A Practical Travel Guide to Gu'an: A Never-Ending Light Show, a Cool and Fun Trip
On the vast North China Plain lies a deep and ancient land called Hebei, rich in history and diverse in terrain, the only province in China that encompasses grasslands, seashores, deserts, lakes, plateaus, plains, and mountains. Hebei tightly surrounds the capital Beijing, and 50 kilometers directly south of Tiananmen, Gu'an faces Beijing's Daxing District. In ancient times, it was known as 'under the emperor's feet,' and today it is praised as 'the pearl south of the capital.'
Beautiful Gu'an is gaining attention for its rapid changes. With abundant tourism resources, it is only 10 kilometers from Daxing International Airport and an hour's drive from Tianjin Xingang, making it a favorite destination for tourists from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. A never-ending light show lights up Gu'an's night. Let's enter Gu'an and embark on a cool, slow journey.
1. Daxing International Airport
Our first stop in Gu'an is the Daxing International Airport Gu'an Terminal, located 10 kilometers from the airport. Visitors to Gu'an can check in and check their luggage here, then take a bus directly to Daxing International Airport, convenient and fast.
The terminal has an imposing exterior and a stylish interior design. You can clearly see flights taking off and landing at Daxing International Airport. After checking in, head directly to Daxing International Airport to go through security and enter the waiting area, making our travel smoother.
2. Gu'an Xing'an Lake Ecological Sports Park
The sky gathers the colors of summer, and leaves stir with the sounds of autumn. In the crisp autumn season, step into Hebei's Gu'an, step into a fairy tale of blue skies and white clouds. I haven't been cycling in a long time. This time, on the recommendation of local friends in Gu'an, I came specially to Gu'an Xing'an Lake Ecological Sports Park. It's a paradise for cycling enthusiasts from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and a great place for a slow trip.
September's weather is very clear. Many travel lovers enjoy this cool weather to find a place to relax and unwind. Gu'an has an excellent geographical location and convenient transportation, earning it the reputation of 'under the emperor's feet.' It's 10 kilometers from Daxing International Airport and an hour's drive from Tianjin Xingang, making it the favorite destination for tourists from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. And Xing'an Lake Ecological Sports Park is the first check-in spot for visitors to Gu'an.
Xing'an Lake Ecological Sports Park features a 2.5-kilometer standard circular road race track, a 3.6-kilometer circular mountain cross-country track, beginner/intermediate/advanced gravity jump tracks, rock cross-country tracks, and comprehensive technique tracks, among other professional facilities. Even those with average cycling skills can have a great time here.
Racing along the professional cycling path, smelling the fragrance of grass and trees, a gentle breeze brings refreshment. My mood is as light as the birds in the sky. Whenever I see beautiful scenery, I stop to take photos.
Xing'an Lake Ecological Sports Park was expanded from the former Yongding River Bicycle Park. The total park area has been expanded from the original 500 mu to over 2,000 mu. The park vividly recreates the waterfront scenery of the Yongding River, highlighting the two themes of ecology and sports. The park's lake area covers 100,000 square meters, with 5,900 meters of asphalt cycling road and 8,000 meters of hiking trails made of colored asphalt and gravel. Along the cycling path, various flowers bloom, making it a wonderful feeling to immerse in nature.
When we ride to the shore of Xing'an Lake, we might as well stop and rest quietly by the lake. A gentle breeze comes, the water is calm, and the blue lake ripples gently. Such a slow trip is perhaps the poetry and distance we yearn for.
The route we took is one that ordinary cycling enthusiasts can ride. Within Xing'an Lake Ecological Sports Park, there are many professional-level tracks. The park's bicycle-themed area has a total of 16 tracks, including circular road tracks, circular mountain tracks, gravity tracks, beginner pump tracks, intermediate pump tracks, advanced pump tracks, children's balance bike courses, comprehensive training courses, and 4X racing tracks. Watching professional riders leap over bumpy roads is both thrilling and exciting.
Cycling is a joyful activity, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. As I passed through the willow-lined paths and reached the shore of Xing'an Lake, the sunlight was just right, and the breeze was mild. This autumn, this trip, because of cycling, I discovered that happiness can be this simple.
