Hebei

Not to be confused with the unrelated province of Hubei or the cities of Hebi, Henan and Hefei, Anhui.

"冀" redirects here. For the surname, see Ji (surname 冀).

For other uses, see Hebei (disambiguation).

Hebei^{[lower-alpha 1]} is a province in North China. Hebei is China's sixth most-populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, and 0.3% Mongol. Varieties of Chinese spoken include Jilu Mandarin, the Beijing dialect of Mandarin, and Jin Chinese.

Hebei 河北
Province
Province of Hebei
Name transcription(s)
• Chinese	河北省 (Héběi shěng)
• Abbreviation	HE HEB 冀 (Jì)
Clockwise: Great Wall at Jinshanling, Chengde Mountain Resort, Puning Temple, Fuqing Temple at Cangyan Mountain, Beidaihe in Qinhuangdao
Map showing the location of Hebei Province
Coordinates: 39°18′N 116°42′E
Country	China
Named for	Yellow River
Capital and largest city	Shijiazhuang
Divisions	11 prefectures, 121 Counties, 2207 Townships
Government
• Type	Province
• Body	Hebei Provincial People's Congress
• CCP Secretary	Ni Yuefeng
• Congress chairman	Ni Yuefeng
• Governor	Wang Zhengpu
• CPPCC chairman	Zhang Guohua
Area
• Total	188,800 km2 (72,900 sq mi)
• Rank	12th
Highest elevation (Mount Xiaowutai[1])	2,882 m (9,455 ft)
Population  (2020)[2]
• Total	74,610,235
• Rank	6th
• Density	400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
• Rank	11th
Demographics
• Ethnic composition	Han: 96% Manchu: 3% Hui: 0.8% Mongol: 0.3%
• Languages and dialects	Jilu Mandarin, Beijing Mandarin, Jin
GDP (2023)[3]
• Total	CN¥ 4,394 billion (12th) US$ 624 billion
• Per capita	CN¥ 59,332 (26th) US$ 8,420
ISO 3166 code	CN-HE
HDI (2019)	0.738[4] high · 20th
Website	hebei.gov.cn

Hebei
"Hebei" in Chinese characters
Chinese	河北
Postal	Hopeh
Literal meaning	North of the Yellow River
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Héběi Bopomofo ㄏㄜˊ   ㄅㄟˇ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Herbeei Wade–Giles Ho2-pei3 Tongyong Pinyin Hé-běi IPA [xɤ̌.pèɪ] other Mandarin Xiao'erjing حَ‌بُوِ شْ Wu Romanization Ghu平poh入 Hakka Romanization Hò-pet Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hòh-bāk Jyutping ho4 bak1 IPA [hɔ˩.pɐk̚˥] Southern Min Hokkien POJ Hô-pak
Abbreviation
Chinese	冀
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jì Bopomofo ㄐㄧˋ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Jih Wade–Giles Chi4 Tongyong Pinyin Jì IPA [tɕî] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Kei Jyutping kei3 IPA [kʰej˧] Southern Min Tâi-lô Kī
Zhili Province
Traditional Chinese	直隸省
Simplified Chinese	直隶省
Literal meaning	Directly ruled
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhílì Shěng Bopomofo ㄓˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄕㄥˇ Wade–Giles Chih2-li4 Sheng3 Tongyong Pinyin Jhíh-lì Shěng IPA [ʈʂɻ̩̌.lî ʂə̀ŋ]

Hebei borders the provinces of Shanxi to the west, Henan to the south, Shandong to the southeast, Liaoning to the northeast, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north. Hebei province additionally borders the direct-administered municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, whose territory it entirely surrounds on land. Its economy is based on agriculture and manufacturing. The province is China's premier steel producer, although the steel industry creates serious air pollution.^[8][9][10]

Five UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be found in the province: the Great Wall of China, Chengde Mountain Resort, Grand Canal, Eastern Qing tombs, and Western Qing tombs. It is also home to five National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities: Handan, Baoding, Chengde, Zhengding and Shanhaiguan.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (771–226 BC), the region was ruled by the states of Yan and Zhao. During the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), the region was called Zhongshu. It was called North Zhili during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), and simply Zhili during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). The modern province of Hebei was created in 1928.

Etymology

"Hebei" means 'north of the river', derived from the province's location north of the Yellow River in the North China Plain.^{[11][12][13][14]} In the Yu Gong, the province is recorded as "Jizhou", lending to its traditional abbreviation of "Ji" (冀).

