[2025 Baoding Attraction] Travel Guide for Hua Army Office (Updated Apr)

The Huai Army Office Museum in Baoding, originally the Huai Army Martyrs' Shrine and Office, is a well-preserved modern architectural complex mainly in Huizhou style in North China, and a national key cultural relic protection unit. The Huai Army Office in Baoding was first built in the fourteenth year of Guangxu's reign (1888), under the supervision of Li Hongzhang, then Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. The Huai Army was an army recruited and trained by Li Hongzhang in Anhui in the first year of Tongzhi's reign (1862) under the order of Zeng Guofan and with the approval of the Qing court. After continuous expansion, it became an important national military force in the late Qing Dynasty, and gradually declined after the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War. The Huai Army Office in Baoding covers an area of over 30,000 square meters, with a building area of over 5,000 square meters. The east part is the building complex, and the west part is the garden area. The sacrificial area in the southeast is a Huizhou-style building surrounded by high walls. The office area and the servants' area in the northeast are parallel and progressive northern courtyard building complexes. The exquisite and beautiful Huizhou-style architecture is integrated with the simple and elegant northern architecture. The regularly arranged courtyard with patios, the meticulously carved brick, wood, and stone carvings, the Huizhou architectural art features such as brick outside but no wood, wood inside but no brick can be seen everywhere. The Martyrs' Shrine is a sacrificial institution established to commend the fallen soldiers. The Huai Army Martyrs' Shrine in Baoding was a memorial place specially built by Li Hongzhang, Governor-General of Zhili, to commemorate the Huai army soldiers who died in the suppression of the Nian Army, the defense of the coast, or died of illness from overwork after the fourth year of Tongzhi's reign (1865). The main building of the Huai Army Office, the Grand Opera House, is the largest existing closed opera house of the Qing Dynasty in China. Based on the Huai Army Office building complex, the museum holds three exhibitions on architectural art, the historical changes of ancient opera houses, and Baoding opera culture. The museum has permanent exhibitions, including the "Huizhou Style and Beijing Rhyme, A Century of Vicissitudes" architectural art exhibition in the front and back courtyards of the Martyrs' Shrine, which introduces the historical connotation and artistic value of the Huai Army Martyrs' Shrine and Office from multiple perspectives such as the Huai Army's profile, the construction of the Martyrs' Shrine, the operation of the office, and the architectural features; the "All Walks of Life, A Thousand Years of Opera House" exhibition on the history and culture of ancient Chinese opera houses in the reception courtyard, the opera house, and the ancestral hall, which consists of three parts: the display of opera houses throughout the dynasties, the experience of the office opera house, and an overview of Chinese opera, outlining the historical features and rich connotations of ancient Chinese opera houses; and the "Ancient City Opera Style, Baoding Opera Rhyme" exhibition on Baoding opera culture in the ancestral hall management courtyard, which displays the origin of Baoding opera, the charm of Baoding's old tunes, the genres, singing styles, and playwrights of Baoding local opera, demonstrating the ubiquitous opera art of Baoding. The Huai Army Office Museum is an important venue integrating architectural art, historical education, tourism, and opera inheritance, and is also a popular online celebrity for the inheritance of historical art and cultural and creative leisure.

A complex of buildings built to commemorate the Huai Army soldiers who died in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion and the Nian Rebellion, and also used as an office. This is Hui-style architecture, which is rare in the north, with gray tiles, white walls, alleys, beautiful moon gates, and exquisite brick carvings. The theater is a must-visit place in the Huai Army Office. It is well preserved and has exquisite caisson ceilings. If you have time, you can consider the nearby Baoding Zoo, the ticket price is touchingly cheap! I recommend the nearby "Lü Ji Tanghulu" and their fried cakes.

