3-Day 2-Night Baoding Road Trip: Waterfalls, Ancient Temples, a Millennial Carving Town, and Glamping

What are the must-visit travel and vacation destinations in Baoding, a historic and cultural city not far from Beijing, beyond its world-famous donkey meat sandwiches? With the grand opening of the third Baoding Tourism Development Conference, traveling in Baoding has become increasingly enjoyable. Follow in the footsteps of Panda for a 3-day, 2-night adventure and explore Baoding!

The Largest Waterfall Cluster in Northern China: Tianshengqiao Waterfall Group Scenic Area

Returning to the largest waterfall cluster in northern China, Tianshengqiao Waterfall in Fuping, Baoding, is located in the 'Shangri-La' deep within the Taihang Mountains. It combines landforms, geology, glaciers, ecology, and culture. In a light drizzle, the Tianshengqiao area is crisscrossed with ravines, lush with vegetation. The nine-tiered waterfall resembles nine dragons cascading down the cliff, with a thunderous roar echoing from the summit. Cloud-shrouded peaks make you feel as if you're in an ethereal fairyland!

If you want to conserve energy, take a cable car directly to the most spectacular waterfall. Above the grand waterfall lies the Tianshengqiao (literally 'Heaven-Born Bridge'), the first gneiss natural bridge discovered in China. It was formed by valley stream erosion along fissures and collapses. Above it is a 60-meter waterfall, and below is a 112-meter-long cascade.

The entire waterfall cluster in the Tianshengqiao scenic area is concentrated in a single valley, ranging from tens of meters to over 100 meters in height, a unique waterfall spectacle in northern China. If you have ample energy, climb the steps and discover the nine waterfalls one by one as you ascend, accompanied by the crisp sound of flowing water—refreshing and delightful!

Baoding's Yunhua Xigu: A Nature Trip with Fantastic Rafting and Glamping!

For those who love nature, RVs, camping, and glamping, I recommend the Yunhua Xigu International Campground in Xiazhuang Township, Fuping, Baoding. Sanglinping is the Yunhua Xigu International Campground, covering 45,000 square meters, capable of hosting 500 camping tents and 100 self-driving RVs simultaneously—a spectacular scale!

Every spring, wild roses bloom all over the mountains, and you can go canyon rafting below. Come here with your family and embrace the rustic charm of nature! New glamping tent hotels have been built in the forest, with exotic vibes from Rome and Morocco. Sleep in the tranquil woods and enjoy moments of pure relaxation!

Yunhua Xigu is a key part of the 800-li Taihang range, featuring diverse landforms like gorges, hills, terraces, and level fields. Flower seas, peculiar peaks, cascading waterfalls, and deep forests ensure splendid scenery in all seasons. In late spring (April), azaleas blanket the area, and icy waterfalls hang from peaks; in mid-summer (July), alpine meadows bloom with golden lotus; in golden autumn (October), red leaves paint the trees; in deep winter (December), frozen rivers weave through forests and sheer cliffs abound.

Don't miss the rafting in Yunhua Xigu! The 8-kilometer route takes about 2 hours with a total drop of 180 meters, letting you experience the natural landscape, rugged rocks, and scenic waters all the way.

In Quyang's Beiyue Ancient City, Watch Intangible Cultural Heritage Performances

A lesser-known but highly worthwhile attraction—Beiyue Ancient City, located in Quyang County, Baoding. Once a place where emperors worshipped heaven and earth, today you can immerse yourself in the time-honored ancient temple, watch the grand ancient Beiyue sacrificial ceremony, see authentic murals by Wu Daozi, admire historical architecture and carving arts, and enjoy intangible heritage performances like Qingge (flagpole balancing), Dafan (big banner), and Chuige (wind music)—non-stop excitement!

The ancient Beiyue culture is mainly concentrated in the Beiyue Temple and the Xiude Temple Pagoda west of Quyang County. Beiyue Temple was first built during the Jingming and Zhengshi eras (500-512 AD) of the Northern Wei period. Until the 17th year of the Shunzhi reign (1660 AD), it served as the site where feudal emperors of successive dynasties worshipped the deity of the Northern Sacred Mountain (Mount Heng). Xiude Temple is located 300 meters south of Beiyue Temple and was originally built in the Song Dynasty. The Huata (Flower Pagoda) is peculiarly shaped, octagonal in plan, with seven stories and a total height of 32 meters.