The province's nickname is "Yanzhao" (燕赵), which is the collective name of the Yan and Zhao states that controlled the region during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (771–221 BC).^[15] In 1421, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing, and the province surrounding the new capital was first called North Zhili or Zhili, meaning 'directly ruled'.^[16][17] When Nanjing became the capital of the Republic of China in 1928, the province of Zhili was abolished and given its present name of Hebei.^[18]

History

Pre and early history

Peking man, an early pre-historic Homo erectus, lived on the plains of Hebei around 200,000 to 700,000 years ago. Neolithic findings at the prehistoric Beifudi site date to 7000 and 8000 BC.^[19]

Many early Chinese myths are set in the province. Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, is said to have lived in present-day Xingtai.^[20] The mythical Battle of Zhuolu, won by the Yellow Emperor, Yan Emperor, and their Yanhuang tribes against the Chiyou-led Jiuli tribes, took place in Zhangjiakou and started the Huaxia civilization.

During the Spring and Autumn period (722–476 BC), Hebei was under the rule of Yan in the north and Jin in the south. Also during this period, a nomadic people known as Dí invaded the plains of northern China and established Zhongshan in central Hebei. In the Warring States period (403–221 BC), Jin was partitioned and much of its territory in Hebei went to Zhao.

Qin and Han dynasties

The Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BC. The Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) ruled the area under two provinces, You Prefecture in the north and Ji Province in the south. At the end of the Han dynasty, most of Hebei was under the control of warlords Gongsun Zan in the north and Yuan Shao further south. Yuan Shao emerged as the victor of the two, but he was defeated by Cao Cao in the Battle of Guandu in 200. Hebei came under the rule of the Kingdom of Wei, established by the descendants of Cao Cao.

Jin through the Three Kingdoms

After the invasions of northern nomadic peoples at the end of the Western Jin dynasty, chaos ensued in the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern dynasties. Because of its location on the northern frontier, Hebei changed hands many times and was controlled at various times by Later Zhao, Former Yan, Former Qin, and Later Yan. The Northern Wei reunified northern China in 440 but split in 534, with Hebei coming under Eastern Wei; then the Northern Qi, with its capital at Ye near modern Linzhang, Hebei. The Sui dynasty again unified China in 589.

Tricolor Duck-Shaped Cup, Tang dynasty, unearthed from Anxin County

Tang and Five dynasties

During the Tang dynasty (618–907), the area was officially called Hebei for the first time. The Great Yan State was established in Hebei from 756 to 763 during the An Lushan Rebellion. After the rebellion, Lulong Jiedushi retained its autonomy from Tang during most of the 9th century. During the late Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Lulong was fragmented among several regimes including the short-lived Yan. It was eventually annexed in 913 by Li Cunxu, who established the Later Tang (923–936). Emperor Gaozu of the Later Jin dynasty ceded much of northern Hebei to the Khitan Liao dynasty. This territory, called the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, became a weakness in the Chinese defense against the Khitans for the next century because it lay within the Great Wall.

Song through Yuan dynasties

During the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), the sixteen ceded prefectures continued to be an area of contention between Song China and the Liao dynasty. Later, the Southern Song dynasty abandoned all of North China, including Hebei, to the Jurchen Jin dynasty after the 1127 Jingkang Incident of the Jin–Song wars. Hebei was heavily affected by the flooding of the Yellow River; between 1048 and 1128, the river ran directly through the province rather than to its south.^[21]

The Mongol Yuan dynasty divided China into provinces but did not establish Hebei as a province. Instead, the area was directly administrated by the Secretariat at the capital Dadu.

Ming and Qing dynasties

The Ming dynasty ruled Hebei as Beizhili, meaning Northern Directly Ruled because the area contained and was directly ruled by the imperial capital in Beijing. The "Northern" designation was used because there was a southern counterpart covering present-day Jiangsu and Anhui. When the Manchu Qing dynasty came to power in 1644, they abolished the southern counterpart, and Hebei became known as Zhili or Directly Ruled. During the Qing dynasty, the northern borders of Zhili extended deep into Inner Mongolia and overlapped in jurisdiction with the leagues of Inner Mongolia.

