One-Day Self-Driving Trip to Baiyangdian, Anxin County, Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province on July 10, 2021

At 6:50 AM on July 10, 2021, my wife and I set off from Tianjin on time, driving to Baiyangdian in Anxin County, Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, arriving at 9:00 AM. The scenic area offers a combined ticket: 4 attractions plus a boat ticket (air-conditioned boat) at 185 yuan per person. This type allows you to get off at the islands; the boat departs as soon as it's full. There is also a hand-rowed boat eco-tour that does not visit the attractions, costing 80 yuan per person, for a 2-to-3-hour ride on the waterways. We chose the former, the 185-yuan option. After about 20 minutes by boat from the dock, we arrived at Lotus Grand View Garden. We entered at 9:30 AM. Lotus Grand View Garden is the main scenic area, very large; we spent 3 hours there. Next was Baiyangdian Cultural Park, where we spent 1 hour. It contains the newly built Yanling Team Memorial Hall. Gazi Village is also newly built and very commercial. The Scenic Area, Joy Island, and other spots feature entertainment facilities and performances that children would likely enjoy, but we did not participate; we just got off the boat, walked around, then got back on. The boat takes you from one attraction to another in one direction only; there is no return trip. I'm not sure if it's due to the pandemic, but the "Impression of Gazi" live show is no longer allowed to perform. At 4:00 PM, we drove out of the scenic area and arrived home safely at 6:00 PM. The entire drive was 290 kilometers. It's worth mentioning that the ticket office, i.e., the visitor center, is excellent with complete facilities; many visitors rest and drink water there. Also, through inquiries, I learned that Baiyangdian's large scenic area has two entrances, meaning two boat docks, located in two different counties, operated by two different companies. One uses air-conditioned boats, the other open-top boats. Both implement a combined ticket system for 4 attractions, but the prices likely differ, with the air-conditioned boat probably being more expensive. Among the 4 attractions, the last boat for two of them departs at 7:00 PM, and for the other two, the last boat departs at 6:00 PM. I think if you only have 4 hours (half a day) for Baiyangdian, it's a bit tight, and you can only visit the two main attractions. Also, be sure to protect yourself from the sun.

Tianjin -- Baiyangdian, Xiong'an New Area -- Tianjin

Below is the itinerary I prepared before the trip, for reference only.

Baiyangdian is located in central Hebei Province, about 140 kilometers by car from both downtown Beijing and downtown Tianjin, making it an ideal short weekend getaway for the Beijing-Tianjin area. It features endless reed marshes with crisscrossing waterways and beautiful scenery. Every July, large expanses of lotus flowers bloom, making it exceptionally beautiful. Several major attractions have been built within the scenic area, offering a mix of natural landscapes centered on the lotus-filled waters, cultural buildings reflecting the anti-Japanese history, performances, and more. There are also many farmsteads in the area where you can taste river delicacies, eat lotus roots, watch fishing, and experience the leisurely life of a waterside village.

The Baiyangdian scenic area is large, stretching tens of kilometers inland. Inside, there are small islands developed into several major attractions. There are no roads connecting the islands to the land; you can only reach them by boat. Therefore, entering Baiyangdian requires taking a boat. Starting from the Anxin Dock in Baiyangdian, which is also the main entrance, you need to pay an entry fee (equivalent to a general admission ticket) and rent a boat. Renting a boat is very convenient. Various sizes and types of boats are available, from speedboats to small wooden boats. Generally, renting a 4-person hand-rowed boat for a full day costs about 150 yuan, allowing unlimited time to visit various attractions. Speedboats cost about 40-60 yuan per hour. If you are staying at a local farmstead, you may not need to rent a boat; the farmstead owner can pick you up by boat and take you to the attractions, with the boat fee usually included in the accommodation cost. Sometimes this can even save you the entry fee, making it more economical than renting a boat separately.

Current attractions within the scenic area include Lotus Grand View Garden, Exotic Scenery Garden, Baiyangdian Cultural Park, Yuanfei Lotus Garden, Baiyangdian Treasure Island, Fisherman's Paradise, Leisure Island, and Mandarin Duck Island. The content of these attractions overlaps, so you don't need to visit all of them. Most tourists don't have time anyway; 2 to 3 attractions are enough. Lotus Grand View Garden, Exotic Scenery Garden, and Baiyangdian Cultural Park are the more famous ones; you can choose based on your interests.

Lotus Grand View Garden is a famous attraction in Baiyangdian, home to hundreds of species of Chinese and foreign lotus. It is one of the largest lotus gardens in the country with the most varieties. Visiting in July, when the lotus flowers are in full bloom, is an excellent time for sightseeing and photography. In recent years, the garden has introduced the world's largest lotus, the giant Amazon water lily, whose leaves look like huge jade plates, reaching over a meter in diameter and capable of supporting a small child standing on them—very unique. Exotic Scenery Garden is a performance-based attraction where you can see shows such as crocodile wrestling, lions hunting, Thai dances, tightrope walking, and more. There are also a haunted house, international carnival, and other activities (some may charge separately). Baiyangdian Cultural Park focuses on cultural and historical sites, including a palace built during Emperor Kangxi's visits, a memorial hall commemorating the Yanling Team's wartime stories, and a temple, all worth visiting.

In addition, on a small island next to Baiyangdian Cultural Park, there is the "Impression of Gazi" live show, which is comedic and popular among tourists.

Visitors to Baiyangdian usually stay overnight in the wetland area. Accommodations can be found on Leisure Island, Fisherman's Island, and other spots, but the facilities are limited and prices are not cheap. A recommended accommodation option is Wangjiazhai Folk Village, which has many farmstay homes. They are generally clean and tidy, and reasonably priced. After booking a room, you can ask the owner to pick you up by boat and guide you to the attractions. You can also watch fishing, drink lotus leaf tea, and enjoy authentic local river fish, shrimp, crabs, and other farm-fresh dishes, as well as the famous Baiyangdian salted duck eggs from North China—experiencing genuine waterside village life. Typical accommodation costs about 100 yuan per person for a 3-4 person room (including three meals and boat transfers).

Parking: [Baiyangdian Scenic Area Parking Lot] Reference price: Small car 10 yuan/day, large car 20 yuan/day. Address: Near Baiyangdian Scenic Area. Spaces: —

On-site Transportation: Baiyangdian Boat: At the entrance, operating hours 8:00-18:00, 100 yuan/person, no deposit required, usable throughout the scenic area; different small boats have different fee standards.

Restrooms: Restrooms are located within the scenic area, near facilities such as the rowing area, pillbox, Golden Treasure Pavilion, Longevity Stone, and Chaoyang Bridge, with clear signage. (Probably needed for hand-rowed boat visitors.)