertook the examination tasks at all levels from county, prefecture, to provincial level, and was a must-visit place for ancient scholars to pursue fame and fortune. The history of the Gongyuan can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty and was one of the important cultural and educational centers at that time. The architectural layout of the Gongyuan was designed strictly according to the needs of the imperial examination. The entire courtyard is well-organized and divided into several parts, including the examination shed, examination hall, and examination dormitory. The examination shed is the main building of the Gongyuan, where candidates take the written examination. The examination hall is the most solemn and solemn place in the Gongyuan, with special invigilators to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the examination. The examination dormitory is a place for candidates to rest and live, simple and practical. The architectural style of the Gongyuan combines the typical features of the Ming and Qing dynasties, emphasizing symmetry and a sense of hierarchy. The main gate is usually equipped with a memorial archway, engraved with auspicious words such as "Wen Yun Chang Long", implying the smoothness of the imperial examination and the bright future of the students. The buildings in the courtyard are mostly wooden structures, with carved beams and painted buildings, and the details are exquisitely carved, showing the superb level of ancient architectural craftsmanship. Dingzhou Gongyuan is not only a place for the imperial examination, but also an important base for local cultural dissemination and education. Many aspiring people completed their studies here, cultivating a large number of outstanding talents for the country and society. The existence of the Gongyuan greatly promoted the cultural prosperity and social progress of Dingzhou. With the development of the times, the imperial examination system was gradually abolished, but Dingzhou Gongyuan was preserved as a historical relic. Today, Dingzhou Gongyuan has become an important cultural tourist attraction, attracting many tourists to visit. Through the visit to Dingzhou Gongyuan, people can gain an in-depth understanding of the operation of the ancient imperial examination system and feel the arduous journey of ancient scholars in pursuit of knowledge and ideals.

📍Address: Dingzhou Ancient City 🚗Transportation: Walk across from the museum 👍️Must-see: Confucius Temple & Gongyuan 🎟️Tickets: Confucius Temple CNY 10, Gongyuan CNY 20 💗Other tips: Chongwen Street in Dingzhou Ancient City is full of snacks from the north and south, and children's games. Chongwen Street is a street for eating, playing, and shopping. Stroll to the Gongyuan. The Kuixing Pavilion in the middle has a vermilion brush pointing to the Gongsheng in the courtyard, symbolizing the top scorer in the courtyard. (A bit of a tongue twister) The roof of the examination hall (also called the examination shed) is a highlight, with a central spire and layers that gradually descend, ensuring ventilation in the examination shed, as it is a venue for hundreds of people. (This is a well-preserved examination shed in the north) In addition to the civil examination, there is also a military examination, including horseback archery and foot archery. There are also stone locks of different sizes for visitors to experience the military examination. The "stone" in "bow, knife, and stone" refers to the stone lock, which originated in the Tang dynasty and flourished in the Qing dynasty. Some people still practice with stone locks in the park, which requires strength, eyesight, and skill. Walk along Chongwen Street, and you will reach the Confucius Temple outside the ancient city. It is small, much smaller than the Imperial College, and the incense in the Dacheng Hall slowly releases smoke. You can play pitch-pot in the courtyard of the side hall. 🏹

8 Ancient Towns to Visit in Hebei! Do you know these 8 ancient towns in Hebei? Fun, beautiful, and photogenic! If you want to travel to Hebei, tag your travel buddy! Shengfang Ancient Town Nuanquan Ancient Town Guangfu Ancient Town Xuanhua Ancient Town Zhengding Ancient Town Jimingyi Ancient Town Yujia Stone Village Dingzhou Ancient Town

