Handan City Travel

Handan, Hebei - National historical and cultural city with over 3,100 years of history, capital of the Zhao State during the Warring States period, known as the "Capital of Idioms and Allusions", integrating ancient Zhao culture, grotto art, and Tai Chi culture.

3100+
Years of City History
40+
A-Level Scenic Areas
12073
km² Jurisdiction Area
9.41M+
Permanent Residents

Handan City Districts and Counties Travel

Hanshan District

Central urban area of Handan, core historical and cultural district

Step Learning BridgeCarriage Retreat AlleyKing Zhao City Ruins
Congtai District

Central urban area of Handan, political and cultural center

Congtai ParkHandan City MuseumLonghu ParkFuyang ParkGrand Theater
Fuxing District

Western urban area of Handan, industrial tourism district

Zhao GardenQinhe Suburb ParkHandan Steel PlantFuxing Trade City
Fengfeng Mining Area

Southwestern urban area of Handan, grotto art district

Xiangtangshan GrottoesCizhou Kiln SiteFuyang River SourceHeilong Cave
Feixiang District

Eastern urban area of Handan, modern agricultural district

Pingyuan Jun TombDou Mo Ancestral HallFeixiang Peach OrchardAgricultural Sightseeing Park
Yongnian District

Northern urban area of Handan, Tai Chi culture district

Guangfu Ancient CityYang Luchan's Former ResidenceWu Yuxiang's Former ResidenceHongji Bridge
Linzhang County

Southern county of Handan, ancient capital of six dynasties

Yecheng RuinsBronze Sparrow PlatformThree Platforms SiteBuddhist Statue Museum
Chengan County

Southeastern county of Handan, red culture district

Chairman Mao's Inspection Chengan Memorial HallKuangjiao TempleErzu PagodaChengan Cotton Textile
Daming County

Eastern county of Handan, Song Dynasty auxiliary capital district

Damingfu Ancient CityDi Renjie Ancestral HallStone Carving MuseumStraw Weaving Crafts
She County

Western county of Handan, Nuwa culture district

Nuwa PalaceEighth Route Army 129th Division HeadquartersQingquan TempleHanwang Mountain
Ci County

Southern county of Handan, Cizhou kiln culture district

Cizhou Kiln MuseumNorthern Dynasties Tomb ComplexLufeng MountainYiquan Lake
Qiuxian County

Northeastern county of Handan, characteristic industry district

Xiangchenggu Battle Memorial HallFrog Cartoon GroupXanthoceras BaseQiuxian Mutton
Jize County

Northern county of Handan, hometown of Mao Sui

Mao Sui ParkHometown of Chili PeppersBook of Songs CultureJize Wine Industry
Guangping County

Eastern county of Handan, ecological agricultural district

East Lake ParkGoose City Ancient CityGuangping Eight ScenesSpecial Planting
Guantao County

Eastern county of Handan, Wei Canal culture district

Grain Painting TownPrincess LakeWei Canal WetlandBlack Pottery Crafts
Wei County

Southeastern county of Handan, pear hometown and water city

Lixian PlatformWei Ancestral Hall ParkPear Blossom FestivalHometown of Yali Pears
Quzhou County

Northeastern county of Handan, agricultural technology district

Guo Qizhi Memorial PavilionQuzhou Experimental StationLonghai ParkQuzhou Millet
Wu'an City

Western county-level city of Handan, landscape tourism district

Jingniang LakeQibugouAncient Wudang MountainLongevity Village

Handan City Three Days Two Nights Ancient Zhao Capital Cultural Tour

Visit Congtai Park to explore the legacy of King Wuling of Zhao, climb Nuwa Palace to worship the goddess, tour Xiangtangshan Grottoes to appreciate rock carvings, stroll through Guangfu Ancient City to experience Tai Chi culture, taste Handan cuisine, and feel the charm of the 3,000-year-old ancient capital

Duration
3 Days 2 Nights
Main Destinations
Congtai Park, Nuwa Palace, Xiangtangshan Grottoes, Guangfu Ancient City, Yecheng Ruins
Suitable For
History and culture enthusiasts, ancient architecture researchers, grotto art appreciators, Tai Chi culture lovers, food explorers
Average Budget
¥500-¥1500
01
Ancient Capital Exploration
Congtai Park and Idiom Tour
Highlights

Morning visit to Congtai Park and King Zhao City Ruins, afternoon visit to Step Learning Bridge and Carriage Retreat Alley, evening stroll along the Fuyang River nightscape.

