[2025 Dingzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Dingzhou Ancient City (Updated May)

The Dingzhou Museum in Hebei is definitely a treasure museum. Not only a large number of tombs of Han Dynasty kings and princes have been unearthed here, but also a large number of craftsmanship and exquisite jewelry from the Ming and Qing dynasties. These jewels are exquisitely crafted, well-made, and made of the most luxurious materials, giving you a sense of overwhelming wealth. The lighting configuration of the museum's exhibition hall is very scientific, perfectly presenting the shapes of these gorgeous jewels. [Kiss] The most eye-catching item in the exhibition hall is the phoenix crown of the imperial concubine. This phoenix crown is made of gilded copper and uses the filigree and kingfisher feather technique. It is 39 cm high and 21 cm wide. The kingfisher feather inlay technique is a technique that adds color and texture by inlaying kingfisher feathers on a metal base. Although most of the green feathers have fallen off, the phoenix crown still looks exquisite and luxurious. The phoenix crown is divided into three layers. The bottom circle is decorated with nine phoenixes holding tassels in their mouths, and the phoenixes are inlaid with rubies. The phoenix is ​​decorated with twin dragons and immortal figures, with the word "Imperial Edict" engraved in the middle of the crown, and above it is a plaque with the words "Fengtian Gaoming". [TeaDrinker] The exhibition hall is "Golden Pearls - Collection of Jewelry Exhibition", which is one of the permanent exhibitions of Dingzhou Museum.

Travel Preparation Dingzhou in December is getting colder, so be sure to bring thick cotton clothes, scarves, and gloves 🧣, and don't forget thermal underwear. Only when you are fully armed can you enjoy a comfortable trip. You can choose to stay near Dingzhou Ancient City, which is convenient for travel, and you can also enjoy the night view of the ancient city at night. In terms of transportation, if you take the high-speed train, it is fast to take a taxi to various attractions after getting off the train; if you drive, plan your route in advance and pay attention to the signs when parking in the city. Must-visit Attractions Dingzhou Pagoda This thousand-year-old pagoda is a landmark of Dingzhou, and it looks more simple and majestic in the warm winter sun. When you walk under the pagoda and look up, the brick carvings and dougong are exquisite, and the weight of history is overwhelming. The ticket price is affordable, and you can climb the pagoda to enjoy the view of Dingzhou City. Although the stairs are a bit steep, the moment you reach the top, the cold wind turns into pride. There are many stalls around selling Dingzhou's special cultural and creative products, and it is very suitable to pick some souvenirs 🎁. Dingzhou Museum This treasure is open to the public for free, and the heating is sufficient, so you can travel through the long river of history. From the cultural relics of the State of Zhongshan to the fine Ding porcelain, each piece is exquisite, and the explanations in the museum are detailed. Following the explanations, you can learn about the past and present of Dingzhou, as if you have had a dialogue across time and space, and you will be full of knowledge after the visit. Dingzhou Cuisine Dingzhou Menzi In the cold winter, a steaming menzi, with pork and yam powder perfectly blended, is fragrant and tender, either fried or pan-fried. Sitting in a small street shop, with freshly baked huoshao, the happiness of carbohydrates and meat hits the soul, and you will be very satisfied with one bite 🥓. Lamb Offal Soup Milky white lamb soup, with a large amount of lamb offal, sprinkled with a handful of coriander and chopped green onion, is warm and heartwarming when drunk hot. After a bowl, the coldness of the whole body disappears instantly, and every morning starts with this bowl of soup 🍲. Travel Tips It gets dark early in Dingzhou in winter, so plan your time for visiting attractions so as not to delay your return trip. The lights in the ancient city are gorgeous at night, and the photos are very beautiful, so remember to bring a power bank. If you go to the market to buy specialties, don't be afraid to bargain, and you can find many affordable and good things 🛍️. Dingzhou in December is full of ancient charm and fireworks, waiting for you to explore.

