Departing from Beijing, take a 30-minute high-speed train ride to Hebei and Tianjin. Experience the hustle and bustle of the city as well as the poetic and romantic landscapes. Short trips to Tianjin and Hebei are a great idea!

Tianjin

PART 01: Five Great Avenues Historical and Cultural Block

When walking in Tianjin city, which place is your top choice? The Five Great Avenues Historical and Cultural Block in Tianjin are definitely a must-visit. It is a famous landmark in Tianjin, representing the heart, window, and business card of the city.

Walking along the Five Great Avenues Historical and Cultural Block feels like stepping into a frozen corridor of time, with Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque styles... Over a thousand Western-style buildings of various designs make it a sight to behold.

Here, not only do you find architectural masterpieces, but also the mysterious history of old Tianjin. Celebrities and literati used to frequent this place, and each building holds a legendary story waiting for you to listen and explore.

Minyuan Square, the "heart" of the Five Avenues, carries the urban memories of Tianjin for a century. From the Minyuan Stadium in 1920 to today's leisure landmark for citizens, the wheel of history slowly turns here.

In the late spring afternoon, take a leisurely stroll here, let the warm sun shine on your shoulders, and feel the poetic play of light and shadow in the European-style arcades.

PART 02: Hai He (River)

When in Tianjin, a must-visit spot is the Haihe River that flows through the city.

Board a boat on the Hai He (River), and the night scenes on both banks resemble a flowing painting. With a bridge every less than 0.8 kilometers, such as Jingang Qiao (Bridge), Jiefang Qiao (Bridge), and the Tianjin Eye, Yongle Qiao (Bridge), each bridge offers a unique charm, making every photo a masterpiece.

This year's new season of boat tours on the Haihe River has introduced a new feature - cross-talk performances on the boat, offering visitors a one-stop experience of Tianjin's beauty and local entertainment, attracting many ticket buyers.

PART 03: National Maritime Museum of China

Tianjin, built by the sea and rich in marine resources, is home to the National Maritime Museum, known as the "Forbidden City on the Sea," located in the Tianjin Eco-City.

The completion and opening of the Marine Museum is not only a cultural milestone in the development of China's marine industry, but also a new space and medium for people to interact with the ocean. It has also become a new urban cultural landmark in Tianjin.

Here, visitors can see real fossils of ancient marine creatures such as layered stones, trilobites, conch shells, and ichthyosaurs, as well as giant shark specimens and models of ancient marine life from over five hundred million years ago.

In addition, visitors can learn about the development of Chinese maritime civilization and systematically understand the stories of the ocean and China from ancient times to the present.

On April 20th, the "Astonish: Immersive Exhibition Sanxingdui" opened at the National Maritime Museum of China. Step into the mysterious ancient Shu Kingdom and experience the miracle of bronze and light and shadow colliding.

PART 04: Teda Aircraft

As the only large military theme park in China with the "Kiev" aircraft carrier as its core, integrating resources such as retired destroyers, submarines, and frigates as the core IP of the "aircraft carrier formation," over the years, it has continued to tap the value of military cultural resources, innovatively exploring the integrated development model of "culture + business + tourism." The Teda Aircraft has now become a large military theme park integrating fleet sightseeing, themed performances, national defense education, featured study tours, red training, conferences and exhibitions, entertainment and leisure, and film and television shooting.

During the May Day holiday, the Teda Aircraft will be themed "Setting Sail for Dreams, Joyful Blossoms," through the triple innovation of military resource scenarization, technological performance IP, and cultural and creative parent-child experiences, constructing a "touchable national defense education + empathetic cultural carnival" park model, providing visitors with an immersive cultural tourism experience throughout the day.

Hebei

PART 01: Unique Dream of the Red Mansion

When you go to Langfang, you must visit the Unique Dream of the Red Mansion Fantasy City.

This May Day holiday, Unique Dream of the Red Mansion Fantasy City will join hands with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) to invite jazz masters from home and abroad to perform live, kicking off the "Dream City Dream Life Festival." With 21 plays and 5 jazz performances, the intertwining of the Dream City story and improvisational inspiration will stage a grand cultural duet.

As jazz music flows through the pavilions and towers, pay attention to the subtle magic of light and shadow happening around you. During the "Dream Life Festival," a limited edition fireworks display will be held every evening, with clusters of fireworks gently blooming alongside the music on the stage, reflecting the concentration of the musicians and illuminating the wonder in your eyes.

The Unique Dream of the Red Mansion as the sub-venue of the fifth "Taihu Jazz Festival" hosted by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), stepping into the fantasy city, visitors will not only be spectators of the fantasy city story, but also participants in this "dream-making" project. Among the pavilions, in the changing lights and shadows, in the bustling market, listening to world-class jazz music intertwined with Eastern dreams, spending a dreamy holiday filled with artistic atmosphere and relaxation.

