Must-Visit Route in the Capital of Zhili

I am a travel blogger who loves the small-town charm and echoes of history. Today, I’ve customized a super-value 3-day, 2-night travel guide for Baoding, all-inclusive for 800 RMB per person, perfect for students, budget travelers, and weekend short-trip enthusiasts! Don’t think Baoding is only about “Donkey Meat Sandwiches” — here you’ll also find millennia-old temples, the legacy of Zhili, the vibrant university town atmosphere, and the serene beauty of northern gardens. --- 🏯 "Explore Baoding with Me" 3 Days 2 Nights · 800 RMB All-Inclusive Guide 📍 Theme: Capital of Zhili · Fragrant Fire Roasts · History Meets Everyday Life 📅 Duration: 3 days 2 nights (ideal for weekends + days off) 💰 Budget: 800 RMB/person (economical budget travel) 🎯 Suitable for: Students, couples, culture lovers, food explorers --- 💰 Budget Breakdown (Per Person) | Item | Cost | |------|------| | Accommodation (2 nights, hostel/economy hotel) | 200 RMB (100 RMB/night) | | Food (6 meals + snacks) | 300 RMB (150 RMB/day, authentic eats) | | Transportation (round trip + local bus/taxi) | 200 RMB (high-speed train/bus round trip + local transit) | | Tickets + Experiences | 80 RMB (Zhili Governor’s Office + Ancient Lotus Pond) | | Emergency/Souvenirs/Tea | 100 RMB | | Total | ✅ About 800 RMB | > ✅ Tip: High-speed trains from Beijing/Shijiazhuang take 30-50 minutes, tickets cost about 50-80 RMB! --- 🗓 Detailed Itinerary --- Day 1: Arrive in Baoding · First Encounter with the "Capital of Zhili" 🚄 Recommended to arrive in the morning at 【Baoding East Station】 🚌 Take K1 bus or taxi (about 20 RMB) to downtown - Accommodation recommendations: - “Heyi Zhishang” or “Home Inn” near the train station (100 RMB/night) - Or “Lianchi District Hostel” (60 RMB/bed, for a backpacker vibe) - Afternoon: Visit 【Zhili Governor’s Office】 (✅ Ticket 50 RMB) 🏛 The only fully preserved Qing dynasty provincial government office in China, where Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang once governed 📸 Photo spots: Main hall, second hall, official residence — feel “One Governor’s Office, Half a Qing History Book” - Evening: Stroll 【West Street】 (reopened after renovation) 🏮 A century-old street blending Republic of China style with modern cultural creativity, great for night photos - Dinner: Have your first authentic 【Donkey Meat Sandwich】! 🔥 Recommended: Lao Wang Fire Roast or Hao Ziwei Fire Roast (with green peppers, crispy and juicy) 💰 8 RMB each, plus a bowl of millet porridge, all for 15 RMB --- Day 2: Ancient Lotus Pond + Hebei University Food + Ranzhuang Tunnel Warfare Site - Morning: Tour 【Ancient Lotus Pond】 (✅ Ticket 30 RMB) 🌸 One of the top ten gardens in northern China, formerly the Lotus Pond Academy, exquisite pavilions and waterside terraces 📸 Photo spots: East Water Tower, Gentleman’s Longevity Hall, small bridge with weeping willows - Noon: Walk to the area around 【Hebei University】 🍜 Eat at “Hebei University Food Street”: - Hot and sour noodles (6 RMB) - Grilled cold noodles (8 RMB) - Candied hawthorn sticks (5 RMB) - Student canteen meals available (10 RMB to fill up) - Afternoon: Take bus/carpool to 【Ranzhuang Tunnel Warfare Site】 (40-minute ride) 🎫 Free admission (reservation required), optional 20 RMB guided tour 🕳 Crawl through tunnels, experience wartime ingenuity, the original site of the movie “Tunnel Warfare” 📸 Wearing military uniforms for photos is very atmospheric (rental 10 RMB) - Evening: Return to downtown, rest or visit 【Wanbo Plaza】 night market - Dinner: Another fire roast + cold noodles, a perfect ending --- Day 3: Morning at Daci Pavilion + Return Trip - Early morning: Visit 【Daci Pavilion】 (✅ Climbing ticket 10 RMB, exterior free) 🏯 Baoding landmark, built in the Yuan dynasty, climb up to overlook the old city morning mist 📸 Capture the flying eaves in the morning light and the city waking up - Optionally visit 【Baoding Military Academy Memorial Hall】 (✅ Free) 🎖 China’s first modern formal army academy, attended by Chiang Kai-shek and Ye Ting - Noon: Pack two 【Donkey Meat Sandwiches】 for the road (16 RMB) - Afternoon: Head to 【Baoding East Station】 for your return trip, ending your 3-day, 2-night journey of everyday life and history 🚄 --- 🍜 Baoding Must-Try Food List (Authentic and Affordable) | Food | Recommended Place | Price | |------|-------------------|-------| | Donkey Meat Sandwich (round flatbread) | Lao Wang Fire Roast, Hao Ziwei | 8 RMB each | | Donkey Meat Soup | Morning market stalls | 6 RMB/bowl | | Cold Noodles | West Gate of Hebei University | 7 RMB | | Hot and Sour Noodles | Student Street | 6 RMB | | Sugar Cake | Night market stalls | 3 RMB each | | Millet Porridge | Breakfast stalls | 2 RMB/bowl | --- 📌 Handy Tips: 1. Best seasons: Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October) with pleasant weather, perfect for walking. 2. Transportation advice: The city is small; bus + walking + shared bikes suffice, taxi starting fare is 6 RMB. 3. Donkey Meat Sandwich secret: Look for the “round flatbread” (unique to Baoding), with green peppers but no scallions! 4. Many free attractions: Daci Pavilion exterior, West Street, Military Academy Memorial, parks are all free. 5. Cultural bonus: Baoding is a “strategic area near Beijing,” once the capital of Zhili Province, with a very high historical status. --- 🎯 In these 3 days, you will gain: - A tour through Qing dynasty government offices - An immersive experience of wartime tunnel warfare - Countless delicious fire roasts and local life scenes - A heartfelt embrace with a forgotten northern ancient city 800 RMB brings you a triple treat of history, flavor, and slow living. If you want, I can prepare a PDF guide + food map + bus route map + donkey meat sandwich pitfalls guide for you too~ May you hear the bell and take your first crispy, piping hot bite of fire roast in Baoding’s morning light 🥙🌅 —— | Travel Blogger · Small Town Catcher ✨