Cangzhou is named after its proximity to the Bohai Sea, meaning "the state of the Bohai Sea". It takes less than an hour by high-speed railway to reach Beijing from Cangzhou. Cangzhou, a city of both culture and martial arts, has a rich historical heritage; Cangzhou, a city of rivers and seas, has abundant tourism resources. It is the birthplace of Shijing (Classic of Poetry), Chinese acrobatics, and martial arts. What's more, it's the hometown where renowned cultural figures such as Ji Xiaolan and Zhang Zhidong were born and grew up. Today, the vibrant and dynamic Bohai Bay is open to the world, making every effort to build a famous cultural and tourism city in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, welcoming visitors from all over the world.
Wuqiao Acrobatics World
Wuqiao Acrobatics World, located in Wuqiao, the birthplace of Chinese acrobatics, is known as the cradle of acrobatic arts in China and abroad for its long history and exquisite artistry in acrobatics. In 1954, Wuqiao was named "the town of acrobatics" by Premier Zhou Enlai. The folk saying "From the old to the young, everybody does acrobatics well in Wuqiao" vividly reflects the popularity and deep mass base of Wuqiao acrobatics culture.
To promote national culture and turn the advantage of Wuqiao acrobatics into economic advantage, the Wuqiao Acrobatics World tourist attraction, jointly built by the Wuqiao County government and Hong Kong, was opened to the public on November 26, 1993. It covers an area of 617 acres and features eight major scenic spots, including the Jianghu Cultural City, Acrobatic Yard, Magic Fantasy Palace, Folk Customs Garden, and Funny Zoo. The newly added Circus Amusement Park and Hongmudan Theater integrate functions such as entertainment, participation, communication, performance, and catering, showcasing the essence of folk culture and the charm of Wuqiao's art.
The central scenic area of Wuqiao Acrobatics World is the Jianghu Cultural City, which covers an area of 19,200 square meters and reproduces the ancient features of the old Wuqiao County town, serving as a microcosm of modern Wuqiao acrobatics history. The unique architecture and grandeur of the city bring a strong sense of Ming and Qing culture. At the same time, its live performances combine the folk culture styles of “Beijing Tianqiao” “Tianjin Sanbuguan” “Nanjing Confucius Temple” and “Shanghai Great World”. Walking through the city, visitors can feel the authentic atmosphere of a hundred years ago, experiencing the mysterious, ancient, simple, and thrilling aspects of Jianghu.
Address: No. 1 Jingfu Road, Wuqiao County, Hebei Province
Dongguang Iron Buddha Temple
Dongguang Iron Buddha Temple is a famous scenic spot and ancient site, renowned with the "Lion in Cangzhou", "Tower in Jingzhou", "Iron Buddha of Dongguang County". Located on the south side of the county town, it is also named “Puzhao Park”. It covers an area of 270 mu and is a comprehensive tourist attraction integrating leisure, entertainment, and sightseeing. The scenic spots in the Dongguang Iron Buddha Temple scenic area include the Iron Buddha Temple, Erlang Hill, Taishan Palace, Ma Zhiyuan Memorial Hall, amusement park, artificial lake, and Xun Huisheng Memorial Hall.
According to the Dongguang County Annals, Tiefo Temple was originally named "Puzhao Temple" and was built in the fifth year of the Northern Song Dynasty's Kaibao era (AD973). It has a history of more than a thousand years. The temple is famous for its large statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. In 1936, the warlord Wu Peifu inscribed the name "Tiefo Temple" on a plaque. After the liberation, Tiefo Temple was listed as a key cultural relic under protection in Hebei Province.
