Hebei Province, with its beautiful Capital, Shijiazhuang, is located to the north of the Yellow River, and to the east of the Taihang Mountains. Hebei is somewhat overshadowed by its neighbors, Beijing and Tianjin, whose vastness covers an area of 190,000 square kilometers (about 73,363 square miles), and its vibrant population is estimated to be at 67,440,000. In 2010, Hebei's GDP was 2.01 trillion yuan (US$303 billion) and its GDP per capita reached 24,428RMB.

Geography and Climate
Hebei Province consists of Central Hebei Plain, the Taihang Mountains with peaks rising one higher than another, the Yanshan Mountains and other weird mountains and ridges in various sizes, presenting an extraordinary landscape painting.
Hebei is also known for its moderate climate. The four seasons are felt and enjoyed. In spring it is arid and windy, hot and rainy in summer, balmy and fine in autumn and dry and cold in winter. The annual rainfall averages between 300 - 800 millimeters and its corresponding temperature ranges from 0 C to 13 C. So the best time to travel is autumn when you can enjoy the clear and crisp climate.

Demographics

Ninety-six percent of the population in Hebei is Han people. Mongolian, Man, Hui, Korean, Zhuang, Miao, Tujia, along with other ethnic minorities, accounting for the remaining 4 percent.

Administrative divisions

Hebei exercises jurisdiction over the 11 cities of Shijiazhuang, Zhangjiakou, Chengde, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan, Langfang, Baoding, Cangzhou, Hengshui, Xingtai and Handan, 23 county-level cities, 108 counties, six autonomous counties and 35 districts.

The capital Shijiazhuang is an excellent tourist city and the political, economic, cultural center of the province. It has superior geographical position and convenient traffic and communication and is major highway junction in the region.

Economy

In 2008, Hebei's GDP was 1.62 trillion yuan (US$233 billion), an increase of 10.1 percent over the previous year, which ranked sixth in China. GDP per capita reached 23,239 yuan. Disposable income per capita in urban areas was 13,441 yuan, while rural income per capita was 4,795 yuan. The primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of industry contributed 203.46 billion, 877.74 billion, and 537.66 billion yuan respectively. The registered urban unemployment rate was 3.96 percent.

Hebei's main agricultural products are cereal crops including wheat, maize, millet, and sorghum. Cash crops like cotton, peanut, soya bean and sesame are also produced.

The city of Kailuan, with a history of over 100 years, has one of China's first modern coal mines, and remains a major mine with an annual production of over 20 million metric tons. Much of the North China Oilfield is found in Hebei, and there are also major iron mines in Handan and Qian’an.

Hebei’s industries include textiles, coal, steel, iron, engineering, chemical production, petroleum, power, ceramics and food.

Transportation

There are 15 main railway routes through the province, and the railway cargo turnover is the first o¬ne in the nation. Shijiazhuang civil aviation airport is approved the international airport by the country, and it has opened 44 routes. Ocean conditions in Hebei is very convenient, from north to south, there are Qinhuangdao Port, Jingtang Port, Tianjin Port, and other large sea ports.

History

Hebei's long and proud history can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), which dates from 770 BC to 476 BC. At that time it was called 'The Land of Yan and Zhao', because its northern area was dominated by the Kingdom of Yan, while its southern area was occupied by the Kingdom of Zhao. Today, that same area is home to more than 50 minority ethnic groups, such as Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and Korean.

Culture

Traditional forms of Chinese opera in Hebei includePingju, HebeiBangzi(also known as Hebei Clapper Opera) and CangzhouKuaiban Dagu.Pingjuis especially popular, which tends to be colloquial in language and hence easy to understand for audiences. Originating from northeastern Hebei,Pingjuhas been influenced by other forms of Chinese opera like Beijing opera. Traditionally Pingju makes use of just axiaosheng(young male lead), axiaodan(young female lead), and axiaohualian (young comic character), though it has since diversified with the use of other roles as well.

Quyang county in central Hebei is famous for its Dingzhou porcelain, which includes bowls, plates, vases, and cups, as well as figurines. Dingzhou porcelain is usually creamy white, though it is also made in other colours.

Hebei cuisine is typically based on wheat, mutton and beans.

Tourism

Hebei has Shanhaiguan -- "the First Pass Under Heaven" -- and Chengde Summer Villa, which is the largest royal garden in the country. The Eastern and Western Tombs of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), with their opulence and exquisite stone sculpture, are also major attractions in the province. It is also home to the tombs from the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) in Mancheng well-known for its excavated relics in clothing, and religious sites in the northern and southern Xiangtang Mountains and the Qiaolou (Bridge-tower) Hall of the Cangyan Mountain. Chengde and Baoding have been cited as national famous historical and cultural cities.

Other top-grade scenic spots include Shanhaiguan, Xin'ao Underwater World in Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao Wildlife Park, Puning Temple, the Temple of the Potaraka Doctrine and Wuqiao Circus World.

Food

Hebei cuisine is typically based on wheat, mutton and beans.

Universities in Hebei

• Hebei University 
• Hebei University of Economics and Business 
• Heibei University of Science and Technology 
• Shijiazhuang Vocational Technology Institute 
• Shijiazhuang University of Economics 
• Hebei Normal University 
• Shijiazhuang Railway Institute 
• Hebei Medical University 
• Hebei Institute of Physical Education