Republic of China

Hebei in 2022

The Qing dynasty collapsed in 1912 and was replaced by the Republic of China. In a few years, China descended into a civil war, with regional warlords vying for power. Since Zhili was so close to the capital of Beijing, it was the site of the Zhiwan War, the First Zhifeng War, and the Second Zhifeng War. With the success of the Northern Expedition in 1926 and 1927 by the Kuomintang, the capital was moved from Beijing to Nanjing. As a result, the province's name was changed to Hebei, reflecting the relocation of the capital and its standard provincial administration.

During the World War II, Hebei was under the control of the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, a puppet state of Imperial Japan.

People's Republic of China

The founding of the People's Republic of China saw several changes. The region around Chengde, previously part of Rehe Province (historically part of Manchuria), and the region around Zhangjiakou, previously part of Chahar Province (historically part of Inner Mongolia), were merged into Hebei. This extended its borders northwards beyond the Great Wall. Meanwhile, the city of Puyang was carved away, causing Hebei to lose access to the Yellow River. The city became part of the short-lived Pingyuan Province before eventually being annexed into Henan.^[22]

The capital was also moved from Baoding to the new city of Shijiazhuang, and, for a short period, to Tianjin. On July 28, 1976, Tangshan was struck by the Tangshan earthquake, the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century, killing over 240,000 people. There were a series of smaller earthquakes in the following decade.

Today, Hebei, along with Beijing and Tianjin municipalities which it includes, make up the Jing-Jin-Ji megalopolis region. With a population of 130 million, it is about six times the size of the New York metropolitan area and is one of the largest megalopolis clusters in China.^[23] Beijing had also unloaded some of its non-capital functions to the province with the establishment of the Xiong'an New Area, which integrates the three municipalities.^[24]

Langyashan (Wolf Tooth Mountain), in Yi County

Bashang Meadows in Fengning County

Geography

Hebei is the only province in China to contain plateaus, mountains, hills, shorelines, plains, and lakes.^[25] Most of central and southern Hebei lies within the North China Plain. Western Hebei rises into the Taihang Mountains (Taihang Shan), while the Yan Mountains (Yan Shan) runs through northern Hebei. Beyond the mountains are the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. The highest peak is Mount Xiaowutai in Yu County in the northwest of the province, with an altitude of 2,882 m (9,455 ft).^[1]

Hebei borders the Bohai Sea on the east. The Hai River watershed covers most of the province's central and southern parts; the Luan River watershed covers the northeast. Excluding manmade reservoirs, the largest lake in Hebei is Baiyangdian, located in Anxin County, Baoding.

Major cities in Hebei include: Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, Handan, and Zhangjiakou.

Hebei has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate. Its winters are cold and dry, while its summers are hot and humid. Temperatures average −16 to −3 °C (3 to 27 °F) in January and 20 to 27 °C (68 to 81 °F) in July. The annual precipitation ranges from 400 to 800 mm (16 to 31 in), concentrated heavily in summer.

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected locations in Hebei Province, China^{[26][27][28][29]}

City	July (°C)	July (°F)	January (°C)	January (°F)
Baoding	31.7/22.6	89.1/72.7	2.5/–7.7	36.5/18.1
Qinhuangdao	28.1/21.7	82.6/71.1	0.1/–8.8	32.2/16.2
Tangshan	30.2/21.7	86.4/71.1	0.9/–10.2	33.6/13.6
Zhangjiakou	29.4/18.7	84.9/65.7	2.2/–12.9	36.0/8.8

Government

Main articles: Politics of Hebei and List of provincial leaders of the People's Republic of China

The politics of Hebei is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China. The Governor of Hebei is the highest-ranking official in the People's Government of Hebei. However, in the province's dual party-government governing system, the governor has less power than the Hebei Chinese Communist Party Provincial Committee Secretary (CCP Party Chief).

