Xingtang County Travel

Hebei Shijiazhuang Xingtang County - A millennium-old county, renowned as the "Hometown of Chinese Red Dates", a landscape city at the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, featuring natural landscapes like Niwangzhai and Peacock Lake, historical sites like Fengchong Temple and the Confucius Temple. A 3-day, 2-night in-depth tour to experience the blend of beautiful scenery and farming civilization.

2000+

Years of Red Date Cultivation History

Nationally Protected Cultural Relic Units

10+

Core Attractions

15+

Specialty Foods

Shijiazhuang City Xingtang County Niuwangzhai

Niuwangzhai - Pearl of Taihang

The iconic natural scenic area of Xingtang County, named after the legend of the Ox King appearing here. The main peak is 419 meters high, with majestic mountain scenery. From the summit, you can overlook the entire Xingtang panorama. At the foot of the mountain lies Niwang Lake, creating a harmonious blend of mountains and water, making it an excellent spot for hiking and sightseeing.

Three-Day Two-Night Landscape and Farming Tour in Xingtang County

Ascend Niuwangzhai to view the Taihang Mountain range, cruise Peacock Lake to appreciate the scenery, visit Fengchong Temple to sense a millennium of Zen, explore the red date garden to taste the sweetness, and experience the ancient county charm and pastoral joy

                        
Trip Duration
3 Days 2 Nights

                        
Main Destinations
Niuwangzhai, Peacock Lake, Fengchong Temple, Red Date Industrial Park, Fou Mountain

                        
Suitable For
Landscape Enthusiasts, History Buffs, Families with Children, Agricultural Experience Seekers

                        
Per Person Budget
¥400-¥800

Landscape Scenery

Niuwangzhai · Peacock Lake · Niwangzhai Night View

Trip Highlights

Morning: Ascend Niuwangzhai, hike the mountain trails, and admire the majestic scenery of the Taihang Mountains. Afternoon: Cruise Peacock Lake, take a boat ride to enjoy the lake and mountain views. Evening: Return to Niwangzhai to enjoy the mountain sunset and starry night view.

Attraction Arrangement

Niwangzhai

A famous natural scenic area in Xingtang. Legend says it was built by ancient cattle herders to avoid war. The mountain features the Ox King Temple, ancient fortification walls, and viewing platforms. From the summit, you can enjoy distant views of the Xingtang plain and the Taihang Mountains. The area is vibrant with flowers in spring and offers layered autumn foliage.

Peacock Lake

A water conservancy scenic area built around the Koutou Reservoir, named for its peacock tail shape. The lake covers about 1.2 square kilometers with clear water, surrounded by greenery. Facilities include a boat dock, fishing area, and viewing corridor, making it a great spot for leisure and vacation.

Practical Information

Accommodation Recommendations

B&Bs at Niwangzhai Scenic Area
Farm stays around Peacock Lake
Budget hotels in Xingtang County town

Food Recommendations

Xingtang Pagao
Buckwheat Menzi
Big Pot Stew
Red Date Wowotou

Travel Tips

Hiking Niwangzhai takes about 2.5 hours, wear anti-slip shoes
Peacock Lake boat ride: ¥30/person, half price for children
Large temperature difference between day and night in mountainous areas, bring a jacket

Ancient Temple & Sweet Taste

Fengchong Temple · Xingtang Confucius Temple · Red Date Cultural Industrial Park

Trip Highlights

Morning: Explore Fengchong Temple, experience the Zen atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty ancient temple. Afternoon: Visit the Xingtang Confucius Temple, trace the heritage of Confucian culture. Evening: Enter the Red Date Industrial Park, taste fresh red dates and processed products.

Attraction Arrangement

Fengchong Temple

A National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Originally built in the Tang Dynasty, the existing main hall from the Song Dynasty is one of the earliest surviving wooden structures of the Song Dynasty in Hebei. The hall contains fragments of Song Dynasty murals. Ancient cypresses stand strong within the temple, with incense continuing for a millennium.

Xingtang Confucius Temple

A Hebei Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Originally built in the Yuan Dynasty, the existing Dacheng Hall is a Ming Dynasty structure. The hall contains statues of Confucius and his disciples and preserves stone inscriptions from Qing Dynasty renovations. It is an important site for the transmission of Confucian culture in Xingtang.

Xingtang Red Date Cultural Industrial Park

An integrated park for red date cultivation, processing, display, and experience. Xingtang red dates are a National Geographical Indication product. Within the park, you can pick fresh dates (Sep-Oct), visit the red date museum, and taste processed products like red date cakes and red date wine.

