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No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Shijiazhuang

Zhaozhou Bridge

6.4

4.1/5

1.8k reviews

Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as Anji Bridge, is locally called the Great Stone Bridge. Built between the late Kaihuang period and early Daye period of the Sui Dynasty (595–605 AD), it has a history of over 1,400 years. Designed and constructed by Sui Dynasty craftsman Li Chun, it was bestowed the name "Anji" by Emperor Zhezong during his northern inspection tour in the Northern Song Dynasty. The Zhaozhou Bridge is a large single-span open-spandrel stone arch bridge with a segmental arch. The main arch consists of 28 parallel arch rings arranged longitudinally. The bridge has a total length of 64.4m, a deck width of 9m, and a width of 9.6m at the springing lines on both sides. The main arch, constructed with 28 parallel arch rings, has a clear span of 37.02m and a rise (vertical distance from the crown to the springing line) of 7.23m. The two smaller arches near the abutments at each end of the main arch have clear spans of 3.81m, while the two smaller arches closer to the center of the bridge have spans of 2.85m. Zhaozhou Bridge is an ancient stone arch bridge renowned for its exceptional scientific sophistication and artistic beauty. It holds a significant position in the history of world architecture and has been celebrated since ancient times as a "marvel of the world." In 1961, it was designated by the State Council as one of China's first batch of major national cultural heritage sites. In September 1991, the American Society of Civil Engineers selected it as the 12th "International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark," commemorating the honor with a plaque and monument.

Zhao County · 3.8 km from downtown

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Bailin Temple

3.9

4.8/5

760 reviews

It is a famous Buddhist temple in China, an important town of northern Buddhism, and the seat of Zhaozhou Ancestral Court. It houses Hebei Buddhist Academy and Hebei Zen Research Institute. The current abbot is Zen Master Minghai, and there are more than 160 resident monks. It is located in the southeast corner of Zhaoxian County, Hebei Province (called Zhaozhou in ancient times), facing the first bridge in the world - Zhaozhou Bridge. The main hall of the whole temple, Puguang Hall, covers an area of 435 square meters. Inside the hall is a 3-meter-high, 10-ton, seated statue of Sakyamuni and other statues of gods and Buddhas carved out of marble. Puguang Temple is connected to the mountain gate by a stone road about 7 meters wide and 100 meters long. There are six pairs of imitation Tang stone lamp buildings on both sides of the road, with nearly 10,000 square meters of lawn, more than 300 newly planted cypress trees and more than a dozen trees. The thousand-year-old ancient cypresses that have experienced the vicissitudes of life complement each other. As soon as you enter the mountain gate, you step into the pure Buddha land, which is in sharp contrast with the mundane world outside the mountain gate.

Zhao County · 1.1 km from downtown

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No. 5 of Family-friendly Attractions in Hebei

Hebei Museum

7.3

4.8/5

1.5k reviews

The Hebei Museum, formerly known as the Hebei Provincial Museum, was established in 1953. It is a provincial-level comprehensive museum of Hebei Province, a national patriotism education demonstration base, and a key museum jointly built by the central and local governments. The Hebei Museum consists of four parts: the main campus, Jianhua campus, Yucai campus, and West Street campus. The main campus is located at the Cultural Plaza in Shijiazhuang and is divided into the south and north areas. The north area was built in 1968, and the south area is a newly expanded area. The buildings of the two areas are harmonious and unified, majestic and magnificent, and constitute a landmark cultural view of Shijiazhuang. The Jianhua campus and Yucai campus serve as cultural relic warehouses, with a total collection of more than 340,000 items. Leveraging the advantages of the cultural relic collections of provincial-level cultural and museum institutions, Hebei Museum selects highlights from Hebei's history and presents 10 permanent exhibitions: "Hebei in the Stone Age," "Shang Dynasty Civilization in Hebei," "Songs of Generosity and Sorrow — Stories of Yan and Zhao," "The Majestic Spirit of the Warring States — Ancient Zhongshan State," "The Swan Song of the Great Han — Mancheng Han Tombs," "Quyang Stone Carvings," "Murals of the Northern Dynasties," "Famous Kilns and Fine Porcelain," "Flames of Resistance — Heroic Hebei," and "'Enjoy Hebei' Intangible Cultural Heritage Reception Hall — Exhibition of Hebei Province's Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Achievements." Through more than 5,000 exquisite cultural relics (sets) and modern display methods, it chronicles the continuous history of human development in Hebei over the past 2 million years. Hebei Museum also holds numerous temporary exhibitions each year on topics such as history, art, nature, science and technology, current affairs, and folk customs, greatly enriching people's spiritual and cultural life. Over the years, Hebei Museum has made positive contributions in the collection, protection, research, exhibition, publicity and education of cultural relics, as well as domestic and international exchanges. Hebei Museum was rated as a "National Civilized Unit" in 2015 and won the title of "National Innovative Museum" in 2018. With its profound historical and cultural heritage, modern exhibitions, and a clean and comfortable open environment, Hebei Museum warmly welcomes visitors from all directions.