When I went to Baoding to visit my friends, I found out that the best anorectal hospital in China is not in Chengdu, but in Baoding, because it can protect the buttocks! Back to the topic, this city that I had never actively wanted to visit before also has its own heritage and many small and beautiful spots, which is very suitable for citywalk! · 1️⃣ West Street Baoding West Street was formed after Baoding was rebuilt in the Yuan Dynasty. It has the overall style characteristics of the Ming, Qing and Republic of China periods, combining Chinese and Western styles. [Zhili Post Office] [Florence Coffee] is very good at producing coffee. · 2️⃣ Zhili Governor's Office Learn about the culture and historical stories of the Qing Dynasty government offices. 1-9 official refrigerator magnets are very beautiful! · 3️⃣ Daci Pavilion The majestic and magnificent ancient building is magnificent. The temple is filled with the lingering Buddhist sounds and a sacred atmosphere, and is one of the landmark buildings in Baoding. 👉You can visit the [Baoding Catholic Church] next to it, and there is also the [Bell Tower Bread], you have to queue up one hour in advance. · 4️⃣ Huaijun Office The overall architectural style is compatible with both north and south. The reception courtyard, theater (Tindar plays when the sun is good), Xiantang, and Zhaozhong Temple are in the Hui style, and the northern courtyard is in the form of a northern quadrangle. · 5️⃣Baoding Museum It’s a pity that the museum’s treasure, the bronze horse 🐴, was taken away by the Shijiazhuang Museum, and only a replica remains. [Baoding Art Museum] [Guan Hanqing Grand Theater] is right next to it! · 6️⃣China Paleozoological Museum First of all, the architecture is very outstanding, a masterpiece by a master. Then there is the largest paleontological museum with numerous fossils. The dinosaur fossil exhibition area is extremely shocking. · 7️⃣Baoding City Exhibition Center The technology exhibition hall perfectly integrates sound, light and electricity, and there is a free "flying over the horizon" experience. · 8️⃣Lianchi Academy One of the eight scenic spots in Baoding Ancient City, Emperor Kangxi once carved a stone with the inscription "Dragon Flying" in his handwriting. Don't miss it if you like the history of ancient buildings and gardens. · 9️⃣ Qingxiling The grand royal mausoleum complex is magnificent. · In general, Baoding is a very surprising city. I hope you can spend 2-3 days to visit this city that even the donkeys don't want to leave.

❤Recommended reason: The Huai Army Office, officially known as the "Huai Army Zhaozhong Temple and Office," is located in Lianchi District, Baoding City, Hebei Province. It was built by Li Hongzhang to commemorate the "soldiers" of the Huai Army who died in suppressing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Nian Army. 🌟Highlights: The Huai Army Office is a well-preserved Huizhou-style ancestral hall from the Qing Dynasty in northern China, and an ancient building with a northern Qing-style wooden structure. 👍Most recommended: The theater is the largest enclosed theater from the Qing Dynasty in China, and is the essence of the entire Huai Army Office. It is also a typical representative of the architectural style of "combining Chinese and Western styles, and blending the north and south" of the Huai Army Office.

Workers escape on the weekends and come to Baoding to experience a day of leisure, starting from the aroma of Yongmao donkey meat and ending with the lively Baoding banquet. Each stop is a microcosm of Hebei culture. 🥐【Yongmao Donkey Meat】 It is said to be the most popular donkey meat hotpot in Baoding. Queuing is the norm, but the satisfaction you get from taking a bite is definitely worth the wait! 🏞️【Ancient Lotus Pond】 In summer, lotus flowers are in full bloom, and the garden scenery is refreshing. The ticket price is 30 yuan, but the tranquility is priceless. 🏯【Da Ci Pavilion】 A small and exquisite temple, open to the public for free, is a good place to purify your soul. 🏛️【Zhili Governor-General's Office Museum】 A witness to the history of the Qing Dynasty, the ticket price is 30 yuan, taking you back to that turbulent era. 🛍️【West Street】 An ancient street with a new charm, lined with cultural and creative coffee shops. It is even more lively at night and is suitable for a leisurely stroll. 🎭【Huaijun Office】 A gathering place for opera culture. The opera performances in the evening are intoxicating. Tickets are 25 yuan, a perfect combination of culture and entertainment. 🍽️【Baoding Banquet】 A comprehensive experience place integrating food, performances and museums. Admission is free to satisfy your taste buds and vision. 🚶‍♂️【Transportation】 Baoding’s attractions are compact and can basically be reached on foot. You can enjoy the fun of Citywalk, and the occasional taxi ride can also become a time for a short break.

The high-speed train from Beijing to Baoding takes about 40 minutes. If you want to go to Baoding City Walk for one day, I strongly recommend going to the Huaijun Office. The Huai Army Office is a Zhaozhong Temple built by Li Hongzhang to commemorate the "soldiers" of the Huai Army who died in the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Nian Army. It is a relatively well-preserved ancient building complex in northern China, with Hui-style ancestral hall buildings from the Qing Dynasty and northern Qing-style wooden structures as the main body. On September 23, 2023, the Huaijun Public Office Museum (China Ancient Theater Museum) fully launched trial operation after completing renovations and will be open to tourists free of charge within the first month. Free reservations are available on the official account. There are coffee break seats in the backyard. Not many people are there and it is very comfortable.

