A Detailed One-Day Tour Guide to Zhengding Ancient City

Underrated Zhengding Ancient City is definitely a treasure spot for trips around Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei! You can explore millennium-old relics and enjoy authentic local cuisine all in one day. Morning Itinerary 📍First Stop: Kaiyuan Temple (No. 79 Kaiyuan Road) One of the four great ancient temples in Zhengding, it still has the Tang Dynasty bell tower and the Northern Song Dynasty Xumi Pagoda. Inside the temple is an 11-ton Tang Dynasty bronze bell. The Xumi Pagoda, built in the second year of Xinghe during the Eastern Wei, is the oldest typical Tang-style pagoda in the ancient city. The pagoda is a square structure made of blue bricks, with eight embossed strongmen on each side of the base, whose vivid and lively expressions are quite charming. 🚶Walk 10 minutes to the second stop, Yanghe Tower 📍Second Stop: Yanghe Tower (Intersection of Wangquan South Street and Zhongshan East Road) A landmark building in Zhengding, a three-story pavilion in Yuan Dynasty style. The TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber" was filmed here! Climb the tower to overlook the entire ancient city. 🚶Walk 3 minutes to the third stop, Linji Temple 📍Third Stop: Linji Temple (No. 9 Linji Road) Linji Temple has an octagonal nine-story solid blue brick ancient pagoda, the "Chengling Pagoda," which architect Liang Sicheng regarded as a "top-grade pagoda"—built in the Tang Dynasty, it is the relic pagoda of Master Yixuan, founder of the Linji school of Buddhism. The eaves tiles and ridge beasts are made of green glazed tiles, with every detail exuding delicacy and splendor. 🚶Walk 8 minutes to the fourth stop, Guanghui Temple 📍Fourth Stop: Guanghui Temple (No. 1 Guanghui Road) The magnificent pagoda of Guanghui Temple, built in the Tang Dynasty and also called the "Duobao Pagoda," is a treasure among Zhengding’s ancient pagodas. Known as a "unique example in the country," it cleverly combines the Vajra Pagoda and Flower Pagoda styles, famous for its unique octagonal pavilion structure and rich sculptural decorations. 🚶Walk 7 minutes to the fifth stop, South City Gate Tower 📍Fifth Stop: South City Gate Tower (No. 354 Yanzhao South Street) The South City Gate Tower is a landmark building carrying profound historical significance. The existing city wall structure dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Its architectural form includes the inner city, barbican, and crescent city walls. 🍜 Lunch Recommendations "Haojia Spare Ribs" (No. 36 Chengde South Street), a century-old shop with soy sauce spare ribs that are tender and flavorful, paired perfectly with kiln-baked flatbread! "Wangjia Shaomai" (Southwest corner of the intersection of Yanzhao South Street and Zhongshan West Road), a Hebei intangible cultural heritage, with thin translucent wrappers and juicy beef and lamb filling, delicious with millet porridge. "Kiln-Baked Flatbread" (Historical and Cultural Street), charcoal-baked, crispy outside and soft inside, can be stuffed with braised beef or pork liver, known as "Zhengding Roujiamo." "Zhengshun Heluo" and "Hot Cut Meatballs" (500 meters south from the north entrance of Chengde South Street, west side of the road). A century-old brand, buckwheat noodles served with bone broth, beef cake steamed in lotus leaf, sliced and dipped in mustard sauce, eaten with heluo noodles. 🌤 Afternoon Itinerary 📍Sixth Stop: Rongguo Mansion (No. 51 Xingrong Road) Filming location of the 1987 version of "Dream of the Red Chamber," a replica of Ming and Qing Dynasty ancient buildings. Rent Hanfu for photos and instantly feel transported back to the Grand View Garden. There is also an immersive evening performance. If you’re not into replica ancient buildings, you can skip this stop. 🚲 About 8 minutes cycling to the seventh stop, Longxing Temple 📍Seventh Stop: Longxing Temple (No. 109 Zhongshan East Road) A must-see! Longxing Temple is known as the "Number One Famous Temple Outside Beijing"! It holds six national records: the most beautiful inverted Guanyin, the earliest revolving sutra cabinet... The Bodhisattva statues in the Mogao Caves all have prototypes here. 🚶Walk 12 minutes to the eighth stop, Tianning Temple 📍Eighth Stop: Tianning Temple (No. 57 Zhongshan East Road) The Lingxiao Pagoda of Tianning Temple, originally called Huiguang Pagoda, was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is the only ancient pagoda in the country with a central pillar, has nine stories, and is a brick-wood mixed structure pavilion-style pagoda. The stone lions in front of the pagoda from the Jin and Yuan Dynasties are especially adorable, with big slightly tilted heads, endearing and long slender bodies, with a somewhat disproportionate head-to-body ratio. 📍Ninth Stop: South Gate Night Market (Guanghui Road) Zhengding gets liveliest after dark! Recommended to try: Wangjia Shaomai (thin skin, large filling); Zhang Sanji Beef Pancake; Lamb offal soup and other Zhengding specialties from the Hui Muslim Street. Remember to save room for late-night snacks; many vendors use ancestral recipes! 💡 Useful Tips: 1️⃣ The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei One Card offers discounts on combined tickets for attractions. 2️⃣ There are many shared bikes in the ancient city, making it super convenient to ride around and eat. 3️⃣ Don’t miss the night views! All ancient buildings have light shows. 4️⃣ Before heading back, remember to buy vacuum-packed "Majia Chicken," perfect as a souvenir gift.