Shijiazhuang · 38.7 km from Zhao County

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Zhaozhouqiao Jingqu Guqiao Exhibition hall

3.1

4.2/5

90 reviews

The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall is located beside the world-famous Zhaozhou Bridge, close to the Attraction parking lot, and is an important part of the Zhaozhou Bridge Attraction. The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall is a popular science venue that introduces bridge cultural knowledge. It traces the roots of the ancient bridges that have been built for thousands of years, explores the historical trajectory of the evolution and development of bridges, and reveals the secrets of bridges to social development. It integrates the knowledge, history, and society of bridges, and is inclusive and appealing to both the elite and the masses. The Ancient Bridges Hall of Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Attraction displays all 60 bridges in the seven batches of national key cultural relics protection units in the form of pictures and texts, allowing you to appreciate the elegance of ancient Chinese bridges of different ages, styles and beautiful shapes. The reliefs of the top ten ancient bridges in China, carved from precious wood, fully display the ancient style of the ancient bridges in a three-dimensional form, showing the long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation for 5,000 years.

Zhao County · 3.7 km from downtown

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2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

The Palace Museum

10

4.9/5

205.4k reviews

The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is also the symbol of ancient China. When you are in the majestic and orderly high walls and deep courtyards, you can truly feel its former glory. ▲The long history has left behind large-scale precious buildings and countless cultural relics, which have also become the main attraction of visiting the Forbidden City today. ▲Classic attractions: The Forbidden City Corner Tower is a polygonal building with a convex plane on all four sides. It is located in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The roof has three layers. The upper layer is a hip roof with vertical and horizontal intersections. It is composed of a gable roof with flowing water on two slopes and a hip roof with four slopes. Because there are nine main ridges on this roof, it is called the Nine-ridge Hall. ▲Sundials are divided into two types according to their installation principle: equatorial and horizontal. The sundial installed using the equatorial principle is called an equatorial sundial. The key points of its production are that it must have a time plate, a latitude arc and a gnomon. When operating, the time plate must be parallel to the equatorial plane of the earth, the gnomon must be in the same direction as the earth's axis, and the shadow cast by the gnomon on the gnomon is the desired time. ▲The Treasure House is located in the Ningshou Palace area. It has a rich collection of treasures, including Buddhist supplies, ornaments, daily utensils, and treasures for appreciation. Among them, the red coral lion about 14 cm high, the Dongzhu court beads about 130 cm long, and the gold "Fengtianzhibao" seal are all rare treasures. ▲The Clock and Watch Museum is located in the Fengxian Hall in the palace. Most of the clocks on display are British products, but there are also clocks from other countries such as France and Switzerland. In addition to the timing function, these clocks are decorated with figures, birds, beasts, flowers, etc., which can also make various different movements. They are very delicately made. Among them, the copper-plated gilded writing clock, the copper-plated gilded enamel gourd-top fishing and woodcutting farming clock, and the copper-plated gilded rotating flower running man rhinoceros carrying clock are very rare.

