Handan has an ancient city surrounded by water, which has a history of more than 2600 years
This Spring Festival, the tourism industry is still booming, with crowds of people everywhere, making it seem like a dream. In addition to the popular northeastern provinces and the 'eternal winner' Sanya, Hebei, which is 'so close, so beautiful,' is also extremely popular. Guangfu Ancient City, located in Handan, even made it onto the list of the top 15 most visited 5A-level scenic spots during the Spring Festival holiday, the only one from Hebei among the top 20.
Guangfu Ancient City is located in Guangfu Town, Yongnian District, Handan City, situated in the center of the 46,000-acre Yongnian Depression. It was first built during the Spring and Autumn period and has a history of more than 2600 years. The ancient city is also the birthplace of Yang and Wu style Tai Chi, making it China's unique ancient city, water city, and Tai Chi city.
After the New Year, there are fewer tourists in the ancient city, but the festive atmosphere still lingers among the carved beams and painted rafters, swaying beside the big red lanterns.
The streets and alleys within the ancient city crisscross, and walking on the wider commercial streets, both sides are lined with quaint two-story shops, including costume stores, teahouses, taverns, small restaurants, and grocery stores, presenting a simple yet bustling atmosphere.
The ancient city, with its historical charm, is most suitable for an immersive tour. There's no need to prepare in advance, as the costume shops have plenty of styles to choose from, including Tang suits, Song dynasty clothes, horse-face skirts, Warring States robes, complete with headwear and hand-held fans, which are enough to bring out the charm.
Food is an essential part of visiting the ancient city, with unique local delicacies such as donkey meat shops, crispy fish stores, Linqing mutton soup with baked rolls, Shaanxi pork-stuffed buns, and other regional cuisines, offering a variety of flavors that are sure to suit your taste.
It's hard to appreciate the water charm of Guangfu from within the city, but an aerial drone view makes the city's water-surrounded terrain immediately clear. The ancient city is located in a low-lying area, surrounded by a wide and green moat that is easy to defend but hard to attack, protecting the safety of the people within and also becoming a strategic location for military contention throughout history.
City gates, walls, and main streets are all captured in the lens, and among the high and low houses, there are winding and secluded alleys. The entire ancient city is like an ancient scroll, recording stories of more than 2000 years of history, waiting for people to read.
A history of Handan, half of it lies in Guangfu. There are more than 30 scenic spots and historical sites inside and outside Guangfu Ancient City. No matter how beautiful the pictures are, they can't compare to being there in person. If you are also curious about this ancient city with a long history, why not come and check in for yourself.