Yandu Ancient City: How Much Does It Cost to Tour Yi County? (Part 1)
The gentle breezes of July are pleasantly soothing, and August skies are bright and sunny. It feels like only these two months of the year carry such a strong seasonal charm, plus students get their longest break, so these are definitely the peak travel months—you could even call it high season.
As someone who loves poetry and distant places, I used to dream of exploring the whole world, without borders. But this year, with pandemic restrictions, I feel it's wiser to stay put in our own country. So I've been thinking: what interesting places are there to visit domestically?
There are many must-haves for planning a trip. Beyond personal taste and travel companions, for most ordinary people, the most important thing is probably budget—or, for some, the budget decides everything, including the destination, the length of stay, and even who comes along.
We're the same. So for this trip, within a reasonable budget, we skipped the often-visited southern cities and headed somewhere with a fresh feel up north. We plan to spend time in Yi County and see just how much it costs to explore this area!
If you're interested, read on!
The reason for choosing Yi County is simple. First, the novelty—we wanted to go somewhere with a totally unfamiliar diet and climate. Second, it's close to both Beijing and Tianjin, so you can easily go back and forth, which opens up a lot more travel options.
Due to time constraints, our flight landed at Shijiazhuang Airport this time. The airport is a bit tiny, but it has everything you need—basic needs are all covered.
As for cost, since we traveled during the high season, the airfare was a bit pricier than usual, around 1,480 yuan round trip.
Airfare: 1,480 yuan per person.
Arriving in Hebei doesn't mean you've truly reached the destination. It's still about an hour's drive to Yi County. We had pre-booked a car to pick us up, so it wasn't a big hassle. The driver was waiting outside the airport early, and on the way, we got to enjoy the endless flat fields along the route.
Transport: 225 yuan for two people.
What's the most important prep for a trip? Making an itinerary, of course. For someone who wants to get the most value out of every penny, accommodation choices need careful consideration. Yi County is most famous for its beautiful landscapes and deep historical heritage, but rather than staying directly in a scenic area, we wanted to experience a bit of the city's lively atmosphere. After much deliberation, plus some online tips, we chose a hotel called Xuheng inside Yandu Ancient City.
The room types at this hotel are much like any other, but the standout feature is its quaint, traditional décor. Before booking, I had my eye on their deluxe king room, but I was too slow and it got snatched up, so we went with a deluxe twin room instead.
Xuheng Hotel accommodation: 190 yuan per night.
Before we know it, we've already covered two of the four key travel elements—eating, staying, traveling, and sightseeing. Due to limited space, the big highlights—eating and sightseeing—will have to wait for the next article. See you there! ~