Dingzhou Museum is a comprehensive museum with the theme of collecting, displaying, and researching Dingzhou's history and culture. It is located in the center of Dingzhou City, covering an area of about 50 mu, with a building area of 20,000 square meters. The museum houses a large number of precious cultural relics and historical materials, systematically displaying the historical process and cultural characteristics of Dingzhou from prehistoric civilization to modern society. I think the most worthwhile thing to see in Dingzhou Museum is its "Ding Kiln Porcelain Exhibition." Ding Kiln is one of the five famous kilns in the Song Dynasty of China. Its porcelain is mainly white glaze, with a glaze color as warm as jade and exquisite patterns, known as the "crown of white porcelain." Dingzhou Museum has a large collection of Ding Kiln porcelain, including national treasure-level cultural relics, such as the Northern Song Dynasty Ding Kiln white glaze carved flower plum vase, Northern Song Dynasty Ding Kiln black glaze carved flower plum vase, etc. These porcelains are not only beautiful in shape but also vivid in patterns, making people marvel at the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. In addition to the Ding Kiln Porcelain Exhibition, Dingzhou Museum also has many other exhibitions, such as the "Dingzhou History and Culture Exhibition," "Dingzhou Folk Customs Exhibition," etc. These exhibitions comprehensively display the history, culture, folk customs, and other aspects of Dingzhou through various forms such as objects, pictures, and models, giving people a deeper understanding of this city. In short, if you are interested in history and culture or want to learn about Dingzhou, then Dingzhou Museum is definitely a place not to be missed. It not only allows people to feel the profoundness of ancient civilization but also gives people a deeper understanding of modern society. Family members, hurry up and arrange it.

Zhongshan Han Tomb Fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units The Zhongshan Han Tomb, also known as "Pingshan Shengji", is one of the eight ancient scenic spots in Dingzhou. The Zhongshan Han Tomb is called "Dageda" by the locals. There are 175 Han tombs and 124 protection units have been designated. Most of the Han tomb groups are distributed in 66 villages and streets in 18 towns in the southeast of Dingzhou City. It is the tomb of the king of Zhongshan and the upper nobles during the Han Dynasty, and the date is probably from the third year of the former Yuan Dynasty of Han Jingdi (154 BC) to the first year of Zhongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (184 AD). Most of the Han tombs in Zhongshan have been leveled, and only 55 Han tombs have seals, with the highest seal being 30 meters. Zhongshan Han Tomb~In 1995, the Dingzhou Museum excavated this Han tomb in Dingzhou City. Due to severe theft, only jade pieces, gold ornaments, copper ornaments and a small amount of pottery were found. It is impossible to determine who the tomb owner is. Although the museum gate is written as Zhongshan Han Tomb, the academic community calls it the 35th Han Tomb. 📍Detailed address: No. 86 Zhongshan Middle Road, Dingzhou City, Baoding City, Hebei Province 💰Ticket price: 5 yuan/person, free for the elderly and children 🕙Business hours: 9:00-16:30 ⏳Play time: about 30 minutes 📝Note tips: It's not big inside, if you go there specially, you will be a little disappointed, there are many mosquitoes in summer and the ground is damp, the tomb room is very small, but there are very few people.

| Get nervous as soon as you enter the examination room. Dingzhou Gongyuan, also known as the examination room, is a well-preserved ancient examination room for selecting talents and tribute students in northern China. It is an important physical material for studying the local architectural art and imperial examination system of the Qing Dynasty. It was built in the third year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1738) and was created by Zhou Mu Wang Da Nian. It was expanded, rebuilt, and expanded in the 14th year of Daoguang (1834). The Gongyuan is located in the north and faces the south. It is arranged in a central axis style. The plane is square. The main building is composed of two groups of buildings, the number house and the Kuige. Kuige is in the south of the number house, with a pointed top in the middle, and the sides are gradually reduced, with a unique and chic structure. Dingzhou Gongyuan paper ticket, there is a brochure in the visitor center, and there is a free chapter. Tickets: 20, buy on site. Business hours: Monday to Sunday 8:00-17:00.

| It's different from what's on TV. Dingzhou Yamen was first built in the Tang Dynasty and was rebuilt and expanded during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods. It reproduces the appearance of the former government office. According to the existing literature, the Zhili Dingzhou Yamen at that time was very systematic and standardized, from public welcoming ceremonies, opening ceremonies, and plastic incense, to governance, case trials, discussions, elections, and circulation of duties. The south of the Yamen is the watchtower, the lower part is the gate, the entrance is the ceremonial gate, the left and right corner gates, the west is the prison, the east is the Tongzhi government office, the side officials, households, and rituals, etc. There are 15 rooms, and there are 15 rooms on the west side of the soldiers, punishments, and workers. In the middle is the corridor, the stone pavilion on the road, and the north is the terrace. After the warm pavilion in the hall, there are three corridors in the hall, the east is the warehouse, the west is the official government office, the entrance is the gate, and the back hall is three corridors (Yuhu Hall), the east is the living room (Baihu Hall), and the west is the garden (Zhongshan Houpu), and the back is Jusheng Building. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the old Yamen was once the seat of the people's government. Now, the Magpie Bridge in Zhongshan Houpu has become a good place for young men and women to meet and make friends, and the streets are crowded with people. It was demolished in 1972 and turned into a school. It was rebuilt according to the state annals ten years ago. Although it lacks historical precipitation, it is also interesting to take a look at the structure of the former Yamen.