Administrative divisions

Main articles: List of administrative divisions of Hebei and List of township-level divisions of Hebei

Hebei has eleven prefecture-level divisions. All are prefecture-level cities:

Administrative divisions of Hebei
Shijiazhuang Tangshan Qinhuangdao Handan Xingtai Baoding Zhangjiakou Chengde Cangzhou Langfang ↗ Hengshui Beijing Tianjin
Division code[30]	Division	Area in km2[31]	Population 2010[32]	Seat	Divisions[33]
					Districts	Counties	Aut. counties	CL cities
130000	Hebei Province	187,700	71,854,202	Shijiazhuang city	49	91	6	21
130100	Shijiazhuang city	15,848	9,547,869	Chang'an District	8	11		3
130200	Tangshan city	14,334.59	7,577,284	Lunan District	7	4		3
130300	Qinhuangdao city	7791.57	2,987,605	Haigang District	4	2	1
130400	Handan city	12,066	9,174,679	Congtai District	6	11		1
130500	Xingtai city	12,433	7,104,114	Xindu District	4	12		2
130600	Baoding city	22,185	10,029,197	Jingxiu District	5	15		4
130700	Zhangjiakou city	36,861.55	4,345,491	Qiaoxi District	6	10
130800	Chengde city	39512.98	3,473,197	Shuangqiao District	3	4	3	1
130900	Cangzhou city	14,305.28	7,134,053	Yunhe District	2	9	1	4
131000	Langfang city	6,417.29	4,358,839	Anci District	2	5	1	2
131100	Hengshui city	8,836.90	4,340,773	Taocheng District	2	8		1

These eleven prefecture-level divisions are subdivided into 168 county-level divisions (47 districts, 21 county-level cities, 94 counties and 6 autonomous counties). Those are, in turn, divided into 2207 township-level divisions (1 district public office, 937 towns, 979 townships, 55 ethnic townships, and 235 subdistricts). At the end of 2017, the total population of Hebei was 75.2 million.^[34]

Urban areas

Population by urban areas of prefecture & county cities
#	Cities	2020 Urban area[35]	2010 Urban area[36]	2020 City proper
1	Shijiazhuang	4,805,079	2,770,344[lower-alpha 2]	11,235,086
2	Tangshan	2,667,603	2,128,191[lower-alpha 3]	7,717,983
3	Handan	2,280,755	1,316,674[lower-alpha 4]	9,413,990
4	Baoding[lower-alpha 5]	2,167,607	1,038,195[lower-alpha 6]	11,544,036
5	Xingtai	1,371,150	668,765[lower-alpha 7]	7,111,106
6	Qinhuangdao	1,320,988	967,877[lower-alpha 8]	3,136,879
7	Zhangjiakou	1,185,494	924,628[lower-alpha 9]	4,118,908
8	Langfang	768,439	530,840	5,464,087
9	Sanhe	760,107	386,902	see Langfang
10	Cangzhou	727,879	499,411	7,300,783
11	Xiong'an[lower-alpha 5]	717,120	[lower-alpha 10]	see Baoding
12	Hengshui	707,905	389,447[lower-alpha 11]	4,212,933
13	Dingzhou	577,440	482,121	see Baoding
14	Chengde	548,329	540,390	3,354,444
15	Qian'an	466,210	308,849	see Tangshan
16	Renqiu	458,878	430,896	see Cangzhou
17	Bazhou	455,923	291,710	see Langfang
18	Wu'an	453,442	293,151	see Handan
19	Zhuozhou	395,792	260,493	see Baoding
20	Zunhua	392,821	299,759	see Tangshan
21	Xinji	368,208	236,658	see Shijiazhuang
22	Huanghua	313,530	296,978	see Cangzhou
23	Gaobeidian	309,413	274,853	see Baoding
24	Hejian	296,820	243,458	see Cangzhou
25	Xinle	281,458	194,480	see Shijiazhuang
26	Luanzhou	278,807	[lower-alpha 12]	see Tangshan
27	Shahe	265,977	218,958	see Xingtai
28	Botou	264,187	258,203	see Cangzhou
29	Jinzhou	238,153	160,284	see Shijiazhuang
30	Pingquan	228,261	[lower-alpha 13]	see Chengde
31	Shenzhou	197,414	207,945	see Hengshui
32	Anguo	189,925	135,524	see Baoding
33	Nangong	183,450	188,260	see Xingtai
—	Gaocheng	see Shijiazhuang	286,136[lower-alpha 2]	see Shijiazhuang
—	Luquan	see Shijiazhuang	175,602[lower-alpha 2]	see Shijiazhuang
—	Jizhou	see Hengshui	165,363[lower-alpha 11]	see Hengshui

Notes

1. Chinese: 河北^ⓘ; lit. 'north of the Yellow River'

   UK: /ˌhɜːˈbeɪ/^[5] or /həˈbeɪ/,^[6] UK: /ˈhʌˈbeɪ/,^[7]