Attractions
Congtai Park
National 4A-level scenic area, landmark building of the ancient Zhao capital, where King Wuling of Zhao implemented "Hu clothing and cavalry archery", featuring attractions like Wuling Congtai, Seven Worthies Temple, etc., known as "Handan's number one scenic spot".
Step Learning Bridge
Site of the idiom "Learning Handan walk", originally an ancient bridge over the Qin River, now a reconstruction in ancient architectural style, an important place to understand Handan's idiom culture.
Carriage Retreat Alley
Site of the idiom "Carrying thorns to apologize", said to be where Lin Xiangru gave way to Lian Po, currently with a stone tablet recording this historical allusion.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Hotels around Congtai Park
  • Business hotels in Handan city center
  • Boutique homestays along Fuyang River
Food Recommendations
  • Handan Doumo (Soybean Paste)
  • Yongnian Donkey Meat Sausage
  • Wei County Big Pot Stew
  • Ci County Menzi (Steamed Pork and Starch Dish)
Travel Tips
  • Congtai Park recommends hiring a tour guide for historical explanation
  • Step Learning Bridge offers idiom scene experience
  • Fuyang River nightscape is beautiful for photography
02
Grotto Pilgrimage
Nuwa Palace and Xiangtangshan Art Tour
Highlights

Morning worship at Nuwa Palace to experience Nuwa culture, afternoon visit to Xiangtangshan Grottoes to appreciate Buddhist art, evening experience Cizhou Kiln traditional craftsmanship.

Attractions
Nuwa Palace
National 5A-level scenic area, China's largest and earliest ancient architectural complex dedicated to Nuwa, originally built during the Northern Qi Dynasty, famous for its hanging temple-style unique architecture, known as "Ancestral Temple of China".
Xiangtangshan Grottoes
National 4A-level scenic area, imperial grottoes of the Northern Qi Dynasty, known as one of China's four major grottoes along with Dunhuang, Yungang, and Longmen, famous for exquisite Buddhist statues and stone carving art.
Cizhou Kiln Site
Largest ancient northern Chinese folk kiln system, started during the Northern Dynasties, flourished during the Song, Jin, and Yuan periods, mainly featuring white ground with black floral decoration.
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • City center to Nuwa Palace about 1.5 hours drive
  • Nuwa Palace to Xiangtangshan about 1 hour drive
  • Recommend chartering a car or joining a one-day tour
Ticket Information
  • Nuwa Palace ticket ¥80
  • Xiangtangshan Grottoes ticket ¥60
  • Cizhou Kiln Site free entry
Travel Tips
  • Pay attention to safety at Nuwa Palace's hanging architecture
  • Obey no-photography zones at Xiangtangshan Grottoes
  • Cizhou Kiln offers pottery making experience
03
Ancient City Tai Chi
Guangfu Ancient City and Yecheng Ruins Cultural Tour
Highlights

Morning visit to Guangfu Ancient City to experience Tai Chi culture, afternoon visit to Yecheng Ruins to learn about the ancient capital of six dynasties, visit Handan City Museum before return trip.