3. Zhoujiawu Peking Opera Countryside Town
Mentioning Zhoujiawu, locals in Gu'an are very familiar with it. Everyone there can sing Peking Opera. Zhoujiawu's opera history dates back to 1884, when the village established an amateur troupe called 'Zhoujiawu Zidi Hui.' It has been passed down through four generations without interruption, now 135 years.
Zhoujiawu has a Peking Opera Countryside Town, closely related to the local customs. The operas sung by Zhoujiawu people are mainly Peking Opera and Hebei Bangzi. Although not everyone in the village can sing, amateur troupes like 'Zhoujiawu Tongle Hui' and 'Zhoujiawu Troupe' have never disappeared. During festivals, the troupes perform in surrounding villages and towns, gaining some fame. Enter the Peking Opera Countryside Town and walk into a sea of flowers.
Agricultural planting and leisure picking in Zhoujiawu Village enrich rural tourism. Red okra grows well; fresh ones can be eaten right away. This was my first time seeing okra trees, and my companions were full of curiosity, taking out cameras and phones to take pictures.
Gu'an has profound historical and cultural heritage. If you are interested in ancient Chinese music, don't miss Qujiaying. Gu'an Qujiaying ancient music, with a history of 600 years, originated between the Yuan and Ming dynasties. It has the reputation of 'living fossil of music' and 'treasure of Chinese culture,' and is one of the most well-preserved ancient music forms in China.
In 2006, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Together with Xi'an imitation Tang dance music, Hubei bianzhong music, and Beijing Zhihua Temple music, it is known as one of China's four great ancient music forms by the music circle.
With ancient charm, listening quietly to the heavenly sounds passed down for 600 years, I developed a strong interest in this folk ancient music. Qujiaying ancient music concentrates on folk wind and percussion instruments, including guan, di, sheng, and yunluo. It uses the ancient 'gongche' notation and has strict transmission methods, passed down orally. It's truly remarkable that it has survived for 600 years.
5. Gu'an Planning Exhibition Hall
To understand Gu'an most directly, come to Gu'an Planning Exhibition Hall. It shows Gu'an's past, present, and future. Since 2002, Gu'an people have used 18 years to create a miracle of Gu'an development! 2002-2008: Park established, high-level planning; 2009-2012: Direction set, accelerated development; 2013-2019: Intensive urban development, helping takeoff; 2019-present: Seizing strategies, Gu'an sets off again...
6. Gu'an Volunteers
In Gu'an, there is a resounding name: Gu'an Volunteers. Seeing the photos of Gu'an volunteers in the planning hall left a deep impression.
'Everyone a volunteer, unity is strength'—that is the deepest impression Gu'an volunteers left on me. In Gu'an, I had a very special dinner made by Gu'an volunteers themselves. In 2015, the Gu'an Happiness Volunteer Service Association was established. As of now, the number of registered volunteers in Gu'an has reached 80,000, exceeding 12% of Gu'an's permanent population. In my eyes, Gu'an is fashionable and modern, but also grand and inclusive. Because it is full of warmth, many people from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei come to Gu'an and become members of Gu'an volunteers, willing to contribute their efforts to this warm city.
7. Maple Forest Manor
After enjoying Gu'an's scenery and tasting its food, let's see what beautiful accommodations Gu'an has. Dining, lodging, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment—this perfect combination is an important reason why many tourists from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei are attracted.
Maple Forest Manor is a southern-Beijing parent-child science experience base integrating pastoral leisure, dining and entertainment, science education, parent-child activities, and sports. It is divided into three theme sections: local customs, health and wellness, and artistic creativity.
With simple Chinese-style decoration, opening the window reveals sprawling pastoral scenery. Staying here for two or three days, you can enjoy the comfort and ease of a slow pastoral life.
8. Yiyun Hotel
Gu'an is known as the 'Hometown of Hot Springs in China.' Enter Gu'an Jingxiong Hot Spring Valley·Jinhai Yiyun Hot Spring Hotel and start a slow trip. Gu'an is rich in geothermal and mineral water resources, one of the largest geothermal fields in northern China, and is known as one of the world's four major rich geothermal fields along with the Paris Basin in France, Akita Prefecture in Japan, and Beijing Xiaotangshan. Whether swimming or soaking in hot springs, it's a great pleasure.