What to See at Beiyue Ancient Temple?

✅ Authentic Murals by Wu Daozi: Inside the Dening Hall of Beiyue Temple, there are two giant murals on the east and west walls, each 8 meters high and 18 meters long, and a mural on the north wall 8 meters high and 27 meters long, covering a total of 504 square meters. These are the 'Celestial Palace Diagram' painted by the Tang Dynasty master Wu Daozi. The style is free and flowing, vividly capturing the essence of 'Wu's sashes fluttering in the wind.' They are invaluable for mural research and fill a gap in the history of Chinese painting concerning the Wu School.

✅ Architecture and Sculpture Art: The main building of Beiyue Temple, Dening Hall, is the largest extant Yuan Dynasty wooden structure in China and the highest-standard ancient building for the Five Sacred Mountains worship. The Stone Carving Museum houses over 100 ancient carvings, showcasing the styles and characteristics of Quyang stone art across different historical periods. There are also 200 stelae inscriptions spanning over 1,500 years from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Tang, Ming, Qing, and the Republic of China, forming a vast calligraphic system and one of the largest clusters of stelae in Hebei Province.

✅ Beiyue Sacrificial Ceremony Cultural Event: Beiyue Temple was the site where feudal emperors of successive dynasties worshipped the ancient Mount Heng, with a history of over 1,500 years. According to records, emperors and local officials held more than 300 grand sacrificial ceremonies here. In the new era, Beiyue Temple has planned the Beiyue Hengshan Sacrificial Ceremony based on Song Dynasty regulations regarding scale, rituals, and ancient music.

Yangping, the Millennial Sculpture Town: Sculptors Everywhere!

‘From the age of 99 down to just learning to walk, when it comes to carving, everyone has a skill.’ Visit Yangping Sculpture Town in Baoding and feel the craftsmanship and legendary stone carving skills of Yangping artisans! Strolling through Yangping Carving Town is like walking in a vibrant art district. There are exquisite stone pavilions, lifelike lions, graceful ladies, realistic Buddha statues—classical, modern, realistic, abstract… A dazzling array of installation art pieces line the streets, leaving you overwhelmed.

Sculpting has become an inherited skill and livelihood for the people of Yangping. Yangping carving artisans have also participated in the construction of many key national projects, such as the Monument to the People's Heroes, Capital Museum, Beijing Railway Station, Nationalities Cultural Palace, and Military Museum—all bear their mark.

In Yangping, the variety of sculptures is vast, evolving from initial stone carving to 10 categories including wood carving, bronze casting, stainless steel, clay molding, and more, with over 3,500 varieties. Products are exported to more than 100 countries and regions. With technological progress, 3D-printed sculptures are now also available!

Luotuo Bay: Once Impoverished, Now a Picturesque Village

Step into No. 1 and No. 2 Courtyards of Luotuo Bay in Fuping, Baoding: grey tiles, wooden cantilevered beams, small eaves, latticed windows, stone-paved yards, yellow mud walls... The rural appearance is preserved, but the living facilities inside have become much more convenient. The courtyards are lush with plants and blooming flowers, creating a beautiful countryside where you can see the mountains, gaze upon the water, and retain nostalgia.

In Luotuo Bay's guesthouses, the linens are from Carnation, mattresses are King Koil imported from the USA, beds are Simmons, toilets are TOTO smart models, toiletries are from Herborist, and air purifiers are Yadu. With a rustic exterior, you enjoy star-rated hardware facilities!

When visiting Luotuo Bay, you can also enjoy many local and nearby specialties from Fuping, such as wild vegetable dishes, pigeon banquets, mushroom banquets, Shanxi-style noodle series, and more. Snack lovers shouldn't miss the Pigeon Snack Street, where there are various pigeon delicacies like fruitwood-roasted selenium-rich pigeon, salt-baked squab, and braised selenium-rich pigeon—delicious and nutritious! Not only can you feast on site, but you can also take them vacuum-packed to share with friends and family.

If you haven't decided where to spend the National Day holiday, why not plan a self-drive trip to Baoding? Get close to nature, explore ancient wonders, savor authentic donkey meat sandwiches, and experience the charm of this historic and cultural city!