Stand on Yuhua West Road in the late afternoon and the low sun catches the grey brick and dark timber of a Qing-era government office that has stood here since 1729. A few minutes' walk away, pillars carved in a script most Chinese readers cannot read mark a community that travelled far from its homeland to settle in this city.
Baoding suits travellers who are already in Beijing or elsewhere in Hebei and want a day or two of imperial history, military history and good regional food without the crowds of a major tourist centre. It also works as a base for the Western Qing tombs and Baiyang Lake, both of which sit outside the central city.
This guide covers the sights in central Baoding first, then the places in greater Baoding and nearby, and finishes with a one-day plan built from the central sights.
Top things to do in Baoding
1. Office of the Viceroy of Zhili
Built in 1729, this was the working office of the Viceroy of Zhili from its construction until the fall of the Qing dynasty, and it is considered the best preserved Qing-era provincial governor's office in China. That combination of age and completeness is what makes it the most rewarding single stop in central Baoding.
It sits at 301 Yuhua West Road in Lianchi District and is served by bus nos. 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, 26, 35, 39, 66 and K1. Opening hours run 08:30–17:30 from March 16 to November 14 and 09:00–17:00 from November 15 to March 15, with no entry in the last 30 minutes and closure on Mondays. Admission is ¥30. Pair it with Lianchi Academy Museum, which is a short walk along the same road.
2. Western Qing tombs
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yi County, where four Qing dynasty emperors are buried, among them the Yongzheng Emperor and the Guangxu Emperor. The tomb of the Guangxu Emperor was the last imperial tomb built in Chinese history and the only one of the four to have been looted, which is why it is the only one whose burial chamber is open to the public.
The grave of Puyi, China's last emperor, lies in a nearby commercial cemetery, though it differs little from other modern-day graves. Allow a full day for the site and treat it as a separate trip from central Baoding rather than something to squeeze into an afternoon.
3. Lianchi Academy Museum
A historic academy laid out in a Jiangnan-style courtyard, combining classical gardens, former official residences and traditional academy spaces. In summer the ponds filled with lotus flowers are the highlight of a visit.
It is at No. 246 Yuhua West Road in Lianchi District, open daily 09:00–17:30 with last entry at 16:30, and admission is ¥30. Because it shares Yuhua West Road with the Office of the Viceroy of Zhili, the two fit naturally into one half-day, and summer is the season that shows the courtyards at their best.
4. Baoding Museum
A large museum with substantial holdings on the city's history and on the Great Wall. If you want context for the sights you are seeing elsewhere in Baoding, this is where to get it.
It is at 1032 Qiyi East Road in Lianchi District, reachable on bus no. 4, 27, 29, 39, 61, 70, 806 or Tourist Bus 3. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–17:00, with doors closed at 16:30, and is closed on Mondays. Admission is free.
5. Baoding Natural History Museum
Opened in early 2024, this is a branch of the Paleozoological Museum of China, which is based in Beijing, and it is many times larger than the Beijing branch. Notable items in the collection include the world's only complete skeleton of a Chinese velociraptor and some well-preserved pterosaur eggs.
Find it at the southeast corner of the intersection of East 3rd Ring Road and Dongfeng East Road in Lianchi District, served by bus K1, Tourist Bus 1 or Tourist Bus 3. It opens 09:00–17:00 with no entry after 16:30 and closes on Mondays except when Monday is a public holiday. Tickets are ¥40 and the only payment method accepted is WeChatPay, so have that set up before you arrive; there may be someone around who can help you if you cannot pay that way.
6. Tangut dharani pillars
The Western Xia empire was destroyed by the Mongols in the 14th century, yet a community of Tangut people from the Western Xia erected these pillars far away in Baoding in the 16th century. They are one of the few examples of the complex Tangut script found outside of Western China.
This is a short stop rather than a half-day, and its value lies in the script itself. Read up on the Tangut people beforehand, or the pillars will look like little more than weathered stone.
7. Baoding Banquet Food Culture Museum
The museum recreates scenes of old Baoding, including traditional streets, shops and workshops, and focuses on the food culture, history and traditional culinary techniques of Baoding and the wider Hebei region. You can sample local snacks and dishes on site, and some intangible cultural heritage activities are available, such as sugar painting and dough figurine making.
It is at No. 2239 Chaoyang North Street in the High-tech Zone. Come hungry and treat it as a meal stop as much as a museum visit.
8. Baoding Military Academy Museum
The Baoding Military Academy was one of the top military academies in China during the early 20th century. It was founded in 1902 by the Viceroy of Zhili, Yuan Shikai, and continued to operate until 1923, and around a third of the army officers who fought for China during the Second Sino-Japanese War received training here, including Chiang Kai-Shek.