China · Beijing

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2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Beijing Resort

10

4.6/5

82.2k reviews

Beijing Universal Studios is a highly anticipated theme park destination, including Universal Theme Park, Beijing Universal CityWalk, and two resort hotels. It features brand new selected Attraction and includes popular entertainment facilities and attractions from Universal Theme Parks around the world. ▲Universal Studios Beijing: Blending Chinese cultural elements to create a unique experience, it has seven theme Attraction, 37 rides and entertainment facilities and landmark attractions, 24 performances, 80 Dining and 30 retail stores. ▲Minion Land: It is a colorful world full of joy! At this moment, these naughty Minions are walking around the streets, ports and city centers, having fun all over the world without restraint! At the same time, Gru is also recruiting soldiers for the Minions Army, so hurry up and sign up at Gru's house! ▲The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™: Here you can leave the ordinary world behind and experience the wonderful rides and endless magical adventures, which will lead you step by step into a thrilling and interesting magical world! ▲Transformers Metrobase: This is a Cybertron-style base, which is transformed by Transformers the size of a city. If you are ready to become an agent, then accept Optimus Prime's recruitment, join the Beijing Nest Force, fight side by side with the Autobots, and fight against the Decepticons to protect the earth! ▲Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness: This is an ancient place like a paradise, and also a legendary place that combines the beauty of nature and craftsmanship. Come here to explore your own Kung Fu! There's also Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood, and Waterworld waiting for you to explore! ▲The Universal Studios Grand Hotel The Universal Studios Grand Hotel is located at the entrance of Universal Studios Beijing and offers Hollywood-themed accommodation and the privilege of Early Park Admission via the Universal Studios Beijing VIP Experience entrance; NUO Resort Hotel is a 5-minute walk from the entrance. Guests can enjoy a well-equipped fitness center, indoor swimming pool, and spa center (NUO SPA). Guests can also enjoy Early Park Admission via the Universal Studios Beijing VIP Experience entrance. Both hotels combine themed features with high-end facilities to create an immersive vacation experience.

China · Beijing

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No. 2 of Night Attractions in Hebei

Zhengding Ancient City

7.6

4.7/5

589 reviews

Zhengding Ancient City has a history of more than 1,600 years. The existing city wall is a relic of the Ming Dynasty. It was first built with earth in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and expanded into a brick city in the Ming Dynasty. Historically, it was known together with Baoding and Beijing as one of the "three great towns of the north." The south city gate still bears a stone plaque inscribed with "three passes great town." This is also the hometown of Zhao Zilong, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period. The city has a dense concentration of historical sites, and Longxing Temple is a representative ancient temple. First built in the sixth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (586), it was expanded by imperial order of Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of Song, and was praised by the architectural historian Liang Sicheng as "the foremost famous temple outside the capital." The temple has many highlights: the Mani Hall has a cruciform plan and is a typical surviving example of Song Dynasty construction techniques; the reclining Guanyin wall sculpture behind the hall was called the "Beauty of the East" by Lu Xun; the revolving sutra repository in the Zhuanlunzang Pavilion is one of China's earliest surviving revolving sutra repositories; the Longzang Temple Stele, whose script evolved from Han clerical script to Tang regular script, was praised by Kang Youwei as "the finest Sui stele"; and the bronze Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin enshrined in the pavilion is one of China's earliest surviving large bronze Buddha statues. The ancient city is also home to four distinctive ancient pagodas: the Lingxiao Pagoda of Tianning Temple is a pavilion-style pagoda with a mixed brick-and-wood structure; the Hua Pagoda of Guanghui Temple combines the architectural features of both a vajra-throne pagoda and a flower pagoda; the Xumi Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple and the Tang Dynasty Bell Tower are arranged symmetrically, reflecting the evolution of Buddhist temple layouts from tower-centered to hall-centered; and the Chengling Pagoda of Linji Temple is the robe-and-bowl relic pagoda of Master Yixuan, founder of the Linji School. The Rongguo Mansion inside the city was built according to the descriptions in "Dream of the Red Chamber," and most scenes of the TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber" were filmed here. The "Ningrong Street" beside the mansion recreates the street scene of the Qing Dynasty. When touring, it is recommended to connect the main attractions along the central axis of the ancient city. Longxing Temple is rich in content, and the architectural structures of the Mani Hall and the Zhuanlunzang Pavilion are worth a closer look; the four pagodas are distributed in different directions within the city and are suitable for visiting one by one on foot; the south city gate is relatively well preserved, and climbing the wall offers a panoramic view of the overall layout of the ancient city.

