Located in Anxin County, Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, Baiyangdian Scenic Area is the largest freshwater lake on the North China Plain and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area covers a total area of 366 square kilometers, with 143 lakes scattered across the water area, divided by 3,700 ditches and 120,000 mu of reeds into regions of varying sizes and shapes.
It is rich in aquatic resources, with more than 50 species of freshwater fish, as well as large areas of reed marshes and thousands of mu of contiguous lotus ponds. The scenic area is known as the "Pearl of North China" and praised as the "Jiangnan in the North" and the "West Lake in the North."
History and Culture
As early as the Neolithic Age, human activities existed in the western and southern parts of the lake area, witnessing the development of ancient civilization.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the lake area was under the jurisdiction of Yan and Zhao. Bounded by the Yishui Great Wall, Nange City belonged to Zhao and Beihunni City belonged to Yan, hence the saying "Yan in the South and Zhao in the North."
Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Baiyangdian more than 40 times, built four imperial palaces, and left many popular poems, adding a strong royal cultural atmosphere to Baiyangdian.
During the Anti-Japanese War, the people in the Baiyangdian area established the famous water guerrilla team "Yanling Team," carrying out guerrilla warfare using rivers, lakes, and harbors, which intimidated the enemy. The famous writer Sun Li's Baiyangdian Chronicles laid the literary foundation of the "Lotus Pond School." Works such as Kong Jue and Yuan Jing's New Heroes and Heroines and Xu Guangyao's Little Soldier Zhang Ga are all set in Baiyangdian, showing the heroic resistance of the local people.
Main Attractions
Lotus Grand View Garden
Covering an area of 1.28 million square meters, it gathers 366 kinds of lotus flowers at home and abroad, making it the largest eco-tourist attraction with the most varieties of lotus in China. The garden has five areas, four parks, three ports, two beaches, and one mountain, as well as a ten-mile circular garden road, a hundred-hectare lotus pond, a thousand-foot lotus viewing bridge, and a ten-thousand-meter boat lane. The best viewing period is from July to September. You can climb the Lotus Viewing Tower to overlook the ten-thousand-mu lotus pond and take a wooden boat for a night tour to enjoy the "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond."
Baiyangdian Cultural Garden
It integrates ecological culture, historical culture, revolutionary traditional culture, and folk culture. It has attractions such as Xidian Fenghe, Baiyangdian Yanling Team Memorial Hall, Aquatic Botanical Garden, Dongdi Yanliu, and Kangxi Shuiwei Imperial Palace. You can also watch the Lotus Fairy Dance and the live-action drama Yanling Team Raid.
Reed Marsh Wetland Reserve
It is free to visit. You can take a boat through the reed maze to watch waterbirds such as egrets and wild ducks. In autumn, the reed flowers are like snow, suitable for shooting ecological blockbusters, and it is a good place to get close to nature.
Yuanyang Island
Themed on "love culture," it has the world's first bronze lock, Yue Lao Temple, and a "Yuanyang Pond" gathering rare mandarin ducks from around the world. At night, the fishing fire blends with the moonlight, and the scenery is picturesque, suitable for couples to visit.
Exotic Customs Garden
It is an entertainment park integrating high-altitude Davazi performances, Thai boxing performances, Thai folk dances, European women's wrestling, crocodile performances, etc., suitable for parent-child tourists, bringing a different viewing experience.
Gourmet Food
Whole Fish Banquet
Baiyangdian is rich in fish and shrimp. The whole fish banquet is a characteristic food, including dishes such as firewood pot stewed fish and crispy fried shrimp. The fish is fresh and tender, and the taste is delicious. It is recommended to taste it at the "Wangyue Island No. 15" farmhouse outside the scenic area.
Lotus Leaf Tea
Made from the lotus leaves of Baiyangdian, it has the effects of clearing heat and reducing fire, with a fresh and fragrant taste. It is a local characteristic beverage, and many shops in the scenic area sell it.
Red-Heart Salted Duck Eggs
Homemade red-heart salted duck eggs are a traditional food in Baiyangdian, salty, fragrant, and oily. They can be purchased at farmhouses or specialty stores around the scenic area.
Admission Tickets
Tickets (including round-trip boat tickets) start from 98 yuan.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "白洋淀风景区" in WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
During the peak season (May 1 - October 15), it is open from 7:00 to 17:00 every day. In case of extreme weather such as heavy rain or strong wind, it may be temporarily closed, and the opening hours of core areas such as the Lotus Grand View Garden will be shortened to 8:00 - 16:00.
