Area: 8,815 square kilometers (3,403 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Useful Telephone Numbers:
　　　　　　Tourist Complaints: 0318-2025041
　　　　　　Weather Forecast: 121
　　　　　　Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Location: Situated in the southeast of Hebei Province, Hengshui City neighbors Xingtai, Handan, Cangzhou and Baoding within the province and is bordered by Shandong Province in the southeast. The capital city of Hebei, Shijiazhuang is about 119 kilometers (74 miles) west of the downtown Hengshui, and Beijing is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the city.

History: In remote ages, there were several principalities in present Hengshui. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), it mostly belonged to the Jin Kingdom, while in the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), it was a part of the territory of Yan and Zhao kingdoms. It was put into the Julu Shire after the First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221BC. Most domain of present Hengshui took shape in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD).

Physical Features: Hengshui is located in alluvial plain area in North China, with its terrain gently sloping downward from southwest to northeast. Gentle slopes and depressions constitute the main types of the city's landform. Hengshui is crisscrossed by a net work of rivers. The Hengshui Lake is the big waterfilled depressions in North China Plain (Huabei Plain) only second to the Baiyangdian Lake in Baoding City.

Climatic Features: The city enjoys a temperate and semi-arid continental monsoon climate. The weather features distinct four seasons and notable changes in temperature and air moisture. Spring and winter are arid and the rain usually falls in summer. Autumn is cool but overcast and rainy.

When to Go: in autumn

Special Local Products: New Year's Painting of Wuqiang County, ornamental goldfish, inside painting snuff bottle, Houdian writing brush, Lao Nai Gan Liquor

Scenic Spots:
Hengshui Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in North China Plain, covers a total area of 75 square kilometers (29 square miles) in the outskirt 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of downtown Hengshui. In the vast reed marsh inhabit many birds, including red-crowned cranes, swans, pelicans, wild gooses and gulls. Nowadays, wetland nature reserve for birds has been set up. In the rear of the reserve is the far-reaching blue lake and azure sky.

Zhulin Temple is a noted temple in the ancient city of Jizhou. It is surrounded by water in three sides, and there is the Zhenhai Tower built in the northeast of the temple. Its tower foundation is ingeniously contrived to be a labyrinth.

Other Scenic Spots: Baoyun Temple, Museum of Wuqiang New Year Pictures

Tourist Tips: Hengshui do not have its own airport, visitors should have the aid of Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport. Hengshui is a traffic hub at the intersection of Shijiazhuang-Dezhou Railway and Beijing-Kowloon Railway. Furthermore, Hengshui central bus station is situated in No.106, Zhanqian Road (East). It has two bus stations both of which are facing each other in the same street, Zhanqian Road (East). The south station mainly operates long distance bus lines.