Shijiazhuang
Overview
A new rising metropolis - Shijiazhuang - is attracted visitors as one of the competition venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Shijiazhuang is the capital of Hebei Province located on the far-flung North China Plain with Mt. Taihang to the west, Bohai Sea to the east, Beijing and Tianjin to the north. The graceful scenery and treasuraed cultural relics are all worth a visit.
Due to the continental monsoon climate, September and October are the most comfortable months to visit Shijiazhuang, though during the Chinese Lantern Festival in winter tourists can see folk performances. The most recommended tourist destinations in Shijiazhuang and the surrounding area are as follows: Mt. Cangyan Scenic Area, Zhaozhou Bridge, Wuyue Village Scenic Area in Lingshou County, and Longxing Temple in Zhengding County. Within the city, local buses and taxis are 'the best tour guides' for reaching nearby scenic spots. To reach Shijiazhuang air, train or long-distance bus is convenient.
Hebei Cuisine is the most recommended cuisine of Shijiazhuang. Many traditional dishes in Shijiazhuang are named after Chinese mythologies which give dining a cultural flavor which is a highlight for tourists. The recommended food to purchase includes wrapped Braised Chicken of the Hui people and Gaocheng Royal Noodle. The other local products include Snowflake Pear and Great Wall White Wine.
In Shijiazhuang tourists can experience the local Flower Fair (Festival) and Temple Fair during the day. At night, they can go to the opera theatre to enjoy one of the Chinese operas, Hebei Bangzi. For young adults there are many bars, pubs and coffeehouses. Tourists can find many comfortable star-rated hotels or guesthouses in the city center and in the outskirts of Shijiazhuang.