| The teacher is the most sacred and unique. 👍Most recommended: Hebei Dingzhou Confucius Temple is located next to the west gate of Chongwen Street. The Confucius Temple is mainly a place to commemorate Confucius. There is a stone tablet less than ten meters away from the Confucius Temple that reads "Civil and military officials and civilians dismount here", which shows respect for Confucius. There are two old locust trees in the courtyard of the Confucius Temple, which were planted by Su Dongpo himself. Su Dongpo only spent 7 months in Dingzhou, which is the northernmost place he has ever been to (it was already the border of Song and Liao dynasties at that time, and the famous Dingzhou Tower was used as a lookout tower). When Su Dongpo was the governor of Dingzhou, he planted two locust trees in the Confucius Temple. The east one is like a dancing phoenix, and the west one is like a divine dragon. Today, these two locust trees are still alive and are called "Dongpo Shuanghuai". Cross the millennium time and space, and admire and pay tribute to this excellent literati. Ticket: CNY 10, available for purchase at the ticket office at the entrance. Business hours: 8:30-17:00.

| Kaiyuan Pagoda, with a history of 900 years.👍Highly recommended: Located in beautiful Dingzhou. Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda, also known as Liaodi Pagoda, is commonly known as "Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda" because it was built in Kaiyuan Temple. Dingzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda is known as one of the four treasures of Hebei and is a landmark building in Dingzhou. It is also a precious heritage of the first batch of national treasures. The octagonal building is a relatively tall ancient brick pagoda in China. The shape is dignified and mighty, and the pagoda body has eleven levels, which gradually shrink from bottom to top in proportion. The internal structure of the pagoda is that the outer pagoda body surrounds the inner pagoda body, and the stairs spiral from the inner pagoda body to the top of the pagoda body. The pagoda body is connected from the inside to the outside, forming a peculiar structure of the pagoda in the pagoda. This is the tallest existing brick pagoda in China and is known as the "First Pagoda of China". 🚉Transportation strategy: Address: Take Bus No. 1 at Dingzhou Railway Station and get off at the south gate of No. 1 Middle School and walk 100 meters south. 2 kilometers west of the Dingzhou exit of the Beijing-Shenzhen Expressway. 💰Average consumption: Opening hours: 8:30-17:30 Ticket: CNY 30/person, pagoda ticket CNY 100/person (only 60 tickets per day)

I visited two characteristic gardens in Dingzhou, both of which are very interesting and suitable for leisure and entertainment. The Silk Road Friendship Garden is located in the northeast of Dingzhou City, on the west side of Anxi Avenue, and is separated from the Cultural and Sports Center. The garden mainly includes Ding Porcelain Garden, Kesi Garden, Herb Garden, Wanpai·All-age Friendly Garden, Central Waterfront Lake Scenic Area, Special Catering Service Area, etc. It is a good place for eco-tourism that integrates eco-leisure, sports, cultural experience, and research education. The interactive experience space displays Ding porcelain and Kesi intangible cultural heritage, and "Dingzhou Zhizao" sports facilities are installed, which is very suitable for primary and secondary school students to study and practice, and to bring children to play on weekends. It is also a good place for wedding travel photography. Yanzhao Fengshang Garden is close to Dingzhou East Station and is a comprehensive ecological scenic spot. There are 3 major exhibition areas: waterfront wetland, plain flower sea and mountain style, 12 characteristic city exhibition gardens, and characteristic buildings such as the Ring of the Future, City Shared Kitchen, Aquatic Ecology Exhibition Hall, and A Paper Love Letter Landscape Tower. The various garden areas echo each other, and through the open and close central landscape belt, tourists can browse the local customs of 12 cities in a one-stop manner through the miniaturized map of Hebei. Both gardens are located in Dingzhou city, with convenient transportation and free admission.

