The capital of Hebei often suffers from unfair comparisons to both Beijing and the former provincial capital, Tianjin. An industrial city dating from the modern railway age, Shijiazhuang has just a few sights including the Hebei Provincial Museum in the east of city, which displays interesting historical relics such as a jade burial suit and an entire miniature terracotta army. To the west along Zhongshan Lu is the Martyrs’ Memorial, a park which honors two doctors as Heroes of the Revolution. Both men, a Canadian named Norman Bethune and an Indian named Dwarkanath Kotnis, served the Communist Party in the early 20th century.

Dafo Si (Great Buddha Temple)

Hebei Provincial Museum, most of the area’s main sights lie outside Shijiazhuang, and are easily accessed by train, bus, or minibus. Lying a short train or bus journey 9 miles north of town, the ancient walled town of Zhengding is known for its temples and pagodas. The most renowned is Dafo Si (Great Buddha Temple), also known as Longxing Si. Its highlight is the gargantuan 69-ft  high bronze statue of Guanyin (the Goddess of Compassion) that stands in the Dabei Ge (Pavilion of Great Mercy). Fashioned over 1,000 years ago during the Sung Dynasty, the multiarmed statue is a riveting sight. Visitors can climb the gallery surrounding the statue for a closer look. West of Dafo Si, the 135 ft Lingxiao Ta (Lingxing Pagoda) in Tianning Si is a restored Tang Dynasty structure built from wood and brick, while Kaiyuan Si’s Tang-dynasty pagoda rises up just off Yanzhao Dajie, Zhengding’s main street. Also situated here is China’s sole surviving Tang Dynasty Bell Tower (Zhong Lou). Dotted around Zhengding are several temples and pagodas, including the Confucian Temple, Chengling Ta (Chengling Pagoda) at Linji Si, and the Hua Ta (Hua Pagoda) at Guanghui Si, with its many intriguing motifs that represent the Buddhas, elephants, and whales. About 25 miles southeast of Shijiazhuang, near Zhaoxian town, the 1,400 years old Zhaozhou Bridge (Zhaozhou Qiao) is a graceful feat of engineering. Built over ten years by the mason Li Chun and completed in AD 605, the 167-ft long bridge satisfied several requirements. The gentle bow had to be level enough to convey imperial soldiers, yet high enough to evade flood waters, while relying on the soft riverbanks for support. The main arch (forming an arc rather than a semicircle) is an effortless span of 28 stone blocks. Supported on each end of the arch are two smaller ones that are designed to lighten the structure of the bridge and allow the passage of flood waters. About 25 miles southwest of Shijiazhuang is a surprising group of monasteries and pagodas tucked away among the cypresses and sheer drops of Cangyan Shan (Cangyan Mountains). The Cangyan Shan Si also known as the Hanging Palace, situated hundreds of steps up the mountainside, dates from the Sui dynasty. One hall, the Qiao Lou, is spectacularly slung between two cliffs, suspended on a bridge over the void. In the valleys and on the slopes beyond, the trail continues to explore the dramatic landscape, passing several shrines.