Since the reform and opening up, in order to promote the excellent cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, the Dongguang County government applied to the provincial government for approval to rebuild Tiefo Temple. The construction began on March 22, 1987, with an investment of 5 million yuan, and the renovation was completed in March 1989. The newly built Tiefo Temple is located in the center of the tourist area, covering an area of 7,334 square meters, including the mountain gate, Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Hall, and the eastern and western side halls. It is a group of antique, elegant, majestic and spectacular buildings that imitate the style of the Song Dynasty. The gilt plaques of the Tianwang Hall and Daxiong Hall were created by Aixinjueluo Pu Jie, the brother of the last emperor of China. There are a total of 33 Buddha statues in the Tiefo Temple, including a 8.24-meter-tall and 48-ton-heavy seated cast iron statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in the Daxiong Hall, which is the largest of its kind in China.
Address: No.68 Puzhao Street, Dongguang County, Cangzhou, Hebei Province.
Jixiaolan Cultural Park
Jixiaolan Cultural Park Scenic Area is located in Cui'erzhuang Town, Cang County, Hebei Province, which is the hometown of Ji Xiaolan in the Qing Dynasty. It is a cultural and tourist attraction with a cultural connotation based on the life and achievements of the famous scholar and cultural icon Ji Xiaolan, with garden architecture as the carrier and ecological jujube forest as the support. The park covers an area of more than 50,000 square meters and features antique buildings such as the Huanhai Shucong Hall, the Yuewei Caotang Hall, the Wenyi Ge Pavilion, and the Luan Ru Huai Gu Room. Through exhibits and paintings, the park reproduces Ji Xiaolan's life and writings.
The park leans toward antique architecture and its main feature is its tranquil and elegant garden. The most interesting part is the "Ji's Giant Pipe", a pipe designed by later generations specifically to commemorate Ji Xiaolan, which measures 8.2 meters in length and weighs 21 tons, making it the world's largest smoking pipe.
Ji Xiaolan, also known as Mingyun, with the courtesy name Xiaolan and posthumous title Wendagong, was a famous scholar and cultural icon in the Qing Dynasty. He was also known as Shiyun and Chunfan in his later years. He was born in Cui'erzhuang, Cangzhou, Hebei Province in 1724 and passed away in 1805. Ji was a famous scholar in the Qing Dynasty and is known for his work as the chief editor of the Si Ku Quan Shu (Complete Library of Four Treasures), and for his book, Yuewei Caotang Biji (Supernatural Tales of Ji Yun).
Address: National Highway 307, Xicun, Cui'erzhuang Town, Cang County, Hebei Province, China
Ancient Government Office of Hejian
The Hejian Government Office, also known as Hejian Yamen, is known as the "number one government office in southern Beijing" and was one of the four famous offices in southern Beijing, alongside Baoding, Daming, and Kaifeng. It consists of more than 60 buildings and 300 rooms, divided into three sections: east, middle, and west. The buildings include halls, corridors, chambers, residential quarters, prison offices, temples, and administrative offices for various officials.
The Hejian Government Office was established in the second year of the Daguang period of the Northern Song Dynasty (AD889) and is the only yamen building with a corridor besides the Forbidden City in Beijing. Famous officials such as Bao Zheng, Cai Jing, Li Su, and Wang Sicheng have all served there. Since ancient times, Hejian has been known for its honest officials. Since the Han Dynasty, many upright officials have adhered to the principle of loving and caring for the people, maintaining self-discipline and vigilance, leaving behind a rich tradition of integrity and clean governance that has lasted for thousands of years.
It is worth mentioning that Hejian is the birthplace and inheritance place of Shijing (Classic of Poetry). Mao Heng and Mao Chang, of the Western Han Dynasty, taught and spread the Shijing (Classic of Poetry) in Hejian, and it has been handed down as the first collection of Chinese poetry. The former Xishuyuan Academy in the scenic area was a place for prefects and officials to read and exchange culture, and is now called "Shijingzhai". "Shijingzhai" has over 8,000 copies of various editions of the Classic of Poetry, which was named “the largest collection of Classic of Poetry editions" by the Guinness World Records headquarters in Shanghai in 2003.
Address: Hongpailou Street, Hejian, Cangzhou, Hebei Province
