河北省

Why this place

Hebei wraps around Beijing and Tianjin, and it is where the empire's defences and summer retreats were built: the wall at Shanhaiguan and Jinshanling, the Qing summer resort at Chengde, and the eastern Qing tombs. It is often bypassed, which is why its best sites are still quiet.

What to see

• Chengde's Mountain Resort and its Tibetan-style outer temples
• Shanhaiguan, where the Great Wall meets the sea, and the wall at Jinshanling
• The Eastern Qing Tombs at Zunhua, quieter and more complete than the Ming tombs
• Zhengding's four ancient pagodas, near Shijiazhuang

What to eat

• Donkey-meat burgers and northern wheat cooking
• Lamb from the plateau counties and the plain's chestnuts

How to plan

Three or four days: Chengde two, Shanhaiguan two — best done as separate trips from Beijing.

Best time

May–October

Cities 11

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