Hebei Tourism: Guangfu Ancient City Near Handan (Photos)

Near Handan, Hebei, lies the Guangfu Ancient City, a national 5A scenic area. On March 8, 2011, a group of journalists visited this renowned historical and cultural town to explore its attractions, including the former residences of Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang, the ancient city wall, and Hongji Bridge, gaining much insight.

Yang-style Taijiquan Performance (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

First, they enjoyed a brilliant performance of Yang-style Taijiquan at Yang Luchan's former residence, then drove toward Guangfu Ancient City. Through the car window, they saw the ancient city sitting in the midst of a vast expanse of water—a unique dryland water city view that was truly spectacular.

A Distant View of Guangfu Ancient City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The tour guide explained that Guangfu Ancient City is located in the southern part of the North China Plain, 20 kilometers southeast of Yongnian District, Handan City, Hebei Province, and 15 kilometers southwest of downtown Handan. It has a history of over 2,600 years and is a key national cultural heritage site.

Crossing the River into the City's Barbican (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Guangfu Ancient City has a profound history. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the famous peasant rebel leader Dou Jiande established his capital here and proclaimed himself King of Xia. It was then that the city began to take shape. In the Yuan Dynasty, the city's area was further expanded. The original Yongnian city was an earthen fortification without water. During the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, Prefect Li Jin dug a moat and diverted water from the Fuyang River into it.

A Strange Tree on the Ancient City Wall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In the 21st year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1542), Prefect Chen Zu mobilized laborers from nine surrounding counties, taking 13 years to encase the earthen city with brick. An inscription under the west gate still records: 'In the 21st year of Jiajing, Prefect Chen Zu repaired this city.' The unrestored section of the city wall we see is the original Ming Dynasty Guangping Prefecture old city, over 500 years old.

Looking into the City Through the Gate (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this place served as the seat of Guangping Prefecture, one of the three prefectures in southern Hebei, hence the name 'Guangfu.' The city is particularly situated within the 46,000-mu Yongnian洼湿地 (Yongnian Marsh), and its unique land-and-water landscape earns it the title 'Little Jiangnan of the North.'

The Weather-Beaten Ancient City Wall (Photo: Ma Chunxiao)

Arriving at the foot of the city wall, the journalist took a memorable photo in front of the wall that exudes a sense of age, then passed through the barbican gate to enter the ancient city. Climbing the city wall and looking around, the breathtaking blend of water and sky was a feast for the eyes. The guide continued her narration.

Ascending the Ancient City (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Guangfu is unique in northern China as an 'ancient city, water city, and Tai Chi city,' often called 'the unmatched place on earth, the first home of Tai Chi.' Notably, over 150 years ago, Yang-style and Wu-style Taijiquan originated and flourished here, producing grandmasters like Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang, spreading Guangfu's influence across the nation and the world. Due to the widespread influence of Yang and Wu-style Taijiquan, their disciples span the globe, earning Yongnian, Hebei, the title 'Hometown of Taijiquan' from the National Sports Commission.

Viewing the Outer River from the City Wall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Additionally, the vast 46,000-mu marshland of Yongnian Guangfu old city deserves special mention. The Yongnian ancient city, 'nine li and thirteen paces' (a traditional measure), sits right in the center of this marsh. With its circular water and square city, and thousands of mu of reed ponds, it is a rare Jiangnan-style small city in northern China.

Overlooking the Barbican from the City Wall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

However, Yongnian ancient city is world-famous not only for its rice paddies and lotus fragrance, nor just for its 'nine li and thirteen paces' and four gates with towers, but more so for its deep connection with Taijiquan.

View Outside the Battlements (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Because Yongnian Guangfu Ancient City is the only dryland water city in northern China, with unique natural features, it is also called 'Crouching Ox City.' The surrounding vast Yongnian marsh has an average elevation of 41 meters above sea level, two meters lower than the Fuyang River to the south. Fed by the Fuyang River and accumulated rainwater, the area is perpetually waterlogged, maintaining a pure wetland state.

Walkway on the City Wall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Yongnian Marsh is considered the third largest marsh in northern China, after Baiyangdian and Hengshui Lake. In recent years, a comprehensive development plan for the Guangfu tourist area has been formulated, focusing on building a 'Greater Guangfu, Ecological Guangfu, and Charming Guangfu.' Adhering to the principle of balancing protection and development, with the ancient city as a foundation, water town characteristics as a highlight, and Tai Chi as a theme, the 21.5-square-kilometer Yongnian Marsh is being developed.

Photo on the Ancient City Wall (Photo: Ma Chunxiao)

To this end, the ancient city wall is the centerpiece, with efforts concentrated on enhancing water, greenery, and historical elements. The moat is being renovated, and antique-style boats are launched to create a sightseeing belt along the moat. An area 500 to 800 meters outside the moat is being excavated into lakes, forming rippling waters and restoring the original appearance of the Yongnian Marsh wetlands.

Overlooking from the City Wall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Between the lake and the outer embankment of the Yongnian Marsh, lake islands will be developed, densely planted with trees, and leisure villas surrounded by clear waters and green shade will be constructed. Traditional buildings within the ancient city and the facades of main streets will undergo antique-style renovations to create a culturally rich, Ming-and-Qing-style district. The goal is to build Guangfu into an ecological tourist attraction that integrates wetlands, lakes, forests, and islands, with millions of square meters of vast waters, a cultural ancient city.

Corner of the Ancient City Gate Tower (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Climbing the ancient city wall and peering through the battlements, the journalist spotted a village with a prominent sign reading 'The No.1 Village in Northern China.' The guide said it is Dongjie Village, Guangfu Town, Yongnian District. This village has a long history and a local folk culture museum, making it a distinctive small northern village.

A Distant View of the No.1 Village in Northern China (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Staring at the 'No.1 Village in Northern China' sign, the journalist couldn't help but recall the Arctic Village he had once visited. It seems that the two villages, both calling themselves the No.1 Village in Northern China, should become sister villages, jointly promoting the flourishing development of China's rural tourism. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Perhaps this is the final impression of the Guangfu Ancient City trip. In short, the journey to Guangfu Ancient City was truly worthwhile. (Text & Photos: Feng Ganyong)