   Postal romanization: Hopeh
2. New districts established after 2010 census: Gaocheng (Gaocheng CLC), Luquan (Luquan CLC), Luancheng (Luancheng County). These new districts are not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
3. New district established after 2010 census: Caofeidian (Tanghai County). The new district is not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
4. New districts established after 2010 census: Yongnian (Yongnian County), Feixiang (Feixiang County); Handan County merged into Hanshan & Congtai. These new districts are not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
5. Xiong'an New Area is a satellite urban area separated from Baoding and it is not included in the urban area count.
6. New districts established after 2010 census: Mancheng (Mancheng County), Qingyuan (Qingyuan County), Xushui (Xushui County). These new districts are not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
7. New district established after 2010 census: Renze (Renxian County), Nanhe (Nanhe County). The new district is not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
8. New district established after 2010 census: Funing (Funing County). The new district is not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
9. New districts established after 2010 census: Wanquan (Wanquan County), Chongli (Chongli County); Xuanhua County merged into Xuanhua. These new districts are not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
10. Xiong'an New Area was established after 2010 census.
11. New district established after 2010 census: Jizhou (Jizhou CLC). The new district is not included in the urban area count of the pre-expanded city.
12. Luanxian County is currently known as Luanzhou CLC after the census.
13. Pingquan County is currently known as Pingquan CLC after the census.

Most populous cities in Hebei Source: China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2018 Urban Population and Urban Temporary Population[37]
	Rank		Pop.	Rank		Pop.
Shijiazhuang Handan	1	Shijiazhuang	2,843,100	11	Chengde	597,800	Tangshan Baoding
	2	Handan	2,044,000	12	Dingzhou	416,100
	3	Tangshan	2,041,700	13	Renqiu	368,500
	4	Baoding	1,730,000	14	Qian'an	350,000
	5	Qinhuangdao	1,338,600	15	Zhuozhou	277,800
	6	Zhangjiakou	1,072,200	16	Luanzhou	273,000
	7	Xingtai	936,800	17	Wu'an	248,300
	8	Cangzhou	648,800	18	Zunhua	243,300
	9	Hengshui	643,400	19	Sanhe	218,700
	10	Langfang	608,400	20	Xinji	211,300

Economy

In 2014, Hebei's gross domestic product (GDP) was 2.942 trillion yuan (US$479 billion).^[38] It is ranked sixth in the PRC, with its GDP per capita reaching 40,124 renminbi. As of 2011, the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of industry contributed 203.46 billion, 877.74 billion, and 537.66 billion RMB respectively. The registered urban unemployment rate was 3.96%.

Hebei's industries include textiles, coal, steel, iron, engineering, chemical production, petroleum, power, ceramics, and food. 40% of Hebei's labor force works in the agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry sectors, with the majority of production from these industries going to Beijing and Tianjin. Hebei's main agricultural products are cereal crops, including wheat, maize, millet, and sorghum. Cash crops like cotton, peanut, soybeans and sesame are also produced.

Hebei has abundant natural resources. The Kailuan mine in Tangshan, with a history of over 100 years, is one of China's first modern coal mines. It remains active, with an annual production of over 20 million metric tonnes. Much of the North China Oilfied is within Hebei. There are major iron mines at Handan and Qian'an. Iron and steel manufacturing are the largest industries in Hebei.

Economic and technological development zones

• Baoding Hi-Tech Industry Development Zone
• Langfang Export Processing Zone
• Qinhuangdao Economic & Technological Development Zone
• Qinhuangdao Export Processing Zone
• Shijiazhuang Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone
• Xiong'an New Area

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1912[39]	26,658,000	—
1928[40]	31,232,000	+0.99%
1936–37[41]	28,644,000	−1.08%
1947[42]	28,719,000	+0.02%
1954[43]	35,984,644	+3.27%
1964[44]	45,687,781	+2.42%
1982[45]	53,005,876	+0.83%
1990[46]	61,082,439	+1.79%
2000[47]	66,684,419	+0.88%
2010[48]	71,854,202	+0.75%
2020[49]	74,610,235	+0.38%
Hebei Province was known as Zhili Province until 1928. Beijing was part of Hebei Province[16] until 1928. Tainjin was part of Hebei Province until 1928 and from 1954 to 1967. Rehe Province dissolved in 1955. Parts of it were incorporated into Hebei Province. Qahar Province dissolved in 1952. Parts of it were incorporated into Hebei Province.