Practical Information

Transportation Guide

Fengchong Temple: Take Xingtang Bus Line 1 to Longzhou Town Government Station
Confucius Temple: Walkable (800m from Fengchong Temple)
Red Date Industrial Park: Recommended to drive (15 km from county town)

Ticket Information

Niwangzhai: ¥40/person
Peacock Lake: Free (boat ride charged separately)
Fengchong Temple: ¥10/person
Confucius Temple: ¥8/person
Red Date Industrial Park: Free (picking charged by weight)

Travel Tips

Photography is prohibited inside Fengchong Temple, follow the rules
Best time for red date picking: mid-September to early October
Traditional culture experience activities at Confucius Temple every Saturday (reservation required)

Historic Site & Return Trip

Fou Mountain · Xianglian Temple · Xingtang Specialty Market · Return

Trip Highlights

Morning: Ascend Fou Mountain, explore the ancient cultural site. Afternoon: Visit Xianglian Temple, experience Buddhist culture. Finally, stroll through the specialty market, purchase souvenirs like red date products, and conclude the Xingtang tour.

Attraction Arrangement

Fou Mountain

A famous historical and cultural mountain in Xingtang, named for its shape resembling the ancient musical instrument "Fou". The mountain features a Neolithic cultural site and relics from the Warring States period, with unearthed pottery and stone artifacts. It is an important location for tracing the early civilization of Xingtang.

Xianglian Temple

An ancient temple originally built in the Tang Dynasty, rebuilt over time. Existing structures include the Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall. The temple has a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree that turns golden in autumn. It is a popular place for local devotees to pray.

Xingtang Specialty Market

A market that focuses on selling local Xingtang specialties, mainly red date products (dried red dates, red date cakes, red date wine), as well as Pagao, Menzi, and handmade noodles. Prices are reasonable, with vacuum packaging and express delivery support available.

Practical Information

Experience Items

Red date cake making experience at the Red Date Industrial Park
Fou Mountain field archaeology popularization (advance reservation required)
Observing Pagao making at the specialty market

Specialty Recommendations

Xingtang Red Date Gift Box (National Geographical Indication Product)
Red Date Wine (low-alcohol health wine)
Vacuum-packed Pagao
Handmade Buckwheat Noodles

Return Trip Guide

Xingtang County is about 50 km from downtown Shijiazhuang, a 1-hour drive
Xingtang Bus Station has buses to downtown Shijiazhuang (every 30 minutes)
About 8 km from Xingtang Railway Station, trains available to various destinations

Must-Try Foods in Xingtang County

Xingtang Pagao

A traditional Xingtang snack, made from buckwheat flour. After being boiled with water and condensed into a block, it is cut into pieces and served with dipping sauces like mashed garlic, vinegar, and sesame oil. It has a chewy texture and a sour, spicy, and refreshing taste, making it a great summer snack to relieve the heat.

Buckwheat Menzi

A characteristic Xingtang farmhouse dish. Buckwheat flour is mixed with minced meat and vegetables, stuffed into casings, and steamed. Sliced, it can be served cold or stir-fried. It has a soft, glutinous texture and a rich buckwheat aroma, and is a must-have for local festivals.

Xingtang Red Date Wowotou

A steamed bun made by mixing local Xingtang red dates with cornmeal. The sweetness of the red dates balances the coarse texture of the cornmeal, resulting in a soft, sweet, and fragrant staple that embodies the farming characteristics of Xingtang.

Xingtang Big Pot Stew

The "finale dish" of local farmhouse banquets. Cabbage, vermicelli, tofu, pork belly, meatballs, etc., are stewed in a large iron pot. Slow cooking allows the ingredients to fully blend, resulting in a rich, savory, hearty, and warming dish that reflects northern culinary characteristics.

Xingtang County Travel Tips

Best Travel Time

Spring (April-May): Niwangzhai and Fou Mountain flowers bloom, suitable for outings
Autumn (September-October): Red date harvest season, picking experience, cool climate
Winter: Pray at Fengchong Temple and Xianglian Temple, feel the tranquility of ancient temples

Must-Try Foods

Xingtang Pagao
Buckwheat Menzi
Red Date Wowotou
Big Pot Stew
Red Date Cake

Budget Reference

Tickets: Approximately ¥70 (including main scenic areas)
Accommodation: ¥80-¥150/night
Food & Beverage: ¥30-¥60/day
Transportation: About ¥60 (including round trip to/from the city)
Total: ¥400-¥800

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Niwangzhai suitable for the elderly and children? → There are gentle trails, short trips can be chosen
Can red dates be mailed? → The industrial park and market support express delivery, shipping fee paid separately
Does Fengchong Temple require reservation? → No reservation needed for individual visitors, groups need to reserve 1 day in advance
Can I fish at Peacock Lake? → Fishing allowed in designated areas, requires ¥20/day site fee