Zhengding · 46.6 km from Zhao County

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2026 Asia 100 - Best Things to Do

National Museum of China

9.5

4.8/5

14.1k reviews

The National Museum of China is located on the east side of Tiananmen Square and was formed by merging the former Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. The building is one of the ten great structures built for the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1959. The museum holds over 1.4 million items, covering categories such as ancient artifacts, modern and contemporary artifacts, rare books and ancient texts, and artworks, among which the number of Grade One cultural relics is substantial. The three permanent exhibitions are the core of any visit. The "Ancient China" exhibition, located in the basement-level galleries, follows the succession of dynasties and is divided into eight sections from remote antiquity to the Ming and Qing dynasties, displaying heavyweight artifacts such as the painted pottery basin with human-face and fish design, the four-ram zun vessel, the Houmuwu ding, the drum-beating storyteller figurine, and the jade burial suit sewn with gold thread, several of which are listed as cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad; this exhibition is also the most artifact-dense area in the museum and is worth spending time examining closely. The "Road to Rejuvenation" and "Road to Rejuvenation: New Era" exhibitions, located in the northern galleries, review the Chinese nation's journey of rejuvenation since the Opium War of 1840, with exhibits including the oil painting The Founding Ceremony of the Nation and the Shenzhou 5 return capsule, among other landmark artifacts. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts thematic exhibitions on ancient Chinese Buddhist statues, coins, porcelain, and painting and calligraphy, and periodically presents special exhibitions and international exchange exhibitions covering history and culture, archaeological discoveries, and classic fine art. With numerous galleries spread across multiple floors, visitors are advised to plan their route in advance and allow ample time.

China · Beijing

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Dharani Sutra Pillar

2.8

4.7/5

35 reviews

The Dharani Sutra Pillar is located at the intersection of South Street and Shita Road in Zhao County, Hebei Province. This was originally the site of the Tang Dynasty Kaiyuan Temple. The pillar was a structure of the temple, and while the temple was later abandoned, the pillar remains. It is named the Dharani Sutra Pillar because the pillar is engraved with Dharani sutra texts.

Zhao County · 935m from downtown

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No. 11 of Best Things to Do in Hebei

Longxing Temple

7.1

4.8/5

4.4k reviews

Longxing Temple, also known as the Great Buddha Temple, is one of China's most historically significant Buddhist monasteries with extensive architectural scale and remarkable preservation. This ancient architectural complex holds outstanding historical and cultural value as a monumental religious site. Longxing Temple traces its origins back to 586 AD during the Sui Dynasty, initially named Longcang Temple before being renamed during the Tang Dynasty. In 971 AD under Emperor Taizu of the Northern Song Dynasty, an imperial decree commissioned the casting of a magnificent 42-arm bronze statue of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin Bodhisattva within the temple, accompanied by the construction of the Great Mercy Pavilion. Subsequent expansions formed a Song Dynasty architectural complex centered around this pavilion. The temple underwent repairs and additions during the Jin, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties. Major renovations ordered during the reigns of Kangxi and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty established its final layout: monastic living quarters in the east, Buddhist ceremonial spaces in the center, and imperial lodging in the west. In 1710, Emperor Kangxi personally inscribed the "Longxing Temple" plaque as a mark of reverence. From the late Qing through the Republic era, social upheaval and warfare led to the temple's decline. After the founding of New China, systematic restoration and preservation efforts by the government gradually restored the temple to its former grandeur. Longxing Temple boasts an expansive scale and diverse architectural styles, stretching approximately 600 meters from north to south and 200 meters from east to west. Its main structures are symmetrically arranged along a central axis, featuring key buildings such as the Heavenly King Hall, Mani Hall, Ordination Platform, Great Mercy Pavilion, Amitabha Hall, Vairocana Hall, and Dragon Soaring Garden from south to north. Visitors can explore along the central axis, with a complete tour typically taking 2–3 hrs. The temple is also known as the "Great Buddha Temple," a name derived from its enshrined 21.3-meter-tall Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue in the Great Mercy Pavilion. This majestic bronze statue, commissioned by Emperor Zhao Kuangyin during the Northern Song Dynasty, stands as one of China's most monumental ancient copper-cast Buddhist sculptures, earning the temple its nickname and making it a must-see attraction. The Mani Hall is another must-see highlight, featuring a vividly colored seated Avalokitesvara statue on its northern wall. This unique statue combines lifelike realism with divine beauty in its posture and vibrant hues. Lu Xun once praised it as "personifying divinity," earning it the title "Goddess of Eastern Beauty." The hall itself boasts distinct Song Dynasty architecture, with its original structure preserved. Its particularly special bracket set design was hailed by renowned architect Liang Sicheng as a "singular example" of Song-era construction, making it an architectural masterpiece of immense artistic and research value. Beyond these two main attractions, the temple houses other equally precious artifacts and structures. These include the Longxing Temple Ordination Platform in the Ordination Hall, the Northern Song Dynasty revolving sutra cabinet in the Revolving Sutra Cabinet Hall, the 7.4-meter-tall Northern Song wooden Maitreya statue in the Cishi Pavilion, imperial stele inscriptions by Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong in the Imperial Stele Pavilion, and the Sui Dynasty Longcang Temple Stele revered as the "origin of regular script"—all rare historical treasures worth admiring in detail. Additionally, the Dajue Liushi Hall ruins and Longteng Garden offer unique experiences, making them highly recommended stops for visitors.

