2026 Xianxian Travel Guide | Explore Danqiao Ancient Bridge + Han Tombs + Ma Benzhai Memorial + Xianxian Huoshao

2-Day Historical and Cultural Tour of Xianxian

Admire the stone carvings of Danqiao and marvel at ancient craftsmen's ingenuity, explore Han Tombs to seek the legacy of the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties, pay homage to heroes at the memorial hall, and taste Xianxian's flavors like Huoshao and Rougao

                        
Tour Duration
2 Days & 1 Night

                        
Main Destinations
Danqiao Scenic Area, Xianxian Han Tombs, Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall, Xianxian Museum

                        
Suitable For
History Enthusiasts, Red Culture Followers, Family Travelers, Photography Lovers

                        
Per Capita Budget
¥300-¥550

Ancient Bridge & Han Dynasty Charm

Danqiao Scenic Area · Xianxian Han Tombs · Zhangzhuang Catholic Church

Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, stroll through Danqiao and appreciate the thousand-year-old stone carving art; in the afternoon, explore Xianxian Han Tombs to trace the stories of princes and marquises in the Han Dynasty; in the evening, visit Zhangzhuang Catholic Church to experience the integration of Chinese and Western architecture.

Attraction Arrangement

Danqiao Scenic Area

The core cultural scenic area of Xianxian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First built in the second year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1629), the five-hole stone arch bridge spans the Fuyang River, with a total length of 69 meters. The stone carving guardrails on both sides of the bridge deck are engraved with more than 300 patterns covering mythological stories, historical allusions, flowers, birds and animals, with exquisite craftsmanship, known as the "Museum of Stone Arch Bridges".

Xianxian Han Tombs (Xianwang Mausoleum)

A National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit, consisting of 37 Han tombs including the Tomb of Liu De, King of Hejian in the Western Han Dynasty (Xianwang Mausoleum) and the Tomb of Zhang Er. Among them, the Xianwang Mausoleum has a mound height of 20 meters and a circumference of 500 meters, being one of the largest Han tombs in North China. Precious cultural relics such as gold-inlaid bronze wares and jade articles have been unearthed, showing the funeral system of princes and marquises in the Han Dynasty.

Zhangzhuang Catholic Church

A famous Catholic church in North China, first built in 1866, designed by French missionaries, integrating Gothic and Chinese architectural styles. The bell tower is 43 meters high, with stained glass and relief murals inside. It is an important physical object for studying modern Chinese-Western cultural exchanges and is now a key cultural relic protection unit in Hebei Province.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

Budget hotels in the county center
Folk homestays around Danqiao
Characteristic inns in Zhangzhuang Township

Food Recommendations

Xianxian Huoshao (Pork Filling)
Xianxian Rougao (Meat Cake)
Hejian Donkey Meat Huoshao (Xianxian Branch)
Xianxian Laodoufu (Old Tofu)

Travel Tips

Danqiao's stone carvings are rich in details, it is recommended to rent an audio guide (¥20 per unit)
The Han Tombs area is large, it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes
Loud talking is prohibited in the church, photography requires permission

Red Memory

Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall · Xianxian Museum · Xianxian Ecological Park · Return Trip

Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, pay homage to the Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall to cherish the memory of anti-Japanese heroes' deeds; in the afternoon, visit the Xianxian Museum to systematically understand local history; in the late afternoon, stroll in the Ecological Park to relax, then buy local specialties and return.

Attraction Arrangement

Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall

Built to commemorate the anti-Japanese national hero Ma Benzhai and the Hui Battalion. The hall displays Ma Benzhai's life and the Anti-Japanese War history of the Hui Battalion, exhibiting more than 200 cultural relics such as weapons, photos and letters, and has a restored scene of "The Bloody Battle of Xianxian", showing the heroic deeds of the army and people in the Anti-Japanese War.

Xianxian Museum

A comprehensive local museum with a collection of more than 1200 cultural relics. It has exhibition halls such as "Han Dynasty Culture Exhibition", "Ancient Bridge Culture Exhibition" and "Red Xianxian Exhibition", displaying bronze wares, pottery unearthed from Han tombs, replicas of Danqiao stone carvings, etc., systematically showing the development context of Xianxian from the Han Dynasty to modern times.