9. Liu Lingcang Culture Museum
When it comes to Chinese masters of meticulous heavy-color painting, Liu Lingcang is a must-mention. He is a native of Gu'an.
Liu Lingcang and Guo Muxi are masters of Chinese meticulous heavy-color painting. During his lifetime, Liu Lingcang served as a member of the China Artists Association, honorary president of the Beijing Gongbi Heavy-color Painting Society, advisor of the Beijing Chinese Painting Research Association, and professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He was a renowned Chinese painting artist and art educator. The images of Li Bai and Qu Yuan in our middle school textbooks, and the 'Great Disturbance in Tongtian River' in the Journey to the West comic, were all drawn by him.
Being able to see the original works of Liu Lingcang is truly a fortunate thing. In a quiet atmosphere, appreciate them calmly. The Liu Lingcang Guo Muxi Art Museum is the first private non-profit art museum in Hebei Province, the first privately run and publicly supported art museum in Hebei, and the largest professional Chinese painting and calligraphy art museum in Hebei Province. Currently, it houses nearly 200 original works by Liu Lingcang, over 300 by Guo Muxi, and more than 2,000 works by modern and contemporary Chinese masters.
10. Gu'an Light Show
Fifty kilometers due south of Beijing Tiananmen, there is an ancient and deep small city known as the 'Hometown of Hot Springs in China' and 'Hometown of Flowers and Trees.' In the crisp autumn season, I set off from Shijiazhuang and arrived in Gu'an. At night, Gu'an is dreamlike, with thousands of lights shining brightly, lighting up the night. Strolling with friends in the Central Park 'Electronic Music Park,' I felt the charm of light and shadow. This autumn night became even more enchanting because of the light show.
The 2020 Gu'an Culture Light Festival lit up the city's night, attracting people to step out and enjoy the cool autumn evening. The Electronic Music Park targets young families, with abundant night-time entertainment: a dreamy 'Up' themed balloon house, a light matrix composed of 100 dot-matrix light pillars, the music box 'FM Gu'an,' light seesaws, and interactive light pianos. Every spot is cool and dreamy, perfect for photo check-ins.
This year's Gu'an Light Festival is colorful. Strolling in the night, my friends and I chatted while searching for Gu'an's highlights. The light festival features a 100-meter colorful slide, oversized light swings, many internet-famous photo installations like 'Angel Wings' and 'Interactive Heart,' integrating leisure, entertainment, parent-child interaction, and trendy check-ins into a southern Beijing night-time leisure theme park.
Gu'an's Super Theater is also a well-known check-in spot. The Super Theater is a new type of smart theater jointly built by Deng Chao, Yu Baimei, Wang Qi, and others. The Super Theater in Gu'an is the second in the country, located at No. 1 Dahu Tiandi, Gu'an County, Langfang City. It is also a very eye-catching venue during the light festival.
Every night at 8 o'clock, a cool light show takes place at the Super Theater. The entire show tells a story of ancient Gu'an, from mythical tales of ancient times to the modern new look of Gu'an. The performance lasts about ten minutes. The visual and auditory impact of sound, light, and shadow presents a classical, modern, and dynamic Gu'an.
The entire light show uses original Japanese imported Epson engineering projection equipment, enabling 3D imagery without glasses. Under the night sky, light flows, music is shocking, and light and lines, particles and space change rapidly, giving a strong visual impact.
The night is like water. I stroll with my bestie among the flickering lights, and her silhouette is captured in my camera.
Gu'an Light Festival has a fashionable and grand international style, drawing on the successful experiences of international light festivals in Lyon (France), Berlin (Germany), Amsterdam (Netherlands), as well as domestic ones like Zigong Lantern Festival, Xi'an Light Festival, and the Forbidden City Lantern Festival. Using high-tech interactive technology and international diverse light art, it expresses Gu'an's connotation of diversity, openness, inclusiveness, and technology.
The autumn sky is clear, the light is brilliant, and the Electronic Music Park is still twinkling. This is a never-ending light show, and it is a shining warmth that Gu'an gives to every traveler who arrives. The evening breeze blows gently, and my heart is intoxicated in Gu'an's night.
Wellness Gu'an, Leisure Gu'an, Culture Gu'an, Light Gu'an. 50 kilometers south of Tiananmen, a trip to Gu'an brings us new and cool travel experiences.
