Popular Night Attractions in Baoding [2026]

Dingzhou Pagoda, originally named Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda, is located in Dingzhou City, under the jurisdiction of Baoding, Hebei Province. It is named after the Kaiyuan Temple in which it was built. It is the tallest existing brick and wood structure ancient pagoda in China, standing at 83.7 meters high with 11 stories. It is an octagonal pavilion-style pagoda and is known as the "Number One Pagoda in China". It was selected as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units in 1961 and is also one of the "Four Treasures of Hebei".

The Dingzhou Pagoda (Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda) at night is illuminated by warm yellow lights that outline its thousand-year-old silhouette, creating a tranquil atmosphere of "moonlight pagoda, a thousand-year-old still shadow." The warm light gently embraces the pagoda, clearly displaying every brick pattern and the imagery of the bronze bells on the eaves, solemnly and healingly guarding the night sky like a silent guardian.

I went during the day; it's very close from Yishui Lake. I imagine it'll be more lively at night, somewhat similar to Hetou Old Street in Tangshan, but not as bustling. It's still a good place for a stroll.

Lianxiang Taihang Water Town is among the first batch of national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption clusters and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Stepping into it is like entering a painting unfolded with Taihang Mountain stones and the clear waters of the Yi River. During the day, you can stroll through the water town, savoring authentic Taihang flavors and awakening your taste buds. Those who prefer tranquility can quietly observe the fish swimming along the Yi River and enjoy a moment of leisurely "Little Jiangnan." As night falls, Lianxiang Taihang Water Town dons its dazzling evening attire, allowing you to fully enjoy romance and revelry amidst the mountains and waters. Live performances, water play, adorable and healing activities, dreamlike scenery, natural forest themes, and culinary delights... at Lianxiang Taihang Water Town, encounter your own unique summer experience.

After visiting the Zhili Governor's Office Museum in Baoding, it's just a short walk to Baoding West Street. Located in the heart of the ancient city, Baoding West Street was first built in the Yuan Dynasty. Over 800 meters long, it was once known as the premier street in Zhili Province and has been designated a national-level tourist and leisure street. The street still retains a large number of historical buildings with a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, making it a highly representative ancient street in China. Currently, the street is home to numerous time-honored local shops, trendy cultural and creative stores, traditional intangible cultural heritage crafts, and food stalls and shops. Baoding West Street is about a ten-minute walk from Daci Pavilion and the Ancient Lotus Pond, which can be visited along the way.

West Street in Baoding stretches approximately 800 meters east to west. Originally built during the Chunhua era of the Song Dynasty, it is one of the best-preserved historical and cultural blocks in China, showcasing the architectural styles of the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. The street is primarily composed of cultural and commercial buildings, but also includes government offices, schools, ancestral halls, water houses, financial institutions, and traditional residences. It was once hailed as "the No. 1 Street in Zhili" and "a famous street in the North." During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era, the government auctioned off official properties, converting many government offices into shops, further boosting West Street's commercial prosperity. At the same time, the street's architecture was significantly influenced by Western styles, resulting in the unique architectural features of West Street today.

Dingzhou is a county-level city under Baoding. Although small, it boasts a treasure museum and a famous ancient pagoda. The ancient city of Dingzhou is situated around the pagoda, with a grand city gate and quiet alleyways surrounding it. The antique-style street is relatively quiet during the day, with few shops, but it might become more lively at night.

Dingzhou Ancient City, a historical and cultural city in the north, has been known as "the throat of Kyushu and the key area of ​​the capital" since ancient times. As the former capital of Zhongshan and Houyan, it has a profound historical heritage. The South Gate, also known as the "Yingtai Gate", is the only existing city gate tower. After entering the gate, you will see the central axis of the ancient city - Central Street. Going north along this street, you will see many scenic spots and historical sites such as Kaiyuan Temple, Han Wangling, Gongyuan, Dadaoguan, Wenmiao, Yan Yangchu's former residence, Wang Hao's former residence, Zilai Buddha Temple, Octagonal Well, Xuelang Stone, Zhongchun Garden, etc. Historically, Dingzhou gave birth to historical celebrities such as Lian Po, Cui Hu, Liu Yuxi, Cheng Yi, Cheng Hao, Zhang Hanhui, and Sima Guang, Han Qi, Su Shi and other masters also worked and lived here. There is also the tallest ancient tower in China, the Kaiyuan Temple Tower. Because it is located on the border of Song and Liao, the border soldiers guarded the ancient tower all year round, so this ancient tower is also called the "Enemy Tower". It is the only ancient tower in China with military functions. The 488 Han Dynasty inscription stones in the Han Dynasty Mausoleum, the flying stones from the stars in the Confucian Temple, the imperial examination shed in the Gongyuan, the water and land murals of the Yuan Dynasty in the Dadao Temple, and the original inscriptions of Su Dongpo in the Zhongchun Garden are all treasures among similar cultural relics in China. Since the Song Dynasty, in order to defend against foreign invasions, Dingzhou City has carried out large-scale wall construction projects, and built city gates, urn cities and moon cities in the four directions of southeast, northwest and northeast. The ancient city is surrounded by a moat, and the main city gate has a gate tower with a double-eaved hip roof, forming an ancient city wall 8 meters high, 22 meters wide and 26 miles long. After many repairs during the Hongwu and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty, and the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Daoguang periods of the Qing Dynasty, the ancient city wall of Dingzhou finally became a solid city defense fortress and a hub for foreign trade exchanges. However, with the changes in modern times and the development of the city, most of the ancient city wall of Dingzhou was destroyed, and only the South Gate survived of the four city gates. The stone road, blacksmith shop and old church inside the South Gate still exist. Looking back on the past, the era of war and iron horses is gone, and the ancient border city has now transformed into a modern city. The horse and camel bells on the Central Street have been replaced by highway cars, and only the old and faded Yingtai Gate is still standing, guarding the historical memory of the ancient city of Dingzhou.