The refurbished Baoding Huai Army Office has finally opened today! The Huai Army Office has experienced many hardships and has been refurbished since 2015, and it has finally opened today! - 🌟The Huai Army Office was built in the 14th year of the Qing Dynasty's Guangxu period. It was built by Li Hongzhang to commemorate the 'soldiers' who died in the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Nian Army. - 🌟It is a mixed Qing Dynasty building with both southern and northern styles. After many years of refurbishment, the current Huai Army Office, as the Huai Army Office Museum and the China Ancient Opera House Museum, officially meets us! - 🌟The Huai Army Office Museum is very large, and the content displayed is also very rich. The ancient opera house inside is really a highlight, and it will be used as a small theater in the future! - ⌛️【Time】9:00—16:30 🎫【Ticket】 Free visit for one month, need to make an appointment in advance 📍【Address】 Northwest corner of the intersection of Xinghua Road and Tangjia Hutong — Huai Army Office

Baoding Huai Army Office 🪭 In the fourteenth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1888), Li Hongzhang, the then Governor of Zhili, built the Huai Army Zhaizhong Temple here, originally as a public sacrificial place and garrison office for the Huai Army under Li Hongzhang's jurisdiction in Baoding, and also served as the Anhui Guild Hall. Later, the Qing court ordered the construction of a temple in the central axis of this Zhaizhong Temple to commemorate Li Hongzhang. Now the building serves as the Huai Army Office - China Ancient Theater Museum, which was only opened to the public last month. The exterior of the building is a rare Jianghuai style in the northern region, with towering horse-head walls that are particularly eye-catching. The interior of the building is a standard northern theater style, a surprisingly mixed style. There is also a large garden area on the west side, with beautiful garden scenery, flowers, ponds, bridges, and pavilions. After visiting the theater, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, which has a different flavor. It is very suitable for taking portraits, Hanfu photos and so on. Don't miss it if you like to take pictures. 📍Address: Huai Army Office - China Ancient Theater Museum, 90 meters south of No. 346 Xinghua Road, Lianchi District. 🎫Tickets: It's still free now, just make an appointment with the mini program.

As an important military town, Baoding always gives people the impression of being rough and tough. However, this town hall built to commemorate the soldiers of the Huai Army has become more tender and delicate due to the existence of a theater. When traveling to Baoding, don't miss this interesting and pleasant check-in spot. It is rare to see Hui-style ancestral hall buildings in the north, but there is one in Baoding - the Huai Army Office. This was originally a Zhaozhong Temple built by Li Hongzhang to commemorate the Huai Army soldiers after he became the Governor-General of Zhili. Its full name is "Huai Army Zhaozhong Temple and Public Office." But if you walk in now, the exhibits inside will surprise you. The theater and the ancestral hall, two completely unrelated buildings, coexist harmoniously in the Huai Army Office. The most crucial factor is the theater, where the Huai Army and their Anhui fellows used to perform operas and set up banquets. It is the largest existing closed theater from the Qing Dynasty in the country and a representative relic of Chinese theaters. To understand the theater, you might as well start from the museum. “Life in Various Forms, Operas through the Ages – Historical Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Operas” gives a detailed introduction to the origin and development of ancient Chinese operas and operas with unique characteristics, which is an eye-opener. With the origin of opera, the stage came into being. The earliest stages were mostly in the form of squares, halls, terraces, etc. Gradually, fixed buildings such as temple music towers, tile market brothels, mansion stages, restaurants, teahouses, and theaters appeared. The large and small stages are the most romantic and lively places. They are the epitome of the lives of ordinary people. For thousands of years, the operas on the stage have been sung scene after scene, and the audiences in the audience have changed. Wave after wave, the ancient stage remains the same, standing silently and recording silently. Theaters in different dynasties and places are very different, each with its own beauty and exquisite design. The wisdom of the ancients always makes modern people feel inferior. The theater in the town hall looks extremely gorgeous and exquisite just from the entrance. The stone carvings above the red door are delicate and intricate, the figures are lifelike, and the floral patterns are so exquisite that you can't miss them. Although it is an enclosed theater, it is not only large in area but also incredibly high. When you walk into it, you will feel it is spacious and open. The exquisite wood carvings, old-fashioned tables, chairs and benches, and palace lanterns shining with warm light all make people feel dazed, as if they were instantly dreaming back to the Qing Dynasty. The backyard of the theater is a great place to quietly appreciate the three kinds of carvings in Hui-style architecture: wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings, all of which are lifelike and lifelike. The carvings contain a variety of contents, including traditional opera segments, folk stories, myths and legends. Walking in the garden, you will feel quiet and comfortable, with blue bricks, black tiles, horse-head walls, simple and elegant, making you feel like "dreaming of Huizhou".