Demographics

The population in Hebei is mostly Han Chinese. There are 55 ethnic minorities in Hebei, representing 4.27% of the total population. The largest ethnic groups are Manchu (2.1 million people), Hui (600,000 people), and Mongol (180,000 people).^[50] Population totals do not include those in active service with the People's Liberation Army.^[51]

Ethnic groups in Hebei, 2000 census
Nationality	Population	Percentage
Han Chinese	63,781,603	95.65%
Manchu	2,118,711	3.18%
Hui	542,639	0.78%
Mongol	169,887	0.26%
Zhuang	20,832	0.031%

In 2019, the birth rate was 10.83 births per 1,000 people, while the death rate was 6.12 deaths per 1,000 people.^[52] The male population is 37,679,003 (50.50%), the female population is 36,931,232 (49.50%). The gender ratio of the total population was 102.02, decreasing by 0.82 from 2010.^[53]

Religion

Religion in Hebei^{[54][note 1]}

  Deity worshippers, Taoists, Buddhists, Confucians, folk religious sects, or not religious people (90.61%)

  Chinese ancestral religion (5.52%)

  Christianity (3.05%)

  Islam (0.82%)

The dominant religions in Hebei are Chinese folk religions, Taoist traditions, and Chinese Buddhism. According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 5.52% of the population believe in and are involved in ancestor veneration, while 3.05% identify as Christian, belonging mostly to the Catholic Church.^[54] As of 2010 Muslims constitute 0.82% of the population of Hebei.^[55]

Although the surveys did not provide specific data for other religions, 90.61% of the population are either nonreligious or are involved in worship of nature deities, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and folk religious sects. Zailiism is a folk religious sect that originated in Hebei. Local worship of deities organized into benevolent churches in reaction to Catholicism in the Qing dynasty.

The giant Bodhisattva statue of Puning Temple

Great Temple of Zhang Hui, the central ancestral shrine of the Zhang lineage, in Qinghe

Hebei has the largest Catholic population in China, with one million members and 1.5 million Catholics according to the Catholic Church.^[56][57] In 1900, apparition of the Virgin Mary was said have appeared in the town of Donglu in Baoding. As a result, Donglu is "one of the strongholds of the unofficial Catholic Church in China".^[58] Many Catholics in Hebei remain loyal to the Pope and reject the authority of the Catholic Patriotic Church. Four of Hebei's underground bishops have been imprisoned in recent years: Bishop Francis An Shuxin of Donglu since 1996; Bishop James Su Zhimin since October 1997; Bishop Han Dingxiang of Yongnian who died in prison in 2007, and Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding since late 1999.^[56][59]

The Lingxiao Pagoda of Zhengding, Hebei Province, built in AD 1045 during the Song dynasty

Culture

Language

People speak dialects of Mandarin across the Hebei, with most classified as part of the Ji Lu Mandarin subdivision of Chinese. Along the western border with Shanxi, dialects are distinct enough for linguists to consider them as part of Jin, another subdivision of Chinese. In general, the dialects of Hebei are similar to the Beijing dialect, which forms the basis for Standard Chinese and the official language of the nation. However, there are also some distinct differences, such as the pronunciation of some words, made by entering tone syllables (syllables ending on a plosive) in Middle Chinese.

Arts

A Ding ware bowl

Traditional forms of Chinese opera in Hebei include Pingju, Hebei Bangzi (Hebei Clapper Opera), and Cangzhou Kuaiban Dagu. Pingju is especially popular because it tends to use colloquial language which is easier for audiences to understand. Originating from northeastern Hebei, Pingju was influenced by other forms of Chinese opera such as Beijing opera. Traditionally Pingju has a xiaosheng (young male lead), a xiaodan (young female lead), and a xiaohualian (young comic character), though it has diversified to include other roles.^[60]

Quyang County, in central Hebei, is noted for Ding ware, a type of Chinese ceramics which includes various vessels such as bowls, plates, vases, and cups, as well as figurines. Ding ware is usually creamy white, though it is also made in other colors.

Hejian-styled donkey burger

Cuisine

Hebei cuisine is typically based on wheat, mutton, and beans. The donkey burger, originating from the cities of Baoding and Hejian, Cangzhou, is a staple in provincial cuisine and has spread into the two municipalities. Other dishes include local variants of shaobing.