📍Address: Dingzhou Ancient City 🚗Transportation: Walk across from the museum 👍️Must-see: Confucius Temple & Gongyuan 🎟️Tickets: Confucius Temple CNY 10, Gongyuan CNY 20 💗Other tips: Chongwen Street in Dingzhou Ancient City is full of snacks from the north and south, and children's games. Chongwen Street is a street for eating, playing, and shopping. Stroll to the Gongyuan. The Kuixing Pavilion in the middle has a vermilion brush pointing to the Gongsheng in the courtyard, symbolizing the top scorer in the courtyard. (A bit of a tongue twister) The roof of the examination hall (also called the examination shed) is a highlight, with a central spire and layers that gradually descend, ensuring ventilation in the examination shed, as it is a venue for hundreds of people. (This is a well-preserved examination shed in the north) In addition to the civil examination, there is also a military examination, including horseback archery and foot archery. There are also stone locks of different sizes for visitors to experience the military examination. The "stone" in "bow, knife, and stone" refers to the stone lock, which originated in the Tang dynasty and flourished in the Qing dynasty. Some people still practice with stone locks in the park, which requires strength, eyesight, and skill. Walk along Chongwen Street, and you will reach the Confucius Temple outside the ancient city. It is small, much smaller than the Imperial College, and the incense in the Dacheng Hall slowly releases smoke. You can play pitch-pot in the courtyard of the side hall. 🏹

8 Ancient Towns to Visit in Hebei! Do you know these 8 ancient towns in Hebei? Fun, beautiful, and photogenic! If you want to travel to Hebei, tag your travel buddy! Shengfang Ancient Town Nuanquan Ancient Town Guangfu Ancient Town Xuanhua Ancient Town Zhengding Ancient Town Jimingyi Ancient Town Yujia Stone Village Dingzhou Ancient Town

🚗🚗🚗Travel Itinerary: Day1: China Ancient Animal Museum (Baoding Natural Museum) → Governor's Office of Zhili → Ancient Lotus Pond → Zhengding Ancient City → Jianguo Puyin Hotel (Zhengding Ancient City, Shijiazhuang) Day2: Hebei Museum → Tianning Temple → Longxing Temple → Kaiyuan Temple → Linji Temple Chengling Pagoda → Linji Temple → Zhengding County Confucian Temple → Guanghui Temple Pagoda → Dabeige → Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda → Dingzhou Ancient City → Song Street → Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda Square → Anyu Song Street | Chinoiserie Archaic Rhyme Hotel·Guofeng Guryun Hotel (Dingzhou Song Street Museum Store) Day3: Dingzhou Museum → Dingzhou Gongyuan → Confucian Temple → Zhongshan Han Tomb

After leaving the capital and heading southwest for about 200 kilometers, you can reach the ancient city of Dingzhou. This place was once the capital of the Zhongshan State during the Warring States period over 2000 years ago, later destroyed by the State of Zhao. Dingzhou is renowned for its long history and splendid culture. Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Dingzhou has always been a political, economic, military, and cultural center in the north, leaving behind a rich cultural heritage. The main attractions of the ancient city include: Kaiyuan Temple, the Tribute Academy, the Ancient Prefecture Office, the Temple of Literature, the Museum, Kaiyuan Street, Song Street, and Chongwen Street, etc. Among them, the pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple, built during the Northern Song Dynasty, stands at 83.7 meters tall and is the highest existing brick pagoda in China, known as the 'Number One Pagoda in China'. Warm tips: The attractions in Dingzhou are not far from each other. You can dine on Chongwen Street and stay on Song Street. The hotels here also offer free Hanfu photography, which is very people-friendly!