Dingzhou, once the capital of the ancient Zhongshan Kingdom, was where seventeen generations of Zhongshan kings of the Han Dynasty thrived. Rich in timber and minerals, abundant in agricultural products like hemp and mulberry, and strategically located at the crossroads of north-south and east-west communication, it was known as the 'throat of the Nine Provinces, the crucial area of the divine capital.' During the Spring and Autumn period, the Baidi Xianyu established the state of Zhongshan, which was frequently attacked by Jin and pressured by Zhao. In the Warring States period, Zhongshan moved its capital to Gu (present-day Dingzhou). Dingzhou was a silk weaving center, with silk weaving bureaus established by the Northern Qi and Sui dynasties. Dingzhou's kesi silk originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty, reaching its peak during the Xuanhe period of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. In the Southern Song period, the production of kesi silk expanded to the southern Su-Song region, and kesi silk based on flower and bird paintings became extremely popular. Dingzhou was an important production area for silk fabrics and porcelain on the Silk Road. With the opening of the Silk Road, Eastern and Western cultures blended here, and glassware and gold and silverware from Western Asia, Central Asia, and Mediterranean countries were introduced to China. The compass pendant was a type of jade pendant frequently worn by Han Dynasty nobles, often made of Hetian mutton-fat jade. Lions, also called suanni, were referred to as 'tianlu' (heavenly blessings) and 'bixie' (evil warding) by the Han people. Early amber originated from Europe and was considered a symbol of the sun. Europeans called it 'northern gold,' and only nobles could possess it. Amber from the Baltic Sea region of Europe was the most famous. Amber artifacts have been unearthed from pre-Qin period sites in China. After the opening of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty, amber gradually entered the Central Plains. During the Northern Dynasties, Sui, and Tang periods, with the flourishing of Buddhism and East-West exchanges, amber, as one of the 'seven treasures,' gained importance. As an ornament, it was called 'tiaotuo.' In the early and middle Western Zhou period, 1046-771 BCE, locally made faience beads were widely used in ritual bead and jade pendants. In 900 BCE, transparent glass appeared, used to imitate natural crystal and make luxury items. As early as the Warring States period, crystal artifacts, also known as water jade, water essence, water green, and thousand-year ice, had already appeared. During the Warring States period, 476-221 BCE, the Chu people created lead-barium glass using local materials, producing a large number of dragonfly eye glass beads and jade-imitating glass bi discs, sword ornaments, seals, and other items. Dragonfly eyes generally refer to colorful glass beads decorated with eye patterns. From Egypt in the second millennium BCE to China during the Qin and Han periods, the popularity of dragonfly eyes is believed to be related to the belief in the evil eye. As amulets, they could ward off the evil eye. After the Eastern Han Dynasty, they were endowed with the mystical qualities of Buddhism. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, glassware from the Sassanian Empire and even the Roman Empire was considered treasures, and glass craftsmen from the Western Regions began producing glass in the capital. During the Song Dynasty, crystal products were widely used as supplements to jade, and craftsmen mastered the technique of glass blowing, using it extensively for Buddhist rituals and daily life. In the Yuan Dynasty, the 'Guanyu Bureau' was established, possibly a government-run workshop specializing in the production of jade-imitating glassware. In the early Ming Dynasty, Zibo became an important production site for glassware. Ding kiln, listed as one of the five famous kilns, began firing no later than the Sui Dynasty. The white-glazed lotus-patterned dragon-head purification bottle, unearthed from the base palace of the Jingzhongyuan Pagoda, is praised as the 'king of Ding porcelain.' The phoenix-head pot, also known as the 'Hu pot,' was a vessel shape influenced by Persian culture and popular during the Tang Dynasty. Its prototype was the handled pot in Sassanian and Sogdian silverware. The auspicious beast grape mirror was popular from the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang to the Wu Zhou period and was the most unearthed type of Tang mirror. Emperor Taizong once brewed grape wine using Western methods. During the Two Jin Dynasties, the makara pattern was introduced to China with Buddhism. In the Song Dynasty, it merged with traditional Chinese fish and dragon patterns, becoming known as the fish-dragon pattern, symbolizing the beautiful wish of a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Dingzhou has always been a place of economic prosperity, cultural convergence, Buddhist influence, and exquisite craftsmanship, vividly reflecting the diverse and unified cultural pattern of the Chinese nation.