Entertainment

Beidaihe, located near Shanhaiguan, is a popular beach resort.

Architectural and cultural sites

Section of the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling

Xumi Pagoda of Zhengding, built in 636 AD

The Ming Great Wall crosses the northern part of Hebei, and its eastern end is located on the coast at Shanhaiguan (Shanhai Pass), near Qinhuangdao. Informally known as the First Pass of The World, Shanhaiguan Pass was where Ming general Wu Sangui opened the gates to Manchu forces in 1644, beginning nearly 300 years of Manchu rule.

The Chengde Mountain Resort and its outlying temples are a World Heritage Site. Also known as the Rehe Palace, this was the summer resort of the Manchu Qing dynasty emperors. The resort was built between 1703 and 1792. It consists of a palace complex and a large park with lakes, pavilions, causeways, and bridges. There are also several Tibetan Buddhist and Han Chinese temples in the surrounding area.

Chengde Mountain Resort

There are Qing dynasty imperial tombs at Zunhua (Eastern Qing Tombs) and Yixian (West Qing Tombs). The Eastern Qing Tombs are the resting place of 161 Qing emperors, empresses, and other members of the Qing imperial family, while the West Qing Tombs have 76 burials. Both tomb complexes are part of a World Heritage Site.

The Zhaozhou, or Anji Bridge, was built by Li Chun during the Sui dynasty and is the oldest stone arch bridge in China. It is one of the most significant examples of pre-modern Chinese civil engineering. Baoding, the old provincial capital, contains the historic Zhili governor's residence and the former court.

Xibaipo, a village about 90 km (56 mi) from Shijiazhuang in Pingshan County, was the location of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army during the decisive stages of the Chinese Civil War between May 26, 1948, and March 23, 1949. Today, the area houses a memorial site.^[61]

Sports

The 2018 Women's Bandy World Championship was held in Hebei. Sports teams based in Hebei include National Basketball League (China), Hebei Springs Benma, and the Chinese Football Association team Hebei F.C., Hebei Elite F.C., and Cangzhou Mighty Lions F.C. Baoding is home to the Baoding balls, a kind of metal ball for exercise and meditation.

Education

See also: List of universities and colleges in Hebei

Under the national Ministry of Education:

• North China Electric Power University (华北电力大学)

Under other national agencies:

• Central Institute for Correctional Police (中央司法警官学校)
• Chinese People's Armed Police Force Academy (中国人民武装警察部队学院)
• North China Institute of Science and Technology (华北科技学院)

Under the provincial government:

• Chengde Medical College (承德医学院)
• Handan College (邯郸学院)
• Hebei Agricultural University (河北农业大学)
• Hebei Engineering University (河北工程大学)
• Hebei Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering (河北建筑工程学院)
• Hebei Medical University (河北医科大学)
• Hebei Normal University (河北师范大学)
• Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology (河北科技技师学院)
• Hebei North University (河北北方学院)
• Hebei Physical Educational Institute (河北体育学院)
• North China University of Science and Technology (华北理工大学)
• Hebei University (河北大学)
• Hebei University of Economics and Business (河北经贸大学)
• Hebei University of Technology (河北工业大学)
• Hebei University of Science and Technology (河北科技大学)
• Hengshui University (衡水学院)
• Langfang Teacher's College (廊坊师范学院)
• North China Coal Medical College (华北煤炭医学院)
• Shijiazhuang College (石家庄学院)
• Shijiazhuang Railway Institute (石家庄铁道学院)
• Shijiazhuang University of Economics (石家庄经济学院)
• Tangshan College (唐山学院)
• Tangshan Teacher's College (唐山师范学院)
• Xingtai University (邢台学院)
• Yanshan University (燕山大学)

There are also Tibetan Buddhist schools in the province.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Intracity Rail

The Shijiazhuang Metro is the only operational rapid transit system in Hebei. Xiong'an Rail Transit is a planned metro system in Xiong'an.

Intercity Rail

As of early 2013, railway schedule systems listed 160 passenger train stations within the province.^[62] Because Hebei surrounds Beijing and Tianjin, all the important railway lines from these cities pass through Hebei. The Beijing–Guangzhou railway is one of the most important. It passes through many major cities, including Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai and Handan on its way south to Henan. Other important railways include the Beijing–Kowloon railway, Beijing–Shanghai railway, Beijing–Harbin railway, Beijing–Chengde railway, Beijing–Tongliao railway, Beijing–Baotou railway and Fengtai–Shacheng railway. High-speed rail lines crossing the province include the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway, Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway, and Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan high-speed railway.

