PARADISE FOR VISITORS
Beijing-TianjinHebei travel circuit offers a host of attractions, Yang Feiyue reports.
With historical sites, prairies, canals and coastal resources, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area has kept drawing in travelers from far and wide.
The area satisfies the needs of travelers who seek different experiences, while saving them major transportation costs. Most of the destinations are close enough to be connected by bus. And one can have it all in one commute, with the abundant tourism resources clustered together.
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area offers diverse tourism resources, including historical sites like the Palace Museum and Great Wall; the modern architecture featuring Italian elements, as well as sea and prairie scenes.
Travel bookings to the area surged 82 percent in the first six months of this year, as compared with the same period last year, China’s biggest online travel agency Ctrip reported. In 2018, the number of travelers increased by 127 percent as compared with 2017.
Favorable tourism policies have also helped to spur traveler enthusiasm.
Now, an all-in-one travel card has been launched to offer discounts to the public.
The card for 2020 covers more than 300 scenic spots in the region, including 14 top-rated ones. So, travelers can experience winter sports, hot springs, the tea and wine culture, as well as history and sightseeing.
China Daily hits the road to find out what travelers can explore in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.
Beijing Tian’anmen Square
One of the biggest of its kind in the world, the square sits in the center of the capital city and is considered a symbol of grandeur. One can get an overview of many classic sites in the square that covers an area of 440,000 square meters. Travelers can visit the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong in the center of the square, the Great Hall of the People to the west, and the National Museum of China to the east. The 14th century Zhengyang Gate and Qianmen watchtower in the south are also worth visiting. For early birds, the flag-raising ceremony is something one shouldn’t miss.
Palace Museum
The museum, which was known as the Forbidden City, offers a glimpse into royal life. Beijing was home to 24 emperors during the
Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (16441911) dynasties. Visitors can enjoy the museum’s grand layout, imposing ancient palaces and halls, such as the Palace of Longevity and Health, where Emperor Qianlong’s mother lived. Moreover, the antique paintings, calligraphy and ceramics inside all promise to leave a deep impression on visitors.
Beijing Wtown
One can kill two birds with one stone at the scenic spots. So, you can enjoy a water town scene and a perilous section of the Great Wall together. Stone-paved old streets on the riverside, gray and yellow bricked houses and unique folk customs all make the water town in Beijing’s northeastern suburb Miyun county an ideal getaway. It sits at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall and offers a stunning night view. One can also experience traditional art, such as tie-dyeing and kite-making and enjoy distinctive local snacks. After touring the town, one can kick off a daredevil journey to the Simatai Great Wall, which runs 5.4 kilometers from east to west and features various types of construction styles. The eastern part of the wall was built along steep mountain ridges, and the elevation goes abruptly up, making for a breathtaking scene. Some segments along the gentle slopes are wide, while other narrow parts allow only one person to pass at a time. A cable car is also available for those who don’t want to get all sweaty on the ascent.
Badaling Great Wall
The wall has parts that were built and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty to defend Beijing against the Mongolians. The northern part of Badaling is steeper and offers better sights. One can get more information about the Great Wall by visiting the Great Wall Museum and Great Wall National Theater in the neighborhood.
Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street
The street sits in Nankai district of Tianjin, which is roughly 30 minuets away from Beijing by highspeed rail. It opened in 1986, and has attracted tons of visitors for its special architectural styles and classic cultural elements. The street depicts business in the Qing Dynasty, with splendid replicas of classical architecture. It’s a great choice for those who are interested in traditional Chinese handicrafts, since the street is home to hundreds of stores selling a wide variety of folk handicrafts, such as classic paintings and painted sculptures. Jade and pottery are also available. At the end of the tour, one might as well get to sample local delicacies by trying Goubuli steamed dumplings, fried glutinous cakes and tea soup on the street.
Tianjin Eye
Tianjin Eye, also known as the Tientsin Eye, is a ferris wheel built on a bridge over the Haihe River. The Tianjin Eye was completed in 2008. It is 120 meters tall and has become one of the landmarks of Tianjin. It is the only ferris wheel built above a bridge. One can ride it to get a bird’s-eye view of Tianjin or simply appreciate it from afar from the Jingang Bridge, about 800 meters away to the south.
Five Great Avenues
Five Great Avenues lie in the south of downtown Tianjin and have one of the best-preserved villa cluster in the country. Along the sides of those avenues, there are more than 2,000 villas featuring various Western styles. One can find British, Italian, French and Germany elements in those buildings, which were built in the 1920s and 1930s. The area used to be the British Concession, and is widely considered an expo of worldwide building styles, where one can also spot a sense of Renaissance, Baroque and the integration of traditional Chinese and Western styles.
Hebei Mountain Resort of Chengde
The resort was designated a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1994. It was built in the Qing Dynasty and took about 90 years to construct. It covers an area of 5.64 million square meters and is roughly 230 kilometers from Beijing. The resort was originally built for the royal families to spend the hot summer months. Compared with the grand Forbidden City, the mountain resort is characterized by simplicity and elegance. One can visit the palaces where Qing emperors handled political affairs and important ceremonies and events were held. A lake and plain view is also available for one to chill and relax. The resort is also home to various pavilions and temples that are dotted across its slopes and valleys.
Beidaihe
The scenic spot sits in the southwest of Qinhuangdao and is wellknown for its coastline and seaside attractions. The region enjoys a temperate climate, and is never too hot in the summer nor too cold in winter. The best time to visit is from May to October. The spot boasts abundant forests and wetlands. Flocks of migrant birds stop over at Beidaihe in spring and autumn, when tourists can take in the scene of hundreds of red-crowned cranes and white storks. Many beachside villas and public facilities have been developed in the area, and visitors can indulge themselves in tasty local snacks and seafood. Other fun activities include riding a speedboat, or trying out ballroom dancing. Many sights in Beidaihe have gone viral online, such as the Tiger Stone Park and the Qinhuangdao Zoo that houses over 5,000 animals.