The fantasy city has prepared multiple dimensions of theatrical experiences for visitors, from grand indoor theaters to dynamic small theaters scattered in the gardens, collectively creating an immersive "illusory realm." Five specially planned thematic tour routes connect theaters of different styles, catering to visitors' personalized preferences for watching performances.

Stepping out of the theater, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that the fantasy city has carefully arranged thematic stations that echo the performances, with retro cuisine, nostalgic toys, or old objects carrying collective memories, making the touch of the drama feel real and intimate.

During the "Dream-making Lifestyle Festival," whether you are resting in the scenic garden of the fantasy city or patiently waiting in line outside the theater, be sure to pay attention as there may be flash activities happening around you at any time.

PART 02 Zhengding Ancient City

With nine floors, four towers, and eight major temples, as well as twenty-four golden archways, Zhengding is a national historical and cultural famous city with a history of over 1600 years of city construction, known as a "treasure trove of ancient architectural art."

Climbing up the south gate of Zhengding, looking north, ancient streets, buildings, temples, and pagodas come into view, like a vivid historical scroll, showcasing the historical splendor of the ancient city over a thousand years.

Attractions such as Zhaoyun Temple, Rongguo Mansion, Longxing Temple, Tianning Temple, Kaiyuan Temple, Yanghe Tower, Linji Temple, and Guanghui Temple are worth visiting.

It goes without saying that Zhengding's cuisine includes traditional specialties such as the Eight Big Bowls of Zhengding, Shaomai, and Heluo noodles, as well as a variety of snacks at the night market. Visitors can taste signature dishes from all over the country, such as Shenyang Chicken Rack, Changsha Stinky Tofu, Northeastern Guobaorou, and Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles.

PART 03 Chengde Mountain Resort and Surrounding Temples

Chengde in Hebei Province is one of the first national historical and cultural famous cities. The Chengde Mountain Resort and surrounding temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

The design of the Mountain Resort draws inspiration from nature, without artificial embellishments. Over 120 groups of buildings are nestled among the mountains, waters, and trees, creating a magnificent landscape that combines the beauty of the south and the grandeur of the north, gathering famous scenic spots from all over the country into one garden. It is the largest existing classical royal garden in China.

There are 12 buildings on the peaks of the mountains, each with a different style yet complementing each other, blending various ethnic architectural styles and witnessing the harmonious coexistence of multiple ethnic cultures. The temple complex surrounds the resort, forming a protective stance, and still preserves a large number of temple relics, serving as evidence of friendly exchanges between different ethnic groups.

PART 04 Jinshanling Great Wall

Jinshanling Great Wall is one of the most essential sections of the Great Wall. With a total length of 10.5 kilometers, it has 67 watchtowers, 5 passes, and 3 beacon towers, earning the reputation of "The Great Wall is magnificent, Jinshan stands out."

Passes, watchtowers, beacon towers, a tight defense system, utilizing walls, mountain-cut walls, and rugged mountain walls, adapting to the terrain to construct ingeniously. Here, almost all architectural forms of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall are concentrated, making it the most ideal location for appreciating and studying the architectural structure of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall.

As a paradise for photography enthusiasts, the scenery of Jinshanling Great Wall in the morning and evening is very magnificent and worth a visit. Jiangjun Tower, Western Tower, Xiaojinshan Tower, East Wuyan Tower, West Wuyan Tower, and Liuyan Tower are the best places to watch the sunrise and sunset. Visitors can enjoy the gentle sunset and charming twilight on the first day, and witness the sunrise over Jinshan at dawn on the second day, feeling the grandeur of the mountains and rivers. Visitors can re-enter the scenic area for free.

PART 05 Baishi Shan (Mountain)

Baishi Shan (Mountain)Scenic Area is a well-known camping base in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The mountain here is majestic and fantastical, with distant mountain ranges undulating, especially beautiful when shrouded in clouds and mist.

Climbing Baishi Shan (Mountain) is both a challenge and a pleasure.

At an altitude of 1900 meters, the Shuangxiongshi Line features peculiar rock formations like "The Piggyback of Zhu Bajie" and "Clear Sky over Baishi," making for magical photos with just a snap. The transparent "glass skywalk" can also capture a 360° reflection wonderland.

The Feihuxia Line at 1600 meters descends into the canyon, allowing you to experience walking through the clouds and on the edge of the sky. At a corner, you'll find a cliffside café where coffee with mountain breeze stirs the soul of a hardworking person.

Want to experience the hardcore joy of rock climbing on cliffs? Baishishan's Via Ferrata is ready for the challenge!

Walking on the Clouds Skywalk, with clouds flowing beneath your feet, when the sea of clouds surges, it feels like a scene from the movie "Journey to the West."

Where are you planning to go for the May Day holiday?

Image sources: Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Tianjin Broadcasting, BRTV News, Unique Dream of the Red Mansion, Hebei Tourism, Baishishan Scenic Area, Xiaohongshu @高高的铁塔