Hejian City Travel

Hejian City, Cangzhou, Hebei Province — an ancient county with a history of over 2700 years, was the seat of the Hejian State during the Warring States Period, and the governance of Hejian Prefecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties, enjoying the reputation of the 'No.1 Prefecture South of Beijing'. It has national key cultural relic protection units such as Hejian Prefectural Office, intangible cultural heritage donkey fire, Xihe Dagu and other characteristic resources, combining ancient prefecture culture, folk customs and red memory. A 2-day & 1-night tour allows you to touch the millennium history and taste the intangible cultural heritage on the tip of your tongue.

2700+

Years of City-Building History

National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit (Hejian Prefectural Office)

Core Cultural Scenic Spots

10+

Specialty Foods (Including Intangible Cultural Heritage)

Panoramic View of Hejian Prefectural Office, Hejian City, Cangzhou

Hejian Prefectural Office - No.1 Prefecture South of Beijing

The landmark building of Hejian City, a national key cultural relic protection unit, first built in the Northern Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The existing buildings were reconstructed in 2013, covering an area of 83.7 mu, restored according to the regulations of Ming and Qing official offices, including the main hall, second hall, inner residence, prison office, etc., reproducing the official culture under the plaque of "Gong Sheng Ming" (Fairness Brings Enlightenment), known as the "living fossil of northern official office architecture"

2-Day & 1-Night Ancient Prefecture Cultural Tour of Hejian City

Visit the prefectural office to watch Ming and Qing official etiquettes, taste fire-baked cakes to enjoy intangible cultural heritage delicacies, listen to Dagu to appreciate folk art, remember martyrs to inherit the red spirit

                    
Trip Duration
2 Days & 1 Night

                    
Main Destinations
Hejian Prefectural Office, Donkey Fire Cultural Park, Guangming Theatre, Bethune's Former Operating Room Site

                    
Suitable Crowd
History Enthusiasts, Food Explorers, Folk Art Fans, Family with Kids

                    
Per Capita Budget
¥350-¥600

Ancient Prefecture & Intangible Cultural Heritage

Hejian Prefectural Office · Donkey Fire Cultural Park · Guangming Theatre

Itinerary Highlights

Explore Hejian Prefectural Office in the morning to experience the culture of Ming and Qing official offices; check in at the Donkey Fire Cultural Park in the afternoon to learn to make intangible cultural heritage food; listen to Xihe Dagu at Guangming Theatre in the evening to appreciate traditional folk art.

Attraction Arrangement

Hejian Prefectural Office Scenic Area

The core cultural landmark of Hejian, a national key cultural relic protection unit. After reconstruction, it completely retains the pattern of Ming and Qing official offices, with exhibitions such as "Prefectural Office Culture Exhibition", "Ancient Punishment Exhibition", "Official Costume and Etiquette Exhibition". The main hall hangs the plaque of "Gong Sheng Ming", the second hall displays the office scene of the prefect, and the prison office restores the ancient cell. You can participate in the interactive experience of "Prefect Judging Cases" (reservation required) to experience the ancient administrative system.

Donkey Fire Cultural Park

A park themed on the intangible cultural heritage culture of Hejian donkey fire, showing the development history of fire-baked cake making skills, with "Old Workshop Restoration Area", "Skill Experience Area" and "Food Exhibition and Sales Area". You can personally participate in the whole process of kneading dough, baking and filling with meat, understand the origin of the saying "Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground", and taste the freshly baked hot fire-baked cakes with donkey intestine.

Guangming Theatre

A well-preserved Republican-era theater in North China, built in 1934 with brick and wood structure. The upper part of the stage is decorated with "Mirage" paintings, and the auditorium is divided into pool seats and floor seats. It was once an important town for the performance of Xihe Dagu, Pingju and other folk arts. Now, intangible cultural heritage inheritors perform Xihe Dagu and Hebei Bangzi every day, with shadow puppet shows added on weekends, allowing you to experience the entertainment customs of old Hejian.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Antique Inns around the Prefectural Office
City Express Hotels
Cultural Park Themed Homestays

Food Recommendations

Hejian Donkey Fire (Caohe School)
Hejian Crisp Candy
Hejian Smoked Meat
Crisp Sesame Seed Cake

Travel Tips

Audio guide for the Prefectural Office: ¥20 per unit, recommended to rent (including interactive games)
Experience classes at the Fire Cultural Park need to be booked 1 hour in advance (¥30 per person)
Performance tickets for Guangming Theatre should be purchased 1 day in advance, which are in short supply on weekends

Red Memory & Cultural Context

Bethune's Former Operating Room Site Memorial Hall · Hejian Museum · Xihe Dagu Book Club · Return Trip

Itinerary Highlights

Pay homage to Bethune's Former Operating Room Site in the morning to cherish the internationalist spirit; visit Hejian Museum in the afternoon to systematically understand the local history; listen to books and taste tea at Xihe Dagu Book Club in the afternoon, then buy souvenirs and return.

Attraction Arrangement

Bethune's Former Operating Room Site Memorial Hall

A national key cultural relic protection unit, the former site where Dr. Bethune operated on Eighth Route Army wounded soldiers in 1939. The existing buildings include operating rooms, pharmacies, dormitories, etc., displaying surgical instruments, horse lamps used by Bethune, letters and other cultural relics, with restored scenes of "field medical rescue", showing Bethune's spirit of "selflessness and dedication to others".

