◎Lyu's Golden Millet Dream Temple

Highlights of the City

In this section,you will read a set of “calling cards” of Handan,which are the most representative of the historical,cultural and spiritual landscape of the city.

◎Cishan Cultural Relics

Cishan Cultural Relics' archaeological excavations began in 1976. Cishan Culture of Neolithic Age is early than Yangshao Culture. Farming was the main way of production at that time. The unearthed foundations of houses were half-cave buildings and cellars were in rectangular size with the deepest of 7m. A large number of carbonized millet was also discovered. Thousands of artifacts made of pottery,stone,bone and mussel were found. Bones of chickens,pigs and dogs showed they were domesticated. What's more,equipment for fishing was also discovered. All these discoveries showed that at that time,farming was the main industry,while fishing and hunting the supporting ones. Cishan Cultural Relics,with its rich relics and clear local characteristics,provides extremely important clues to the exploration of the origins of Chinese agriculture and animal husbandry.

◎Xuebu Bridge

The bridge is located on Beiguan Street over the Qin River and serves as the main traffic route connecting the north and south of the city. Formerly known as Niushoushui,the Qin River flew from Zishan,ran through Handan in the east,and finally into Fuyang River. In the old days,the river was a popular landscape in Handan with willows on both sides. It was originally a wooden bridge. To make it stronger,people transformed it into an arch stone bridge in 1617. The bridge is 32 meters long,9 meters wide and 8 meters high,with 19 balustrades and 18 balusters on each side,all carved with historical figures and animals such as lions and monkeys. There are three major archways with four small bridge openings attached to both sides of the archway and a dragon head looking down at the center of each archway. Though the bridge is not large in scale,it is solid and beautifully shaped with the artistic style of typical Chinese bridges. Next to the bridge is a stone sculpture of a young man crawling behind a couple walking gracefully,a vivid depiction of the ancient Chinese story “Han Dan Xue Bu” (Imitating another without success and losing what used to be one's own ability),which gave the bridge its name.

◎Huiche Lane

Huiche Lane is about 75 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. According to legend,during the Warring States Period,high official Lin Xiangru humbly made way for General Lian Po,hence the name. The wall at the east entrance is inlaid with a stone tablet erected in 1584,which was inscribed with the words “Lin Xiangru Huiche Lane.” In 1981,the lane was renovated and a stone tablet pavilion,which is 4.4 meters high and 2.3 meters wide,was built there. The inscription on it records the stories of Lin Xiangru,who,in the interests of his country,repeatedly made way for Lian Po so as to make peace with him.

◎Congtai Terrace

It is said to have been built during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao in the Warring States Period. As it is made up of many connected terraces,hence the name Congtai Terrace (literally,it means rows of terraces). It is also known as Wuling Congtai Terrace,since King Wuling of Zhao launched his reform there. There are Heaven Bridge,Snow Cave,Makeup Pavilion and gardens there. Congtai Park,built on the basis of Congtai Terrace,has become a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and was awarded the title of “Top Ten Parks in Hebei Province.” It is the only national key park in the province.

◎The Zhao Capital of Handan Park

Located in the southwest of Handan,the Zhao capital was built in 386 BC,when Marquess Jing of Zhao moved the capital from Zhongmou to Handan. Since then it was the capital of Zhao and it was annexed by Qin in 226 BC The site consists of a tripod of three small towns in the west,east and north,with five rammed earth platforms in it and the largest of which known as “Longtai,”the typical base of platform cloister in Warring States Period and the largest preserved base of the same period. The site was listed by the State Council as one of the major historical and cultural sites under state protection in 1961 and included in the list of 100 major sites for protection in 2005. In October 2006,Handan started the construction of a comprehensive park and tourist attraction on the ruins of the Zhao capital,which integrates cultural relics reservation,ecological construction and cultural tourism,showcasing the history,culture and customs of Zhao from different aspects. The first construction phase has been completed and that area has been opened to visitors. Inside the park,there are the South Gate,the Museum of Ruins of Zhao Capital,a giant map of Seven Powers of Warring States Period,the miniature landscape of Zhao Capital and other attractions.