"The beauty that has thrived through ten centuries" is the introduction on the official website of Dingzhou Museum, and you'll know there's no exaggeration once you actually visit. The glazed grapes unearthed from the underground palace at the base of the Jingzhi Temple Pagoda from a thousand years ago look just like the real thing. The unique eternal beauty of still life hits you in the face. 🍇🍇🍇🍇 The crystal phoenix is exquisitely delicate, the painted wood-carved warriors are full of dynamic tension, and the painted and gilded Bodhisattva statues are amiable yet still emanate a sense of transcendence. Among county-level museums, it's really hard for others to compete with Dingzhou Museum.

The Jingzhong Yuan underground palace and the Jingzhi Temple underground palace were both built during the Northern Song Dynasty as the foundation underground chambers of pagodas, that is, the underground rooms in the base of the pagoda below the ground level. The original pagodas have long ceased to exist, but the underground palaces are still well-preserved, not only with exquisite murals but also with more than 800 pieces of cultural relics and treasures unearthed, supporting half of the prestige of the Dingzhou Museum. 📷📷📷📷 The Jingzhong Yuan underground palace has murals on only three sides and the dome, with the north wall depicting the Nirvana of Sakyamuni, the east and west sides depicting music and ritual scenes, and the top decorated with phoenixes, auspicious clouds, and bouquets. The Jingzhi Temple underground palace has murals on all four walls. The north wall features the Ten Great Disciples paying homage to Buddha, the east wall shows the Brahma King paying homage to Buddha, the west wall depicts the Sakra paying homage to Buddha, and the south wall has images of Heavenly Kings on both sides of the gate. ❗️❗️❗️❗️ I must recommend the official website of the Dingzhou Museum here, it's really well done👍, with a digitally restored underground palace that allows for a 360° appreciation of the murals, offering an immersive experience as if descending into the underground palace, greatly making up for the regret of not being able to visit in person.

🚗🚗🚗Travel Itinerary: Day1: China Ancient Animal Museum (Baoding Natural Museum) → Governor's Office of Zhili → Ancient Lotus Pond → Zhengding Ancient City → Jianguo Puyin Hotel (Zhengding Ancient City, Shijiazhuang) Day2: Hebei Museum → Tianning Temple → Longxing Temple → Kaiyuan Temple → Linji Temple Chengling Pagoda → Linji Temple → Zhengding County Confucian Temple → Guanghui Temple Pagoda → Dabeige → Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda → Dingzhou Ancient City → Song Street → Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda Square → Anyu Song Street | Chinoiserie Archaic Rhyme Hotel·Guofeng Guryun Hotel (Dingzhou Song Street Museum Store) Day3: Dingzhou Museum → Dingzhou Gongyuan → Confucian Temple → Zhongshan Han Tomb

Kingfisher feather art is a traditional Chinese gold and silver jewelry craft that originated in the Han Dynasty and was especially popular during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It involves carefully affixing the bright blue feathers from the back of a kingfisher onto a pre-made gold or silver base, creating exquisitely beautiful patterns. It is commonly used to make head ornaments, hairpins, earrings, screens, fans, and other types of jewelry and artworks. 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ Over time, particularly due to factors such as humidity, high temperatures, or physical friction, the feathers on kingfisher jewelry may gradually lose their luster, fade, or even fall off. Antique kingfisher feather jewelry, due to its age, is even more prone to becoming fragile and deteriorating naturally. 📷📷📷📷 It's quite poetic to occasionally see such half-fallen kingfisher feather art in a museum.

Truly, the stone carving museum of Dingzhou does not disappoint, with so many highlights to see, from inscriptions to carved patterns, all satisfying in one go. Also discovered many familiar names, such as the tomb of Liu Yan, Prince of Zhongshan and son of Emperor Guangwu of Han and Empress Guo Shengtong, which contains 488 inscribed square stones, Su Shi's 'Xuelangzhai Stele', Tang Dynasty Wang Wei's ink bamboo, the stele written by Zhang Zhidong when he was the prefect of Dingzhou, the stele of Prince Jing of Zhongshan from the Han Dynasty, the stele of the ancient state of Zhongshan, the shrine record of Su Wenzhonggong from the Song Dynasty, the painting record of the shrine hall of Han Weigong from the Song Dynasty, the Pengcheng Temple stele, the rebuilding record of the Dingzhou City God Temple, and so on. 📷📷📷📷 This tomb of Liu Yan is also my first encounter with an Eastern Han Dynasty's yellow bowel stone tomb, which represents an evolution and development of the Western Han Dynasty's 'yellow bowel topicou' tomb structure. The traditional 'yellow bowel topicou' tombs were constructed using precious cypress wood, especially the heartwood (yellow core part), with the ends of these timbers arranged inward to form a special mortuary chamber structure for the placement of coffins, symbolizing extremely high status and honor. The yellow bowel stone tomb, on the other hand, uses stone materials instead of cypress wood, making it more sturdy and durable. The yellow bowel stones typically also have inscriptions with the year, craftsman's name, place of origin, and other information, which are the 488 inscribed square stones we see today. The place names cover more than ten commanderies and states from six provinces of the Eastern Han Dynasty, including most of the county names of the ancient Zhongshan state. The manpower and resources expended on this tomb are evident.