Hejian Museum

A comprehensive local museum with a collection of more than 1500 cultural relics, featuring exhibitions such as "Hejian Ancient State Exhibition", "Prefectural Office Culture Exhibition", "Intangible Cultural Heritage and Folk Custom Exhibition", displaying Warring States bronze swords, Han Dynasty pottery, Ming and Qing prefectural office documents, old records of Xihe Dagu, etc., systematically presenting the development context of Hejian from the Warring States Period to modern times. There is a "Virtual Prefectural Office" VR experience in the museum.

Xihe Dagu Book Club

A folk art venue themed on the national intangible cultural heritage "Xihe Dagu", with veteran artists on duty, performing traditional bibliographies such as "Hujia Jiang", "Xiao Ba Yi" every afternoon. You can order tea and listen to books, experiencing the folk entertainment way of "storytelling and singing". The book club sells souvenirs such as Xihe Dagu scripts and audio-visual products.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Bethune Memorial Hall: self-driving or take the special bus to Wofotang Town (6 trips per day)
Hejian Museum: reachable by urban bus No.5
Xihe Dagu Book Club: 8 minutes' walk from the museum

Ticket Information

Hejian Prefectural Office: ¥40 per person
Donkey Fire Cultural Park: Free (experience classes extra)
Guangming Theatre Performance Ticket: ¥30 per person
Bethune Memorial Hall: Free (ID card required)
Hejian Museum: Free

Travel Tips

Bethune Memorial Hall has student volunteer explainers (weekends) with vivid explanations
VR experience at the museum needs to queue (10 minutes per person), it is recommended to arrive early
Vacuum-packed donkey fire (shelf life 5 days) can be used as gifts

Must-Try Foods in Hejian City

Hejian Donkey Fire (Caohe School)

The iconic intangible cultural heritage food of Hejian, a national intangible cultural heritage, represented by the Caohe school craftsmanship: the fire-baked cake is made of dead dough (unleavened), baked on an iron griddle and then roasted over charcoal fire, with a crispy and charred outer skin; the donkey meat is selected from local donkey rib meat, sliced after being stewed in old soup, stuffed into the fire-baked cake, served with green peppers or stewed vermicelli, rich in salty aroma, known as "One bite of fire-baked cake, even immortals want to taste it".

Hejian Crisp Candy

A traditional pastry of Hejian, originated in the Qing Dynasty, made from sesame seeds, white sugar and maltose through 18 processes such as boiling sugar, pulling sugar and shaping, with a crispy and sweet taste, melting in the mouth without sticking to the teeth. Also known as "Dragon Beard Crisp Candy" because of its thin strip shape, it is a necessary dessert and gift for festivals.

Hejian Smoked Meat

A characteristic meat dish of Hejian, selected pork belly or donkey meat, processed through salting, boiling and smoking with cypress or pine wood, with tight meat texture and rich smoked aroma. It can be eaten cold directly by slicing, or stuffed into fire-baked cakes or served with rice, being the first choice for cold dishes at local banquets, and known as the "Two Wonders of Hejian" together with fire-baked cakes.

Crisp Sesame Seed Cake

A traditional pasta of Hejian, made from flour and vegetable oil, baked after folding multiple layers of dough, with sesame seeds dotted on the outer skin, crispy inside with layers, salty and slightly numb. It can be eaten alone or stuffed with smoked meat or eggs, being a common choice for breakfast and street food, and known as the "Two Fires of Hejian" together with donkey fire.

Hejian City Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

Spring (April-May): Mild climate, suitable for visiting the prefectural office and outdoor activities
Autumn (September-October): Donkey meat is at its best, and Hejian Donkey Meat Culture Festival (October) has rich activities
23rd of the twelfth lunar month to 16th of the first lunar month: "New Year Folk Art Show" at Guangming Theatre with strong New Year flavor

Must-Try Foods

Hejian Donkey Fire (Laojianhe Fire Shop on Hongpailou Street)
Hejian Crisp Candy (Century-Old Crisp Candy Workshop on Culture Street)
Hejian Smoked Meat (Li's Smoked Meat Stall at Yingzhou Market)
Crisp Sesame Seed Cake (Zhang's Sesame Seed Cake at Morning Market)
Hejian Tofu Pudding

Budget Reference

Tickets and Experiences: About ¥120 (including performances and experience classes)
Accommodation: ¥100-180 per night (inn/hotel)
Catering: ¥50-80 per day
Transportation: About ¥40 (intra-county transportation)
Total: ¥350-600

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there schools of Hejian donkey fire? → Divided into Caohe school (dead dough fire-baked cake) and Hejian school (leavened dough fire-baked cake), Caohe school is authentic locally
What are the representative repertoires of Xihe Dagu? → "Hujia Jiang", "Xuejia Jiang", "The Quarrel Between Young Couple Over a Lamp", etc., the book club rotates performances daily
What is the "Prefect Judging Cases" experience at the prefectural office? → Tourists play the roles of prefect, plaintiff and defendant, judge cases according to cases, with staff guidance
Can donkey fire be taken away in vacuum packaging? → Most shops provide vacuum packaging, which can be stored at room temperature for 3-5 days and refrigerated for 7 days