Zhengding · 46.4 km from Zhao County

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[Premium private tour] Shijiazhuang day trip to Zhengding Ancient City + Zhaozhou Bridge + Berlin Zen Temple

Duration: 3.5 hrs

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One-day tour of Zhengding Ancient City + Longxing Temple + Rongguo Mansion + Zhaozhou Bridge in Shijiazhuang, Hebei: Chartered car + admission

Duration: 3.9 hrs

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[Premium private tour] Shijiazhuang day trip to Zhaozhou Bridge + Xibaipo - Experience two cultural landscapes

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1-day private charter tour to Zhaozhou Bridge and Cypress Chan Monastery in Shijiazhuang, Hebei with English service available

Duration: 7.5 hrs

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One-day private tour of Zhengding Ancient City + Longxing Temple + Rongguo Mansion + Zhaozhou Bridge in Shijiazhuang, Hebei

Duration: 3.8 hrs

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1-day tour to Hebei Academy of Fine Arts, Berlin Zen Temple and Zhaozhou Bridge in Shijiazhuang with Chinese and English services

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Duration: 7 hrs

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One day in Shijiazhuang through a millennium of Yan-Zhao heritage - exploring national treasures at Hebei Museum - seeking ancient charm in Zhengding Ancient City

Duration: 8 hrs

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Zhengding Ancient City architectural highlights professional local guide / translator 1-day tour · Longxing Temple, Kaiyuan Temple, Hua Pagoda, and city wall climb

Duration: 8.2 hrs

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1-day tour to Cangyan Mountain + Longquan Ancient Town in Shijiazhuang, Hebei with Chinese and English service (admission ticket not included)

Duration: 10 hrs

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1-day Tour to Baodu Scenic Spot + Zhengding Ancient City + Rongguo Mansion + Longxing Temple in Shijiazhuang, Hebei (Chinese and English Services Available)

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Hengshui Museum + Anji Bridge + Baoyun Pagoda + Shanghai Mansion 1-day Tour with Chinese and English Services

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难得糊涂September 19, 2026

5.0

The Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area, also known as Anji Bridge, was built over 1400 years ago under the supervision of the Sui Dynasty craftsman Li Chun. It is the world's oldest and best-preserved open-spandrel stone arch bridge, often referred to as the "Number One Bridge Under Heaven." It is a 4A-level scenic area and a national key cultural relics protection unit. The Zhaozhou Bridge itself spans the Xiao River, featuring a single-arch design with four smaller arches added to the shoulders—a groundbreaking innovation in bridge construction. This not only reduced the bridge's weight but also helped divert floodwaters during the rainy season. The bridge's bluestone railings are carved with lifelike dragons and mythical beasts. Currently, climbing the bridge is prohibited, but visitors can admire and photograph it up close from the banks. The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall introduces the bridge's construction principles and historical evolution, showcasing old photographs and models to help visitors understand the engineering wisdom of the ancients. The Li Chun Statue stands at the entrance of the scenic area, commemorating the designer of this famous bridge. The riverside gardens along the Xiao River offer excellent views of the bridge's reflection in the water.