Dachang

Introduction

Dachang is a Hui Autonomous County in Hebei province, administered as part of Langfang prefecture-level city. It was established as an autonomous county in 1955, and its identity is bound up with the Hui Muslim community that gives the county its name.

That history carries a heavy chapter: during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Hui Muslim county of Dachang was subjected to slaughter by Japanese forces. Keep this in mind as context for what you encounter here, rather than expecting a conventional sightseeing destination.

Three days in Dachang

Day one: Begin in Dachang, the Hui Autonomous County in Hebei under Langfang. Get your bearings in the Hui Muslim quarter, where the town's character is most evident, and take your time over the local cooking rather than rushing between sights.

• Dachang
• Hui Autonomous County
• Hebei
• Langfang
• Hui Muslim

Day two: Look into the area's modern history, above all the years of the Second Sino-Japanese War, when this part of Hebei was caught up in the fighting against the Japanese. It is a sober subject, and the day is best spent slowly, reading and asking rather than ticking off locations.

• Second Sino-Japanese War
• Japanese
• Hebei

Day three: Keep the pace easy and stay within Dachang itself, returning to whatever you liked best on the first two days. Keep an eye on the weather, which swings between bitterly cold winters and warm, humid summers, and plan your walking accordingly.

• Dachang
• Keep