Xianxian Ecological Park

An urban park integrating ecological protection and leisure fitness, covering an area of 300 mu (about 20 hectares). It has a central lake, fitness trails, cultural corridors, etc., planted with more than 300 species of native tree species. The lake is covered with reeds and often inhabited by water birds, being a natural space for citizens and tourists to relax and rest.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall can be reached directly by Xianxian Bus No.3
Xianxian Museum is a 10-minute walk from the county center
Ecological Park can be reached by Bus No.1 to North Ring Road Station

Ticket Information

Danqiao Scenic Area: ¥20 per person
Xianxian Han Tombs: ¥15 per person
Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall: Free (ID card required)
Xianxian Museum: Free (Reservation required)
Zhangzhuang Catholic Church: Free

Travel Tips

Free guided tours are available at Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall (Reservation required for groups of more than 10 people)
The museum holds "Han Tomb Exploration" research activities every Saturday (suitable for parent-child travel)
Lotus flowers are in full bloom in the Ecological Park in summer (July-August), suitable for photography

Must-Try Foods in Xianxian

Xianxian Huoshao (Baked Wheat Cake)

A traditional famous snack in Xianxian, with refined flour as the crust, filled with pork filling (or donkey meat, fennel filling), baked after being pan-fried on an iron griddle. The outer crust is crispy and layered, and the inner filling is fresh and juicy. Because of its round shape like a full moon, it is also called "Moon Huoshao", being the first choice for local breakfast and daily snacks.

Xianxian Rougao (Meat Cake)

A special meat dish in Xianxian, made with fresh pork mince as the main ingredient, added with starch, egg white, green onion, ginger and other seasonings, then steamed. It has a firm and tender texture, can be eaten cold in slices, or stir-fried or made into soup. Invented by the tomb keepers of Han tombs as a convenient food in early years, it has been passed down and is a must-have for local festivals.

Xianxian Laodoufu (Old Tofu / Tofu Pudding)

A traditional breakfast in Xianxian, made of local soybeans with the "sour pulp curdling" craft to make tofu pudding. It has a tender texture like milk, served with sesame paste, soy sauce, Chinese chive flower sauce, garlic puree, prickly ash oil and other seasonings, with a salty and slightly numb taste. The soup is boiled with more than ten kinds of spices, with a unique flavor.

Xianxian Guanchang (Sausage)

A special snack in Xianxian, made by filling pig intestines with a mixture of pig blood, starch and spices, boiled and then sliced and fried. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, salty and slightly spicy, can be eaten directly or dipped in vinegar. It is a common food in local night markets, known as "Xianxian Mini BBQ".

Xianxian Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

Spring (April-May): Flowers bloom around Danqiao, suitable for ancient bridge photography and spring outing
Autumn (September-October): Clear sky and fresh air, high comfort for visiting Han Tombs
Special Recommendation: On September 3rd (Victory Day of the Anti-Japanese War), there are commemorative activities at Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall

Must-Try Foods

Xianxian Huoshao (Laojie Huoshao Shop in the county town)
Xianxian Rougao (Li's Rougao in Hechengjie Town)
Xianxian Laodoufu (Zaoqi Doufunao on Culture Street)
Xianxian Guanchang (Wang's Guanchang at the night market)
Xianxian Sweet Garlic

Budget Reference

Tickets: About ¥35 (main attractions)
Accommodation: ¥80-¥150 per night (homestay/budget hotel)
Catering: ¥40-¥70 per day
Transportation: About ¥30 (transportation within the county)
Total: ¥300-550

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Danqiao inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List? → Because of its unique five-hole continuous span design and exquisite stone carving art, it is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese bridges
What cultural relics can be seen in Xianxian Han Tombs? → Exhibits include gold-inlaid bronze wares, jade articles, pottery unearthed from Han tombs, and the mound is well preserved
Is Ma Benzhai Memorial Hall suitable for children? → Yes, there is an interactive experience area for children to learn about the Anti-Japanese War history
Is there a difference between Xianxian Huoshao and Hejian Huoshao? → Xianxian Huoshao is mostly filled with meat, with a crispier crust, while Hejian Huoshao is mainly filled with donkey meat

Xianxian Travel