Baoding, Hebei

Baoding is a prefecture-level city of the Hebei province, China and located 140km south of Beijing, the capital of China. Baoding is considered a medium size city and has good connections to the other cities. Baoding is strategically located somewhere between Beijing and Shijiazhuang, the capital of the Hebei province. Interestingly it takes roughly the same amount of time to drive from Baoding to Beijing as it is from Baoding to Shijiazhuang. The Jingshi Expressway connects the city to Beijing and makes traveling extremely convenient. The Baojin Expressway links Baoding to Tianjin, another large city in the northern costal of China.

Baoding is a city with rich culture and historical background. The word ‘Baoding’ literally means protecting the capital. The city history dates back to as far as the Western Han Dynasty and play central stage role during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty. If you ever watch the movie the ‘Three Kingdom’ starring Sammo Hung and Andy Lau, you might perhaps recall some of the famous historical characters such as Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu who became sworn brothers in a small town nearby Baoding.

The city used to serve as the provincial capital till the early 1970 where the capital province was relocated to Shijiazhuang.

Baoding is well known for the health lifestyle practice by the residents and in fact quite rightfully called the famous health city. The city is well known for its traditions of respecting and loving the aged, and keeping in good health. It was reported that the average life span of the Baoding people is generally 5 or more years longer than the nation’s average life span. The Chinese exercise balls or Chinese Meditation balls also better known as Baoding balls, you can easily guess that it obviously originates from this city, created during the Ming dynasty.

I have been to Baoding a number of times, mostly for personal reasons. The city is vibrant and not as busy and hectic as the rest of the bigger cities in China. The pollution situation in Baoding is not as bad as Beijing either. Well at least I am able to admire the clear blue sky at times.

Some of the famous attractions nearby Baoding include the famous Lotus Pond, one of the top most beautiful gardens of China. The Orient Pearl, better known as the ‘Baiyangdian Hot Spring City’ is a must destination for tourist seeking good rest and sight seeing. Baoding has moderate climate. The four seasons are distinct with long winter and summer but short spring and autumn. The average temperature range from 0 to 13 degree C and the best time to visit the city is during autumn.


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