Things to do in Zhao County

The Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area, also known as Anji Bridge, was built over 1400 years ago under the supervision of the Sui Dynasty craftsman Li Chun. It is the world's oldest and best-preserved open-spandrel stone arch bridge, often referred to as the "Number One Bridge Under Heaven." It is a 4A-level scenic area and a national key cultural relics protection unit. The Zhaozhou Bridge itself spans the Xiao River, featuring a single-arch design with four smaller arches added to the shoulders—a groundbreaking innovation in bridge construction. This not only reduced the bridge's weight but also helped divert floodwaters during the rainy season. The bridge's bluestone railings are carved with lifelike dragons and mythical beasts. Currently, climbing the bridge is prohibited, but visitors can admire and photograph it up close from the banks. The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall introduces the bridge's construction principles and historical evolution, showcasing old photographs and models to help visitors understand the engineering wisdom of the ancients. The Li Chun Statue stands at the entrance of the scenic area, commemorating the designer of this famous bridge. The riverside gardens along the Xiao River offer excellent views of the bridge's reflection in the water.

Berlin Zen Temple is located at No. 23, Shita East Road, Zhaozhou Town, Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It was first built during the Jian'an period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (196-220 AD). It was called "Guanyin Temple" in ancient times, "Yong'an Temple" in the Southern Song Dynasty, "Berlin Zen Temple" in the Jin Dynasty, and "Berlin Zen Temple" since the Yuan Dynasty. The existing temple buildings (except the Berlin Temple Pagoda) were built in 1992, covering an area of ​​more than 90 acres. It is an important ancestral temple in the history of Chinese Zen Buddhism [2].

The Hebei Provincial Museum is definitely worth a visit. It boasts a rich and diverse collection of exhibits, arranged scientifically and logically. It also offers a wide variety of cultural and creative products and activities. It's not only suitable for teenagers but also for children.

The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall of Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area is located in Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area, Zhaozhou Town, Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City. The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall is located on the bank of the world-famous Zhaozhou Bridge, close to the scenic area parking lot, and is an important part of the Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area. The Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall is a popular science place that introduces bridge cultural knowledge. It traces the roots of the ancient bridges of thousands of years, explores the historical trajectory of the evolution and development of bridges, and reveals the mystery of bridges to social development. It integrates the knowledge, history, and sociality of bridges, and is inclusive and enjoyable. The Chinese Ancient Bridge Hall of the Ancient Bridge Exhibition Hall of Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area displays all more than 60 bridges of the seven batches of national key cultural relics protection units in the form of pictures and texts, allowing you to appreciate the style of Chinese ancient bridges of different ages, styles, and beautiful shapes. The reliefs of the top ten ancient bridges in China, carved from precious wood, fully display the ancient style of the ancient bridges in a three-dimensional form, showing the long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation for 5,000 years.

I was fortunate to meet Guide Yue from Imperial City Stories on this Forbidden City tour. His professional, witty, and humorous commentary throughout, coupled with a well-planned route and a perfect pace, made the entire tour engaging and entertaining. From the imperial court to the inner palace, he brought history to life in a vivid and engaging way. Enthusiastic, professional, and entertaining – a truly excellent experience! Five stars! Highly recommended!

Service: 3 stars. I bought the U-Pass pass, but when I entered one attraction, I thought it was the U-Pass lane, but it was actually a regular lane. They didn't give me any directions; I only realized I was in the wrong place after asking the person behind me. Secondly, at the Cybertronian Knights restaurant, when ordering, I don't know if it was to save costs or what, but when I went to pick up my food, I asked for a disposable glove, but they said the other tray they gave me was... Their attitude was particularly bad, even though the view was quite nice. I have to say...

This is a Buddhist holy site well worth visiting. The Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Buddha and the mural of the Reclining Guanyin are historical and artistic treasures that have been preserved intact for future generations to appreciate and understand history! An even greater gain was visiting the memorial hall of Mr. Liang Sicheng, where I learned about the contributions he and Lin Huiyin made to the preservation of historical sites in my country and their transmission in education, so that we, the later generations, can appreciate these historical sites!

张洋导游讲解的非常好！All visitors should book the national Museum of China trip. It is not easy to book on your own, book through Trip.com and have a guide to share the history with you..

The Zhaozhou Dharani Sutra Pillar is the tallest extant pagoda in China, standing over 16 meters tall. It is a relic of the Kaiyuan Temple from the Northern Song Dynasty. The pagoda's base features images of opening doors on the east, west, and south sides. It supports a two-story octagonal Sumeru pedestal. Each side of the waist is carved with a Bodhisattva seated on a lotus, a three-bay hall, and above it, a coiled dragon and Mount Sumeru. Mount Sumeru supports a three-story pagoda separated by a canopy and upturned lotuses. Dharani sutras are engraved on it, purporting to achieve the merit of "covering dust and shadows" and eliminating karma. Further up, a shorter, two-story pagoda features carvings of doors, windows, and stories from the Buddha's life. The apex is crowned by an octagonal pavilion and a pagoda.

The tour guide's two-hour lecture vividly and engagingly recounted the six wonders of Longxing Temple interwoven with historical stories, filling this trip to Zhengding Ancient City with reverence for cultural relics and historical sites. In particular, the ancient wooden architecture, which embodies the wisdom of the Chinese working people, sparked my keen interest in mortise and tenon joints.