Population: 10,890,000 (Urban Population: 1,006,000)

Area: 22,113 square kilometers (8,538 square miles)

Nationalities: Han, Hui, Man

Administrative Division: 3 districts; 18 counties; 4 county-level cities

Location: Located in central Hebei Province, Baoding is bounded on the north by Beijing and Zhangjiakou, on the east by Langfang and Cangzhou and on the south by Shijiazhuang and Hengshui, as well as on the west by Shanxi Province. Seated in the center of Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, Baoding is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Beijing, 145 kilometers (90 miles) west of Tianjin and 125 northeast of Shijiazhuang considered as the south gate of the Capital Beijing.

History: The city area of Baoding originally came into being during the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it was ascended to be Baozhou, becoming a big city in North China. The city was destroyed by the southward invasion of Genghis Khan and rebuilt in 1227. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the central government set up Baoding Shire here. During the early ages of the establishment of PRC in 1949, Baoding acted as the capital city of Hebei Province.

Physical Features: Lying along the east foot of the northern part of Taihang Mountains, the terrain of Baoding inclines from the northwest to southeast and is mainly comprised of the western mountain area and eastern plain. In the east of the plain, there are many waterfilled depressions and shallow lakes.

Climatic Features: The city belongs to the warm temperate zone semi-humid monsoon climate with most rainfall concentrated in summer. It has clear seasons with relatively great temperature difference. For the sand-dust weather, the spring is dry.

When to Go: Most visitors choose to visit Baoding in autumn for the cool weather. In addition, many tourist festivals and ceremonies are held in summer and autumn, so, they are the best season for visiting.

Local traditional operas: Haha-qiang of Qingyuan County, Baoding Laodiao (old tunes)

Local Folk Customs: Lion Dance of Xushui County, Shadoe Play of Zhuozhou City

Folk Music: Luogao Ancient Music of Laishui County

Handicrafts: Quyang Stone Carvings, Baigou Clay Figures, Yishui Inkstone, Twisted-Placenta Artistic Pottery, Reed Knitting

Special Local Products: Baiyangdian Preserved Egg, Kuihuai Pickles

Scenic Spots:

Baiyangdian Lake: the largest fresh water lake in North China consisting hundreds of shallow lakes and waterfilled depressions
Eastern Qing Tombs: a grand group of imperial mausoleum architecture of the Qing Dynasty
Ancient Lotus Pool: a famous classical garden in northern China built in 1227 and one of the ten famous gardens in China
Wild Three Slopes Scenic Area: an emerging and developing tourist destination combining gorges, rivers, mountains and virgin forests