The northern "Little Jiangnan"—Ancient Lotus Pond guide in Baoding, Hebei, stay at Zeus

🌈 First time in Baoding, the travel guides and A-level attraction lists all recommend the 4A-level Zhili Governor’s Office located in the city center. But personally, I think the Ancient Lotus Pond (3A), not far from the Governor’s Office, is the best spot to explore in Baoding’s urban area. No need to travel far south to Jiangnan; you can encounter a pool of elegant poetry right here in the north—that’s the Ancient Lotus Pond! 👏 1. History of construction 🪷 The Ancient Lotus Pond was built under the supervision of Zhang Rou during the Yuan dynasty, starting in the early Yuan period (1227). Originally, it was just a private garden, but centered around the pond filled with lotus flowers, it already showed the style of a lotus pond. Combined with the open and grand northern garden style, it became the earliest classical garden model in Baoding city. 🍇 The Ancient Lotus Pond went through periods of neglect and restoration, reaching its cultural peak in the Qing dynasty. During the Yongzheng era, the Lotus Pond Academy was established based on the garden, quickly becoming the top northern academy in the Qing dynasty. It flourished with literary culture and attracted many scholars, becoming the cultural center of the Zhili region. 💓 During the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods, it underwent multiple large-scale renovations and expansions, adding stele corridors, halls, and study buildings, integrating mountains, water, gardens, academies, and stone carvings. The Qianlong emperor visited many times, leaving numerous inscriptions that boosted the Ancient Lotus Pond’s fame, officially ranking it among China’s top ten classical gardens. 🏠 2. Must-see stunning views of the thousand-year-old Ancient Lotus Pond 🕐 The core soul of the entire garden! The original pond surface excavated during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. In midsummer, the pond is full of blooming lotus flowers—red lotuses reflecting the morning sun, white lotuses against the evening glow, with a gentle breeze carrying their fragrance, creating an immersive atmosphere. In autumn, the clear pond water reflects the pavilions, creating a beautifully serene ancient ambiance! 👍 Century-old stele corridor & lotus pond culture 🍀 This is more than a garden; it’s the famous site of the Lotus Pond Academy. The stele corridor houses 38 stone carvings by renowned calligraphers, featuring authentic calligraphy from the Jin, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It also includes important stone inscriptions from the Tang dynasty, Wang Yangming’s calligraphy, and Western Xia inscriptions, enriching the cultural atmosphere. Visitors can immerse themselves in a thousand years of literary elegance while exploring the garden. 💯 Travel tips Address: Yuhua West Road, Lianchi District, Baoding Hours: 8:30 AM–7:30 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM) Ticket price: Adult 30 yuan, student 15 yuan 🎉 After touring, rest at Zeus hotel 😴 🛏️ Variety of room types: A wide range of rooms, including standard double rooms and queen rooms, as well as multi-person rooms suitable for gaming groups, such as triple, quadruple, and quintuple rooms, meeting the needs of different-sized esports teams or friend groups. ✅ Comfortable environment: Rooms are designed in a simple, stylish, or uniquely themed style, warm and elegant, providing a cozy stay. Some branches feature esports-themed decorations, creating a strong gaming atmosphere without sacrificing overall comfort. ❤️ Thoughtful service: Offers multiple considerate value-added services for guests’ convenience. These include free shoe cleaning, laundry, drying, and ironing services, solving clothing care needs during the stay; luggage storage and courier services for easy travel; some hotels also provide room decoration and free printing and copying services. 🅿️ Prime location: Zeus esports cinema hotel Jing Mansion branch is located at Building 3, 21st floor, Jing Mansion community, 125 Lugang Road, High-tech Zone, Baoding. It offers an especially wide view and a broad perspective to enjoy the beauty of Beihu Lake. 🌹🌹🌹