Handan, an ancient city located in the southern part of Hebei Province, China, attracts countless tourists with its long history, rich culture, and magnificent natural landscapes. Whether you are a history enthusiast who enjoys exploring historical sites or a traveler who loves natural scenery, Handan can bring you unexpected surprises. Here are 10 breathtaking attractions in Handan that cannot be missed, each one so beautiful that it leaves one mesmerized.
- The Palace of N ü wa: Exploring the Mysterious Land of N ü wa’s Heavenly Restoration
The Wa Palace Scenic Area is located in Suobao Town, Shexian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, on a Neolithic site dating back 10000 years. This scenic area covers an area of 5 square kilometers and consists of five parts: the entrance area, the Butian Garden, the Butian Lake, the Wa Palace, and the Butian Valley. The Wa Palace has had temples built since the Han Dynasty, and there are still sites such as Northern Qi stone carvings, Tang Dynasty inscriptions, Song Dynasty brick walls, and Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture. The cliff carvings of the Northern Qi Dynasty, the main building of the Wa Emperor Pavilion, and the N ü wa Festival are known as the three essence of the scenic area, and are respectively referred to as the “Number One Wall Scripture Group in the World”, “Living Tower Hanging Temple”, and “National Intangible Cultural Heritage”. The Wa Palace is not only an important base for studying Chinese ancestral culture, but also an excellent place that integrates natural landscapes and cultural history.
- Guangfu Ancient City: A Journey Through 2600 Years of Time
Guangfu Ancient City is located 20 kilometers southeast of Yongnian District, Handan City, Hebei Province. It has a history of more than 2600 years and is a national key cultural relic protection unit. This ancient city is named after Guangping Prefecture, which was one of the three prefectures in southern Hebei during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Guangfu Ancient City has well preserved ancient city walls, Hongji Bridge, Yang Luchan’s former residence, Wu Yuxiang’s former residence and other famous attractions. The ancient city wall was first built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It has a circumference of 5 kilometers, a height of 10 meters, and a thickness of 8 meters. The city covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers and is home to over 30 streets. Guangfu Ancient City is not only one of the birthplaces of Tai Chi, but also known as the “hometown of Chinese Tai Chi”. This is not only suitable for historical and cultural enthusiasts, but also a paradise for hiking and photography enthusiasts.
- Congtai Park: A 2000 year old urban oasis
Congtai Park is located in the center of Handan City, Hebei Province. It is the earliest and largest historical and cultural park built in Handan City. Congtai Park is named after the Wuling Congtai in the center of the park. It is said to have been built during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao and has a history of more than 2000 years. Surrounded by clear waters and shaded by willows, pavilions and towers face each other, curved bridges and long corridors connect, and fruit trees and flower beds are connected, creating a pleasant landscape of diverse beauty during the day and dazzling lights at night. Congtai Park is not only a great place for citizens to relax, but also an important window for tourists to learn about the history and culture of Handan.
- Jingniang Lake: The “Three Gorges of Taihang Mountains” in the Taihang Mountains
Jingniang Lake Scenic Area is located in Koushang Village, northwest mountainous area of Wu’an City, Handan City, Hebei Province, and is known as the “Three Gorges of Taihang Mountains” and “Pearl of Taihang Mountains”. Here, there are numerous peaks and lush forests, with a natural vegetation coverage rate of over 98%. The average annual temperature is 19 degrees Celsius. The Jingniang Lake Scenic Area is mainly divided into three major areas: water tourism area, Zhenyi Island tourism area, and leisure resort area. The water tourism area covers an area of 1.782 million square meters with an average depth of 40 meters. This place not only has a complete secondary forest landscape and a large number of rare tree species, but also abundant wildlife and plant resources, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts and outdoor explorers.
- Seven Step Gully: The Perfect Combination of Buddhist Culture and Natural Scenery
Qibugou Scenic Area is located in the hinterland of Wu’an National Forest Park and Geopark in Handan City, on the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain, with a total area of 20 square kilometers. The altitude here is moderate, far away from industrial pollution, with good vegetation and fresh air, known as the “natural oxygen bar”. Qibugou Scenic Area has natural ecology, profound history and rich tourism resources, mainly including six scenic spots: Gate View Service Area, Leisure Resort, Baipu Gorge, Luohan Gorge, Sanling Mountain and Mawuzhai. The Tianmen Mountain peak is composed of red quartz sandstone from the Middle Proterozoic era, with steep cliffs on all sides and a flat top. Geologically, it is called a Fangshan. Tianmen Lake, Tianjing Lake and other scenic spots within the scenic area are breathtakingly beautiful, making it an ideal destination for summer vacation, leisure and sightseeing tourism.
Taihang Wuzhishan: A magnificent and dangerous natural painting
The Taihang Wuzhishan Scenic Area is located in the northwest of Henan Dian Town, Shexian County, Handan City, covering an area of 20 square kilometers with a main peak elevation of 1283 meters. The natural scenery here is characterized by the steep and steep Taihang Mountains, as well as the dense vegetation of primitive forests, known for its magnificence, uniqueness, danger, and beauty. A 3-kilometer-long mountain range within the scenic area, ingeniously shaped by nature into a reclining Buddha, is lifelike and filled with messages of distant tranquility, Buddhist auspiciousness, and good fortune. Wuzhishan Scenic Area not only has beautiful natural scenery, but also abundant red tourism resources, such as the former headquarters of the Korean Volunteer Army, making it an excellent place to explore red memories and natural scenery.
Handan Xuebu Bridge: Exploring the Origins of Idioms and Allusions
Handan Xuebu Bridge is located in Congtai District, Handan City, and is an ancient bridge with a long history. It is said that during the Warring States Period, a countrymen from Yan came to Handan to learn how to walk. Instead of learning it well, he forgot his original walking posture and finally had to crawl back. This story later evolved into the idiom ‘learning to walk in Handan’. Xuebu Bridge is not only an important historical and cultural heritage site in Handan, but also an important attraction for tourists to learn about idioms, allusions, and experience the cultural heritage of Handan.