In ancient times, inscribing on the beams during house construction was a long-standing custom. It typically included information such as the construction year of the building, the names of the craftsmen, the owner of the house or the financier, and some even added poems and auspicious phrases. This allowed future generations to know a lot of specific information about the house, and sometimes it could even serve as proof of property ownership. 📷📷📷📷 When looking up at the Wen Temple in Dingzhou, one can find inscriptions on the beam. At a glance, it reads something about XX supervising the work, the tribute scholar XXX, and the associate XXX, with handwriting that is still quite clear, which is quite surprising. The entire temple has a long history, dating back to the late Tang Dynasty, and it is the seventh batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Of course, today it is mainly the remains of ancient buildings from the Qing Dynasty. 🖼️🖼️🖼️🖼️ The courtyard also has two locust trees that were personally planted by Su Dongpo when he was the governor of Dingzhou, which are now over 900 years old. The stone carvings scattered in the courtyard also exude a sense of the ages. It's another day with new discoveries.

🌏 The location is great, right inside Song Street, not far from the museum, Dingzhou Tower, and Gongyuan Dingzhou Office, with a parking lot 🅿️. Since parking is free, the underground garage can get a bit tight during holidays; The hotel's decor is mainly Chinese-style, very elegant, and you can rent costumes for free 🆓 The double-bed rooms are quite spacious, clean and tidy. The toiletries feel good too, and although it's not a big chain brand, the quality of the products is carefully selected. There are pillows with slow rebound and another with good support 👍🏻, and the large bottles of water are also free, which is quite generous 🚽 The toilet is smart~ There's also 🈶 a laundry room (wash and dry) and a gym haha 🈶 There are electric car charging stations, slow charging, but the pricing is not transparent. You start by charging 10 yuan as a base, and then settle the bill after it's fully charged. After charging, we calculated it to be almost 1.3 yuan per kWh, and there's a serious issue with gasoline cars occupying the spots~

During the May Day holiday, take a 'City Walk' with the kids for a one-day tour of Dingzhou. Dingzhou was anciently known as Gu, also called Zhongshan Prefecture. In 414 BC, the state of Zhongshan moved its capital to Gu, marking the first time Dingzhou became the capital of a kingdom. In 408 BC, the state of Wei conquered Zhongshan, and Gu came under the jurisdiction of Wei. In 380 BC, Duke Huan of Zhongshan defeated Wei and successfully restored the state, bringing Gu back into the hands of Zhongshan. Not long after, Zhongshan moved its capital from Gu to Lingshou City (now Lingshou County, Shijiazhuang). Over nearly a hundred years, the ancient capital of Zhongshan changed to Lingshou. By 154 BC, Dingzhou was known as Lunu, and it was the capital of the Zhongshan state during the Han Dynasty. Emperor Jing of Han (grandson of Liu Bang) appointed his ninth son, Liu Sheng, as the king of Zhongshan, with the capital at Lunu (today's Dingzhou City), governing 14 counties: Lunu, Beiping County (now Mancheng County, Baoding), Beixincheng (now Xushui County, Baoding), Tang County, Shenzhe, Kujiao (now Xingyi Town, Xingyi Village, Dingzhou), Anguo, Quni, Wangdu, Xinshi, Xinchu (now Daxinzhuang Town, Dingzhou), Wuji (now Wuji County, Shijiazhuang), Licheng (now Li County, Baoding), and Anxian (now Gucheng Village, Dingzhou). Visit the Dingzhou Museum to learn about the history of the Zhongshan state.