Hebei Tourism: Experiencing the Ancient Yan-Zhao City of Zhao Garden (Photo)

In the northwest of Handan city, Hebei province, lies a famous cultural scenic area—Zhao Garden Park. In this vast open park, people can fully experience and appreciate the rich cultural essence of the ancient Yan-Zhao capital. On the morning of May 3, 2007, a reporter joined a self-driving tour group called "Yan-Zhao Journey" and visited here.

South Gate of Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Zhao Garden Tourist Area covers a total of 2,100 mu (about 140 hectares), making it one of the larger comprehensive tourist areas in southern Hebei, blending ancient culture with modern amusement facilities. For convenient parking, the group did not choose the busier main northern gate on Handan's main road, but instead came to the southern gate, which has fewer vehicles and pedestrians.

Group photo in front of Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The southern gate of Zhao Garden is also quite imposing. On the square in front of the two towering gate pillars, there are two giant beasts sitting or lying down, whose names are unknown, guarding each side. The reporter found an interesting introduction to Zhao Garden. It reads: Although it looks like a park, it has a significant history. About 2,300 years ago, King Wuling of Zhao, the fourth ruler of the Zhao state, implemented the reform of "wearing Hu clothing and learning archery from horseback" and led his soldiers to practice horse riding and shooting arrows here.

Lush vegetation in the garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Zhao Garden preserves sites such as the Arrow Insertion Ridge, the North and South Dressing Towers, the Arrow Casting Furnace, the Imperial Aunt's Tomb, Han Dynasty tombs, and the Eyebrow Reflection Pond. The terrain is undulating, and the culture is rich, making it a large comprehensive park that integrates history and ecology, artificial landscapes, and natural scenery.

Reporter's photo at Zhao Garden (Photo by Zhu Huashan)

The entire park is planned into ten scenic areas: the North Gate Area, the Allusion Garden Area, the Mirror Pond and Eyebrow Reflection, the Hundred Flowers Stream, the Reed and Rush Waterway, the Archery and Riding Wind, the Reeds and Lakes Cooling, the Forest Shade Fragrance, the Nine-Palace Scent, and the Dressing Terrace Cloud…

Quiet lakeside (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Walking into Zhao Garden, one's eyes are greeted by lush green plants and vegetation. It is said that the park has planted a total of 120 varieties of trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and aquatic plants, about 240,000 plants. The green area covers over 900 mu, accounting for 88% of the park's total area. In the "Forest Shade Fragrance" area, in addition to selected species such as Chinese pine, arborvitae, juniper, ginkgo, and locust trees, many local tree species like walnut, chestnut, jujube, persimmon, wolfberry, and hawthorn are planted for visitors to stroll, rest, or participate in activities like fruit picking and flower appreciation to experience nature.

Lush greenery at Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

If visitors observe carefully, they can easily find a strong cultural atmosphere in Zhao Garden. Under the shade of some trees, beside stone tables or along the water's edge, students are seen reviewing their lessons everywhere. Some parents accompany their children, creating a heartwarming scene of concentrated study. The reporter also saw a young boy practicing calligraphy on the ground with a large brush dipped in water, under the guidance of a parent. His characters were vigorous and powerful, showing considerable skill.

Child practicing calligraphy (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The water scenery in Zhao Garden is also distinctive. The water area covers over 200 mu, accounting for about 20% of the total park area. Numerous fish and aquatic plants grow in the water, adding vitality and energy to the entire park.

Pavilions and waterside pavilions (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The water system utilizes the natural elevation difference, higher in the west and lower in the east, flowing from west to east through Zhao Garden. The source of the water is the "Hundred Flowers Stream." The water flows along the terrain, softening the land, with rocky banks and blooming flowers on both sides. Due to the higher elevation, the water flows swiftly, creating splashes and sparkling droplets.

Stone bridge at Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The water meanders according to the terrain, cascading down layer by layer. After flowing into the Eyebrow Reflection Pond, the water and sky reflect each other, creating a beautiful scene—this is the "Mirror Pond and Eyebrow Reflection" area, said to be where the Zhao palace maids did their makeup and reflected their eyebrows. Around the water system, the "Reed and Rush Waterway" and "Reeds and Lakes Cooling" scenic areas are places for leisure fishing and swimming in summer, with natural rocks scattered along the shores and giant trees and flowers interspersed.

Car enthusiasts at Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Car enthusiasts took photos, played, and chatted with family and friends amidst the beautiful scenery where flowers, grass, and water meet, feeling completely at ease. There is also a high earthen hill in Zhao Garden. When people climb up, they see what appears to be wild grass covering the hillside, but it conveys a sense of wild ecology. Looking out from the hill, the beautiful scenery around Zhao Garden is fully visible. Having such a large, free, open cultural scenic area is truly a blessing for the citizens of Handan.

Overlooking the North Gate of Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Zhao Garden is really huge. Its landscape consists of four parts: The main gate of Zhao Garden faces south and north. The entire structure is in the style of a flock of birds, majestic and grand. Between the two tall gate pillars is embedded a huge "Ancient Zhao Famous Treasure"—the Heshibi jade disc, which prominently highlights the characteristics of ancient Zhao.

Garden landscape at Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The southern part is the garden area. It gathers six gardens within gardens: the Mandarin Duck Garden, the Picnic Garden, the Family Fun Amusement Garden, the Plant Maze Garden, the Auspicious Garden, and the Fresh Fruit Garden. Each garden is picturesque with its own charm, making it an ideal place for family and group outings, as well as for couples and close friends to stroll. The western part is the modern amusement area, featuring the Nine-Palace City, the Gunner's Paradise, the Water World, the Yuanchen Hall, the Archery and Riding Field, and the Fishing Garden.

Water scenery at Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The eastern part is the ancient historical site area. Based on the ancient Zhao sites such as the Arrow Insertion Ridge, the Dressing Tower, the Eyebrow Reflection Pond, and the Arrow Casting Furnace, grand structures like the Zhao King's Hall, the Hall of Various Philosophers, the Palace of Emperors through the Ages, the Ancient Weapons Exhibition Hall, and the Idiom and Allusion Garden have been built.

Historical site area (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Due to limited time, the car enthusiasts did not get to tour the entire park. The reporter mainly chose the eastern historical site area, perhaps because it better reflects the characteristics of Yan-Zhao culture. Especially on the earthen hill, the tall monument tower in the historical site area is particularly eye-catching. The reporter came down from the hill, crossed the stone bridge over the water, and wandered around the monument tower for a long time. Looking at the idiom inscriptions and mural sculptures of classical stories near the curved cultural wall, he deeply felt the ancient Zhao cultural atmosphere.

Cultural wall at Zhao Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The sound of a roaring train came from outside the eastern wall of Zhao Garden. Looking in that direction, a white high-speed train of the D-series sped by. At that moment, the blend of modern technology and traditional Yan-Zhao culture added some thought-provoking reflections. Feeling Zhao Garden, experiencing culture, and enjoying happy tourism—all these left unforgettable and wonderful memories for the car enthusiasts on their self-driving "Yan-Zhao Journey." (Text and photos: Feng Ganyong)