A weekend guide to museum hopping in Baoding

“So close, so beautiful, head to Hebei for the weekend” Baoding is a historic and cultural city with so many museums that it’s known as a “City of Museums.” It’s home to the Zhili Governor’s Office, the Ancient Lotus Flower Pond, the Huai Army Headquarters, the Water Conservancy Museum, the China Paleozoological Museum, the Military Academy Memorial Hall, and more. When visiting any city, museums are my top priority for understanding its history and culture. Baoding is naturally rich in cultural relics, but since the provincial capital is in Shijiazhuang, national treasures like the Jade Burial Suit and the Changxin Lamp unearthed from Han Dynasty tombs are housed in the Hebei Museum in Shijiazhuang, making Baoding’s own collection feel a bit modest by comparison. However, the Baoding Museum still holds heavyweight artifacts like the “Eastern Han Bronze Horse,” the “Western Zhou Pottery Li,” and “Song Dynasty Ding Ware white porcelain.” The bronze mirror exhibition area is also worth stopping to admire in detail. Overall, it’s still well worth a visit. While you’re there, you can also check out the Baoding Art Museum upstairs. The nearby Guan Hanqing Grand Theater, East Lake Park, and Opera Park offer beautiful environments, making them very comfortable and pleasant for leisure, whether you visit during the day or at night.