◎Wahuang Palace

Wahuang Palace in She County is a national AAAAA-level scenic spot and a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level. Built in Northern Qi (6th century),it is said to be the place where Nuwa,the ancestor of China,created mankind and repaired the sky in prehistoric times. It consists of four groups of buildings,namely Chaoyuan Palace,Tingcan Palace,Guangsheng Palace and Wahuang Pavillion. It consisted the arts of ancient architecture,stone caves,stone scriptures and stone statues and is the largest ancient architectural complex dedicated to Nuwa,with a reputation of Penghu Wonderland since ancient times.(https://www.daowen.com)

◎The Walled City of Guangfu

It a historical city integrating Pingyao City,Baiyang Lake,and Tai Chi.

It is surrounded by a moat and beyond the moat is Yongnian Lake,one of the three major lakes in Hebei,covering an area of 30 square kilometers. The lake was formed by the alluviation caused by redirection of the Fuyang River,and the city is located right in the middle of it.

◎ Headquarters of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army

The headquarters of the 129th Division in She County is a patriotism education base and a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level. It is composed of several adjacent courtyards built on the mountains. During the Counter-Japanese War,Liu Bocheng,Deng Xiaoping,Xu Xiangqian,Li Da,Huang Zhen and other proletarian revolutionaries fought and lived here for nearly five years,making She County a strategic rear in the war in North China.

◎Shooting on Horses in Hu Dress

King Wuling of Zhao reigned the state of Zhao during the Warring States Period. In order to defend against the Hu people's invasion from the north,he introduced the military reform of wearing the Hu-styled attire and shooting from horseback in battle. Worriers would wear crowns decorated with ermine and cicadas,a belt decorated with gold hooks,and boots for riding and shooting. He took the lead in wearing Hu dress,learning to ride and practicing archery,and trained soldiers in person,which built up Zhao's military strength steadily. Eventually,Zhao beat back Hu people and annexed the state of Zhongshan,becoming one of the Seven Powers in the Warring States Period. According to legend,it was in the Arrow-sticking Ridge in the west of Handan that King Wuling of Zhao promoted the reform and trained his soldiers.

◎Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Martyrs Cemetery

The construction of the Martyrs Cemetery,built to commemorate the revolutionary martyrs of the Command and the Political Department of the Eighth Route Army,the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Military Command and the 129th Division who sacrificed their lives in the border area of Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan,was started in March 1946 and completed in October 1950. It is a nationally famous martyrs cemetery with a long history,a large scale,high value of architectural art and a beautiful environment. It is a national key heritage site of martyr commemoration,a national demonstration base for patriotism education,and classic scenic spots for red tourism in China. More than 200 outstanding commanders and famous combat heroes who died for the country including General Zuo Quan,deputy chief of staff of the Eighth Route Army,Zhang Zhaofeng,secretary of the Military Commission of the Northern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,Fan Zhuxian,a national hero in the Counter-Japanese War,first-class heroes Zhao Xiangde and Wang Keqin,were buried here.

◎Xiangtangshan Caves

There are 22 caves,more than 450 cliff statues,more than 5,000 statues of various sizes,and a large number of carved scriptures and inscriptions. Most of the caves were constructed in the Northern Qi Dynasty,and restored and renewed in the following dynasties. In 1961,it was listed by the State Council as one of the major historical and cultural sites under state protection. In 1991,it became one of the first nine scenic spots in Hebei Province. In 2002,it was named a national four-star forest park,and in 2009,it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

◎Lyu's Golden Millet Dream Temple

Built in the early Northern Song Dynasty,the temple is a famous cultural relic and tourist attraction in Hebei Province and a major historical and cultural site under provincial protection. It is also a thousand-year-old temple with great influence in North China,as well as the only cultural attraction in China with Dream Culture as its theme,enjoying a high reputation at home and abroad,and playing a positive role in promoting the study and exchange of Dream Culture internationally. On the central axis of it,there are three main halls,namely Zhongli Hall,Lyuzu Hall and Lusheng Hall,with the Guangxu Palace in its east and the Cixi Palace in its west. The temple is also home to the Chinese Dream Hall Museum.