Baoding

Baoding sits in central Hebei between Beijing and Shijiazhuang and served for centuries as the capital of Zhili Province, seat of the powerful Qing-era Governor-General. Its preserved Zhili Governor's Mansion and the 800-year-old Ancient Lotus Garden are among north China's finest heritage sites. The city is famous for its donkey-meat huoshao sandwich and as home of the historic Baoding Military Academy. Nearby Mount Langya is honored for the wartime legend of the Five Heroes. Baoding is a manufacturing and new-energy hub, close to the new Xiong'an New Area. High-speed rail links it to Beijing in about forty minutes.