Deep Experience of Zhongshan's Ancient Charm. A complete guide to a one-day tour in Dingzhou, Hebei | Encounter the charm of the ancient capital of Zhongshan|||Dingzhou, Hebei, a city with a civilization history of over 5,000 years, where Qi's chancellor Guan Zhong built a city during the Spring and Autumn period, and where the state of Zhongshan during the Warring States period, Han Zhongshan, and Later Yan all established their capitals. With a long history and profound cultural heritage, those who love ancient architecture and history must visit Dingzhou. 🌟One Day Itinerary Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda➡️Dingzhou Museum➡️Dingzhou Gongyuan➡️Chongwen Street➡️Dingzhou Confucian Temple➡️Beizhuangzi Han Tomb Stone Carvings➡️South City Gate 1️⃣Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda Also known as the Liao Di Pagoda, it is an octagonal pavilion-style tower, 83.7 meters high with 11 stories. Inside the tower, there are Song Dynasty murals and brick carvings of dougong, making it a Buddhist pagoda that integrates architectural art, Buddhist culture, and calligraphy and painting. It holds an important place in the history of ancient Chinese architecture. 🎫Ticket price 10r, tower climbing 30r, business hours 8:30-17:30. 🔹tips: If you want to climb the tower, be sure to queue up at the entrance at 8:30. Only 60 tickets for tower climbing are sold each day (including 30 full-price tickets and 30 half-price tickets). 2️⃣Dingzhou Museum A must-visit treasure museum to understand the ancient capital of Zhongshan, with more than 50,000 cultural relics in its collection, including 3 national treasures, 107 first-grade relics, 214 second-grade relics, and 644 third-grade relics. Don't miss the three national treasures: the green jade dragon chi-holding grain-patterned bi, the pierced carving of fairy tales jade screen, and the Ding kiln white glazed carved dragon-head vase. 🎫Free admission, reservation required, business hours 9:00-17:00, be sure to visit during the reserved time slot. 3️⃣Dingzhou Gongyuan Also known as the examination hall, it is one of the most well-preserved ancient sites for selecting scholars and tribute students in the north. You can see the ancient examination hall as well as exam papers, cheat sheets, etc., which are very interesting. 🎫Ticket price 20r, business hours 8:30-17:30. 4️⃣Chongwen Street A commercial snack street with Ming and Qing architectural styles and market-style atmosphere, where you can experience the authentic folk culture. 5️⃣Dingzhou Confucian Temple Also known as the Temple of Confucius, it is a place for worshipping Confucius and has maintained the architectural pattern since the Ming Dynasty. It is the most well-preserved and largest Confucian temple in Hebei Province. Inside the courtyard, there are two locust trees planted by Su Shi when he was the governor of Dingzhou. 🎫Ticket price 10r, business hours 9:00-16:30. 6️⃣Beizhuangzi Han Tomb Stone Carvings The tomb of Liu Yan, the King of Zhongshan during the Eastern Han Dynasty, which has a history of more than two thousand years. Inside, you can visit some of the cultural relics and stone carvings unearthed from the Han tomb, and you can go down to visit the underground palace. 🎫Ticket price 5r, business hours 9:00-16:30. 7️⃣South City Gate Also known as 'Ying Tai Gate,' built in the early Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of more than 600 years. 🟠The above locations, except for the Beizhuangzi Han Tomb Stone Carvings and the South City Gate, which are a bit further away (about a kilometer away from the other places), are all located in the core area of the ancient city of Dingzhou and can be visited on foot. 🌟Food Recommendations Donkey meat sandwich, Dingzhou braised dishes, beef covered cake, Dingzhou grilled cake, Eight Great Bowls, Dalong ice cream.

Preface: Regarding the matter of going out during the National Day, because there are too many reports about overcrowding in major scenic spots and poor travel experiences, I have a cautious attitude towards National Day travel. However, I feel that it's a rare long holiday, and it would be a waste not to go out when the highway is free 😄. We can avoid the crowded famous scenic spots and look for less popular ones, right? After some thought, I decided to make Dingzhou the first stop. Why Dingzhou? Because Dingzhou is close, only 70 kilometers from Shijiazhuang. Of course, the main reason is that Dingzhou has a long history, it was once the capital of the ancient Zhongshan State and the fief of Zhongshan Jing Wang Liu Sheng (who Liu Bei claimed to be after him) during the Western Han Dynasty. He established his capital in Lunu, which is today's Dingzhou. The most famous in Dingzhou City are the Dingzhou Tower and the Gongyuan. The Dingzhou Tower was built during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, serving both Buddhist and military functions, so it is also known as the 'Enemy Tower' (because Dingzhou City was the frontline between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty during the Northern Song Dynasty, and one could understand the enemy situation from the tower). Dingzhou Gongyuan is a well-preserved place for selecting talents and tribute students in the north, established during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, with a history of nearly 300 years, and is a national key cultural relics protection unit. In addition to visiting these two places, I also visited the Dingzhou Museum, which is quite good, definitely one of the better museums at the county level. In addition, Dingzhou's Ding porcelain was very famous in history, one of the five official kilns of the Song Dynasty, but unfortunately, after the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty and the occupation by the Jin Dynasty, Ding porcelain gradually declined. In general, although Dingzhou is not a hot tourist spot, it is still worth a visit. Finally, I have to complain: the Dingzhou Tower and the Museum are on the south side of the road, and the Gongyuan is on the north side. The distance is very close, but the road is divided by a median strip. If you want to go to the other two spots after visiting the Gongyuan, you have to walk a long way (several hundred meters) to the traffic light to cross, which is very unfriendly to tourists, especially the elderly and children. Can't they leave an exit in the middle of the median strip? Is it too much to say that this is laziness? Friends from Dingzhou can comment. Trip