Attractions
Guangfu Ancient City
National 5A-level scenic area, famous historical and cultural town of China, birthplace of Yang-style and Wu-style Tai Chi, with well-preserved ancient city walls, surrounded by water, known as "Little Jiangnan of the North".
Yecheng Ruins
National key cultural relics protection unit, capital of six dynasties: Cao Wei, Later Zhao, Ran Wei, Former Yan, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, important example of ancient Chinese capital construction.
Handan City Museum
National first-class museum, housing tens of thousands of cultural relics, famous for "Zhao Culture Exhibition", "Cizhou Kiln Exhibition", "Chinese Historical Coins Exhibition", comprehensively showcasing Handan's historical culture.
Practical Information
Itinerary Arrangement
  • Guangfu Ancient City visit about 3 hours
  • Guangfu to Yecheng about 1 hour drive
  • Museum visit about 2 hours
  • Depart for return trip before 16:00
Food Map
  • Guangfu Crispy Fish
  • Yongnian Donkey Meat
  • Linzhang Mutton Soup
  • Ci County Menzi
  • Wei County Yali Pears
Souvenir Recommendations
  • Cizhou Kiln porcelain
  • Yongnian donkey meat products
  • Wei County Yali pears
  • Daming straw weaving
  • Qiuxian xanthoceras oil

Must-Try Foods in Handan City

Handan Doumo

Handan traditional snack, made with millet flour, served with ingredients like peanuts, tofu skin, sesame, etc., fragrant taste, nutritious, one of locals' favorite breakfasts.

Yongnian Donkey Meat Sausage

Yongnian traditional famous food, made with high-quality donkey meat, mixed with various spices and stuffed into casings, tender meat, unique fragrance, with a century-old history.

Guangfu Crispy Fish

Guangfu Ancient City specialty food, using wild crucian carp from Fuyang River, prepared with unique crisp-making techniques, crispy bones, soft meat, delicious taste, essential dish for entertaining guests.

Wei County Big Pot Stew

Handan specialty countryside cuisine, rich ingredients including pork, vermicelli, tofu, vegetables, etc., stewed in a large iron pot, rich flavor, deeply loved by locals.

Ci County Menzi

Ci County traditional food, made with sweet potato starch, mixed with minced meat, scallions and other ingredients, then steamed, chewy texture, unique flavor.

Wei County Yali Pears

Wei County specialty fruit, beautiful shape, golden color, delicate flesh, juicy and sweet, nationally protected geographical indication product.

Linzhang Mutton Soup

Linzhang County specialty food, using local high-quality mutton, boiled with secret seasonings, milky white soup, delicious taste, nutritious.

Handan City Travel Tips
Best Travel Time
  • April-May: Spring flowers bloom, pleasant climate, suitable for outdoor visits
  • June-August: Summer, can visit western mountainous areas to escape heat
  • September-October: Clear autumn weather, Wei County pears ripen, walnut harvest
  • November-March: Winter, can experience hot springs and snow activities
Must-Experience Activities
  • Explore Zhao culture at Congtai Park
  • Worship Nuwa at Nuwa Palace
  • Appreciate grotto art at Xiangtangshan
  • Learn Tai Chi at Guangfu Ancient City
  • Visit ancient capital at Yecheng Ruins
  • Pottery making experience at Cizhou Kiln
  • Taste Handan Doumo
  • Understand 3,000 years of history at Handan City Museum
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: About ¥150-300
  • Accommodation: ¥120-¥280/night
  • Food: ¥60-¥120/day
  • Transportation: ¥80-¥200 (including round trips to counties)
  • Shopping: ¥150-¥600 (Cizhou Kiln porcelain, etc.)
  • Total: ¥500-¥1500 (excluding large purchases)
Frequently Asked Questions
  • When was Congtai built? → Warring States period, King Wuling of Zhao era (325-299 BC)
  • Nuwa Palace architectural features? → Hanging temple-style architecture, embedded in cliffs
  • When were Xiangtangshan Grottoes built? → Northern Qi period (550-577 AD)
  • Relationship between Guangfu Ancient City and Tai Chi? → Birthplace of Yang-style and Wu-style Tai Chi
  • Yecheng's historical status? → Capital of six dynasties, Cao Cao's political center
  • Characteristics of Cizhou Kiln porcelain? → White ground with black floral decoration, folk art style
  • How many idiom allusions in Handan? → Over 1,500, known as "Capital of Idioms and Allusions"