During the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, Beijing and Hebei collaborated on a new passenger railway. The RMB 82.6 billion network will add 844 kilometres (524 mi) to the system. Current railway systems for Hebei are also being upgraded and will soon be able to travel at speeds of between 160 and 200 kilometres (99 and 124 mi) per hour.

Highways and primary routes

The recent expressway boom in China included Hebei. There are expressways to every prefecture-level city in Hebei, totaling approximately 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi). The total length of highways within Hebei is around 40,000 kilometres (25,000 mi).^{[citation needed]}

Air transit

Shijiazhuang's Zhengding Airport is the province's center for air transportation, with domestic and international flights. Parts of Hebei are served by the Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing.^[63]

Ocean transit

There are several ports along the Bohai Sea, including Huanghua, Jingtang, and Qinhuangdao. Qinhuangdao is the second busiest port in China and has a capacity of over 100 million tons.

Media

Hebei is served by the province-wide Hebei Television, abbreviated HEBTV. Shijiazhuang Radio & Television is a regional network that covers the provincial capital. Hebei is also served by three major newspapers: Hebei Daily, Yanzhao Metropolis Daily, and Yanzhao Evening News. Hebei Daily Newspaper Group publishes all three newspapers.

Notable people

• Zu Chongzhi (429–500) – astronomer, mathematician, politician, inventor, and writer known for calculating pi to an accuracy that was not surpassed for 800 years
• Feng Dao (881–954) – inventor, printer, and politician
• Zhang Fei (?–221) – military general during the Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period who became sworn brothers with Liu Bei and Guan Yu
• Xia Gengqi (born 1933) – curator in the Beijing Palace Museum^[64]
• Qin Shi Huang (259 BC–210 BC) – founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China
• Guo Jingjing (born 1981) – Olympic gold medalist diver and world champion
• Jing Ke (?–227 BC) – retainer of Crown Prince Dan, assassin who attempted to murder Qin Shi Huang
• Jizi (1942–2015) – ink painter
• Zhao Lirong (1928–2000) – Singer, film actress, and Ping opera performer
• Deng Lun (born 1992) – actor who gained popularity from the xianxia drama, Ashes of Love
• Liu Shichao or Hebei Pangzai – Internet personality known for his food and drink stunts
• Yan Yuan (1635–1704) – Confucian philosopher
• Zheng Yuanjie (born 1955) – Children's books author, and founder and writer of King of Fairy Tales
• Zanilia Zhao (born 1987) – television actress
• Zhao Yun or Zhao Zilong (?–229) – military general who lived during the same period as Zhang Fei
• Liu Zhesheng (柳哲生, 1914–1991) – ace-fighter pilot of Nationalist Air Force of China, a veteran of the War of Resistance-WWII

Sister subdivisions

Hebei is a sister district with the following country states, districts, and other subdivisions:^[65]

• Athens (September 26, 2002)
• Buenos Aires Province (May 19, 1992)
• East Flanders (October 4, 1991)
• Goiás (March 24, 1999)
• Hauts-de-Seine (February 11, 1997)
• Iowa (July 22, 1983)
• Leningrad Oblast (July 20, 1992)
• Missouri (January 25, 1994)
• Nagano Prefecture (November 11, 1983)
• Pest County (May 27, 2015)
• South Chungcheong Province (October 19, 1994)
• Tottori Prefecture (June 9, 1986)
• Veneto (May 17, 1988)

See also

• Dahe Solar Park
• Dongyi Protectorate
• Hebei People
• List of prisons in Hebei
• Major national historical and cultural sites in Hebei

Notes

1. The data was collected by the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) of 2009 and by the Chinese Spiritual Life Survey (CSLS) of 2007, reported and assembled by Xiuhua Wang (2015)^[54] to confront the proportion of people identifying with two similar social structures: ① Christian churches, and ② the traditional Chinese religion of the lineage (i.e. people believing and worshipping ancestral deities often organized into lineage "churches" and ancestral shrines). Data for other religions with a significant presence in China (deity cults, Buddhism, Taoism, folk religious sects, Islam, et al.) was not reported by Wang. The number of Muslims is taken from a survey reported in the year 2010.^[55]

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Sources

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External links