5 Days in Hengshui

The lake, a national nature reserve since 2003, holds more than 300 recorded bird species; the rebuilt Han-style Lüli town on its east shore, themed on the "hair-on-the-beam" scholar Sun Jing, makes the evening.

1. hengshui lake
2. hengshui luli ancient town

About an hour northeast, the museum opened in 1985 as China's first devoted to woodblock New Year pictures; Wuqiang's craft joined the first national intangible-heritage batch in 2006.

1. hengshui wuqiang nianhua museum

The 18th-century Anji Bridge crosses the Fuyang River downtown, and the Song-dynasty Baoyun Pagoda (national list, 2006) stands at the old city's edge; market lanes fill the afternoon.

1. hengshui anji bridge
2. hengshui baoyun pagoda
3. hengshui city markets

About an hour south, the Jingzhou Pagoda rises around 63 metres on ground first built on in the Northern Wei era; the Northern-Dynasties Feng family cemetery nearby has been protected since 1961.

1. hengshui jingzhou pagoda
2. hengshui feng family tombs

A dawn at the west shore hides when the birds move, then a market breakfast and the HSR from Hengshui North — Shijiazhuang under an hour — close the trip.

1. hengshui lake
2. hengshui city markets