Tour Routes
One-Day Tour
Lotus Grand View Garden → Baiyangdian Cultural Garden → Exotic Customs Garden. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of lotus flowers, understand historical culture and revolutionary stories, and watch characteristic performances.
Two-Day Tour
On the first day, visit the Lotus Grand View Garden and Baiyangdian Cultural Garden, and experience the night tour of the reed marshes in the evening; on the second day, watch the Ga Zi Impression situational drama and go to Yuanyang Island to feel the atmosphere of love culture.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Qiaoxi, Zhangjiakou, follow the Jingzang Expressway to the Jinggang'ao Expressway, and then take the Baojin Expressway to the "Rongcheng/Anxin" exit. The whole journey is about 3 hours, and the expressway fee is about 150 yuan. It is recommended to navigate to the "Baiyangdian Tourist Wharf," and the parking lot in the scenic area is capped at 20 yuan per day.
- High-speed rail: You can take a high-speed rail from Zhangjiakou South Station to Tianjin West Station (about 1.5 hours), then transfer to the high-speed rail to "Baiyangdian Station" (about 1 hour). After exiting the station, take bus No. 16 directly to the scenic area wharf (20 minutes); you can also take a high-speed rail from Zhangjiakou South Station to Baoding Station (about 2.5 hours), transfer to a bus to Anxin County (1 hour), and then take a taxi to the wharf (about 10 yuan).
- Bus: There are direct buses from Beijing Muxiyuan, Tianjin West Station, and Baoding Passenger Transport Center to Anxin County, with a journey of about 2-3 hours and a fare of 50-80 yuan.
- Transportation within the scenic area: For cruise ships, wooden boats cost 100-210 yuan per boat (limited to 4-14 people), and speedboats cost 170 yuan per hour. You can share the cost by chartering together; the battery car from the wharf to each attraction costs 30 yuan per person round trip, suitable for families with the elderly or children.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Lotus Grand View Garden: There are more than 300 kinds of lotus flowers, and the leaves of the South American Wang Lian can bear the weight of children. From July to September, the lotus flowers are in full bloom, making it an excellent place to enjoy lotus flowers. You can also climb the Lotus Viewing Tower to overlook the beautiful scenery.
- Baiyangdian Cultural Garden: You can visit the Yanling Team Memorial Hall to understand the anti-Japanese history, visit the Kangxi Shuiwei Imperial Palace to feel the scene of the Qing emperors' inspection, and watch the live-action drama Yanling Team Raid in Gazi Village to experience rich human history.
- Reed Marsh Wetland Reserve: Free to visit, you can take a boat through the reed maze to watch waterbirds. In autumn, the reed flowers are flying, making it a good place to take ecological photos and get close to nature.
Tour Tips
- Seasonal selection: In summer (July-September), lotus flowers are in full bloom, and you can enjoy lotus flowers and watch birds, but pay attention to heatstroke prevention, with an average temperature of 30℃; in autumn (October), reed flowers are like snow, and river crabs are fat, with fewer tourists, suitable for photography; in spring (May), reeds are newly green, and lotus flowers are beginning to bloom, so you can travel off-peak with fewer people and beautiful scenery.
- Itinerary planning: For a one-day tour, you can choose to visit the essence attractions. If time permits, a two-day tour can provide a deeper experience, and you can also participate in activities such as night tours of the reed marshes.
- Experience projects: You can participate in the interactive live-action drama of "Little Soldier Zhang Ga," wear military uniforms and carry red tassel guns to immerse yourself in the anti-war story; if you go from May to June, you can watch water sports events such as dragon boat invitation tournaments and kayak marathon open competitions.
Precautions
- Weather changes: The summer temperature in the scenic area is high, so take sun protection measures and carry sun hats, sunscreen, etc. In case of extreme weather such as heavy rain or strong wind, some attractions may be closed or the opening hours may be shortened. Please pay attention to the weather forecast before traveling.
- Boating safety: When taking a cruise ship, follow the instructions of the staff, wear a life jacket, and do not walk around or frolic on the ship to avoid danger.
- Environmental protection: Baiyangdian is a wetland nature reserve. Please care for the local ecological environment, do not pick lotus flowers or reeds at will, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean.