7 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

The painting museum opened in 1985; a short ride on, Zhouwo's lanes house workshops of one of the world's largest wind-instrument makers — flutes and trumpets hang beside the woodblock prints' county.

1. hengshui wuqiang nianhua museum
2. hengshui zhouwo music town

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; the baijiu house's own telling credits Hengshui Laobaigan with a 1915 Panama gold medal.

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

An honest neighbor day — the provincial capital is under an hour north by HSR from Hengshui North (the Shijiazhuang-Jinan line opened in December 2017); the museum's Warring States bronzes and Han jade suits fill the day, evening train back.

1. shijiazhuang hebei museum

Another honest neighbor day, about 80 km southeast into Shandong — the tomb of the Sulu kingdom's east king, who died here in 1417 returning from tribute, keeps a quiet walled garden; braised chicken makes lunch.

1. dezhou sulu king tomb

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