廊坊市

Why this place

Langfang sits exactly between Beijing and Tianjin, and has grown rapidly as a commuter and logistics city for both. It is not a sightseeing destination in itself, but it is convenient, and the surrounding counties hold some old temples and the last stretch of the Grand Canal before Tianjin.

What to see

• The Grand Canal at Xianghe, one of the best-preserved northern canal stretches
• Shengfang old town, a canal trading town with a Ming-era street layout

What to eat

• Northern street food — flatbreads, dumplings and lamb skewers
• Xianghe meat pies (roubing), a local specialty

Best time

April–May and September–October