It is at 585 Dongfeng East Road in Lianchi District, reachable on bus no. 5, 17, 22, 26, 55, 61, 101, Tourist Bus 1 or Tourist Bus 5. As of May 2024 the museum is closed for renovations, so confirm before making the trip. Admission is free when it is open.
9. Baiyang Lake
China's largest natural lake offers peaceful water scenes and expansive lotus gardens. Boats are available for small groups, and some islands on the lake have restaurants that cook with local ingredients and hotels for overnight stays.
Because it is outside the city, plan it as a day of its own and consider staying on one of the islands rather than rushing back the same evening.
10. Yesanpo National Park
A national key scenic area in Laishui County covering 600 km², with a natural landscape of trees and flowers and a focus on springs and caves. It is 100 km away from Beijing.
This is a full-day or overnight trip rather than a city sight, and the appeal is the scenery rather than any single monument.
11. Yishui Lake
A man-made lake not far from the Western Qing Tombs. There is a walking path to the area's mountain top with views of the steep rock cliff.
Since it sits close to the tombs, it works well as a second stop on the same day if you have your own transport and the energy for the climb.
12. Taihang Water Town
A big reconstructed historic town near the Western Qing Tombs, resembling Gubei Water Town in the Miyun District of Beijing. Activities include drinking a shot and smashing the bowl, a Shanxi custom, and buying local specialties like cigars, the tobacco leaves for which are grown locally.
Stroll around at leisure and have a cup of coffee by the canal. It pairs naturally with the Western Qing Tombs and Yishui Lake on the same outing.
13. Baoding Zoo
A city zoo at 688 Yonghua South Street in Lianchi District. Standard adult tickets are ¥15 during peak season, April to October, and ¥10 during the off-peak season, November to March; children under 1.2 metres and adults over 60 get in free.
It opens 07:30–17:30. Take bus no. 3, 21, 26, 36 or 60 to the north gate, which is on the west side of the zoo, or bus no. 7, 19, 32, 39 or 66 to reach the east gate.
14. Hebei University Museum
A university museum on the north side of the Hebei University Wusi Road Campus, at 180 Wusi East Road in Lianchi District, reachable on bus no. 17, 22, 27, 29 or 70. It is open to the general public on Saturdays only, 09:00–11:30 in the morning and 15:00–17:00 in the afternoon, with no entry in the last 30 minutes before closing.
You must book on the museum's WeChat account before visiting, so arrange that in advance rather than turning up.
15. Fuping Cat Village
A small rural village in Longquanguan Town known for its large population of free-roaming cats, which are generally calm and friendly. Many walls in the village are decorated with graffiti murals created by local residents.
Access is mainly by self-driving, as there is only one main road leading into the village and public transport options are limited. Visitors are not allowed to bring their own cat food; if you want to interact with the cats, buy food directly from villagers. Admission is ¥10.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Office of the Viceroy of Zhili on Yuhua West Road when it opens, and give it a proper hour or two. Walk along the same road afterwards to the Lianchi Academy Museum and see the courtyards and lotus ponds. Both are closed on Mondays, so build the day around a different weekday.
Afternoon. Take bus no. 4, 27, 29, 39, 61, 70, 806 or Tourist Bus 3 to Baoding Museum on Qiyi East Road and spend the early afternoon on the city and Great Wall collections. If you have time left and the museum is open, continue to the Baoding Military Academy Museum on Dongfeng East Road, but check first, since it was closed for renovations as of May 2024.
Evening. Head to the Baoding Banquet Food Culture Museum on Chaoyang North Street, where the recreated streets and workshops give you something to look at while you eat. Sample the local snacks and dishes, and watch for the sugar painting and dough figurine making.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Baoding?
Summer is the season to see the lotus flowers filling the ponds at the Lianchi Academy Museum. Autumn is similar to spring in temperature and lack of rainfall, while spring can bring sandstorms blowing in from the Mongolian steppe.
Which sights in central Baoding are closed on Mondays?
The Office of the Viceroy of Zhili, Baoding Museum and Baoding Natural History Museum are all closed on Mondays. The natural history museum makes an exception when Monday is a public holiday.
Can I visit the Western Qing tombs and Baiyang Lake without a car?
The source material does not describe public transport to either. What it does note is that access to Fuping Cat Village is mainly by self-driving, since only one main road leads into the village and public transport options are limited.
How do I pay at the Baoding Natural History Museum?
Tickets cost ¥40 and the only payment method accepted is WeChatPay. There may be someone around who can help you if you cannot pay that way.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the Monday closures against your calendar, and set up WeChatPay before you go.