10 Days in Handan
Ten days covers the Zhao capital sites, Guangfu's taiji walls, Shexian's cliff palace, Wuan's lake and ancient millet site, plus side days to Anyang and Shijiazhuang.
Quick Answer
Is 10 days enough for Handan?
10 days lets you go beyond Handan's core into neighborhoods, food markets, and one or two day trips at a relaxed pace.
Source: NihaoVisit Handan guide
10-day Handan itinerary at a glance
Use our full Handan travel guide as the base and adapt it to 10 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.
Arrival, Congtai & the City Museum
Congtai Park's terrace goes back to King Wuling of Zhao (r. 325-299 BC); the museum's Zhao bronzes set up the trip. Handan made the Zhao capital in 386 BC and held it for 158 years.
- handan congtai park
- handan city museum
Guangfu — Where Taiji Began
A full day about 25 km northeast — 4.5 km of Ming walls around a wetland moat, and the courtyards of Yang Luchan (1799-1872) and Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880).
- handan guangfu ancient city
Zhao King City & the Idiom Lanes
Morning at the palace-city ruins west of town, then the old quarter — the 1617 stone bridge of the "learn-to-walk" idiom and the lane where Lin Xiangru made way for General Lian Po.
- handan zhaowang city ruins
- handan xuebu bridge
- handan huiche lane
Xiangtangshan & Pengcheng Kilns
The Northern Qi caves (550-577) and the old Cizhou kiln yards of Pengcheng share the Fengfeng basin, about 35 km southwest — one day covers both.
- handan xiangtangshan grottoes
- handan pengcheng kiln sites
Wahuang Palace — Shexian Day
Around 90 km west into the Taihang foothills — the four-storey pavilion, about 23 m high, is tied back to the cliff with iron chains above Northern Qi stone carvings.
- handan wahuang palace
Cixian — Kiln & Northern Dynasties Museums
About 25 km south, Cixian pairs the Cizhou kiln museum with the Northern Dynasties Archaeological Museum (opened 2020), which gathers finds from the era of the Xiangtangshan carvers.
- handan cizhou kiln museum
- handan northern dynasties museum
Jingniang Lake — Wuan Mountain Day
A canyon lake in the Taihang about 80 km west of town, named for the tale of Zhao Kuangyin escorting a stranded maiden in the 900s; boat decks and cliff walkways fill an honest mountain day.
- handan jingniang lake
Yinxu — Henan Side Day
A neighbor day across the border — Anyang, in neighboring Henan, is about 60 km south, 20 minutes by HSR from Handan East, for the UNESCO Shang-capital ruins (listed 2006). Back by evening.
- anyang yinxu
Shijiazhuang — Hebei Museum Side Day
North to the provincial capital, about 50 minutes by HSR from Handan East — the Hebei Museum's Warring States bronzes and Han jade suits pair well with everything seen so far.
- shijiazhuang hebei museum
Cishan Site & Departure
The Cishan site near Wuan, found in 1972, turned up millet remains some 8,000 years old — a quiet close to the week's story. Return for a market supper and the evening train.
- handan cishan site
- handan city markets
Budget for 10 days in Handan
| Tier | Per day | 10 days total |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | USD $50–$80 | USD $500–$800 |
| Mid-range | USD $100–$200 | USD $1,000–$2,000 |
| Luxury | USD $300+ | USD $3,000+ |
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Frequently asked questions
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See also: Handan travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.