Baiyangdian Scenic Area is located in Anxin County, Xiongan New Area, Hebei Province. It is the largest freshwater lake on the North China Plain and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area covers a total area of 366 square kilometers. Within its waters, 143 lakes and ponds are scattered like stars, divided by 3,700 ditches and trenches and 120,000 mu of reeds into areas of different sizes and shapes. It is rich in aquatic resources, with more than 50 species of freshwater fish, as well as large areas of reed marshes and thousands of mu of contiguous lotus marshes. The scenic area is known as the "Pearl of North China" and also enjoys the reputation of being "Jiangnan in the North" and the "West Lake of the North."
Historical and Cultural
As early as the Neolithic Age, human activities existed in the western and southern parts of the lake area, bearing witness to the development of ancient civilization.
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the lake area was under the jurisdiction of Yan and Zhao, with the Yishui Great Wall as the boundary. Nangecheng in the south belonged to Zhao, while Beihunnicheng in the north belonged to Yan, hence the saying "south of Yan and north of Zhao."
Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong visited Baiyangdian more than 40 times in total and built four temporary imperial palaces. They left behind many widely recited poems and prose, adding a strong royal cultural flavor to Baiyangdian.
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the people of Baiyangdian formed the famous water guerrilla unit, the Yanling Team, and used rivers, lakes, ports, and waterways to wage guerrilla warfare, striking terror into the enemy. The famous writer Sun Li's Baiyangdian Chronicles established the literary tone of the "Lotus Lake School." Works such as New Heroes and Heroines by Kong Jue and Yuan Jing and Little Soldier Zhang Ga by Xu Guangyao all use Baiyangdian as their background, showing the heroic resistance of the local people.
Major Attractions
Lotus Grand View Garden
Covering 1.28 million square meters, it brings together 366 varieties of lotus from China and abroad, making it China's ecological tourist attraction with the largest lotus planting area and the greatest number of varieties. The garden contains five zones, four gardens, three harbors, two beaches, and one hill, as well as a ten-li ring road around the garden, a hundred-qing lotus pond, a thousand-zhang lotus-viewing bridge, and a ten-thousand-meter boat route. July to September is the best viewing period. Visitors can climb the Lotus Viewing Tower to overlook the vast lotus pond and take a wooden boat for a night tour to enjoy "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond."
Baiyangdian Culture Garden
It integrates ecological culture, historical culture, revolutionary traditional culture, and folk culture. It includes attractions such as Wind-blown Lotus in West Dian, the Baiyangdian Yanling Team Memorial Hall, the Aquatic Botanical Garden, Misty Willows on the East Embankment, and the Kangxi Water Hunting Palace. Visitors can also watch the Lotus Fairy Dance and the live-action drama The Yanling Team's Surprise Attack.
Reed Marsh Wetland Reserve
Open free of charge, visitors can take a boat through the reed maze and observe water birds such as egrets and wild ducks. In autumn, reed flowers are like snow, making it a good place for ecological photography and a great destination for getting close to nature.
Mandarin Duck Island
With "love culture" as its theme, it features the World's No. 1 Bronze Lock, the Yue Lao Temple, and the Mandarin Duck Pool, which gathers rare mandarin ducks from around the world. At night, fishing lights and moonlight blend together, creating a picturesque scene. It is suitable for couples.
Exotic Customs Park
It is an entertainment park integrating high-wire Dawaz performances, Muay Thai combat performances, Thai folk songs and dances, European women's wrestling, crocodile shows, and more. It is suitable for family tourists and offers a different viewing experience.
Suggested Routes：
One-Day Tour
Lotus Grand View Garden → Baiyangdian Culture Garden → Exotic Customs Park. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful lotus scenery, learn about history, culture, and revolutionary stories, and watch special performances.
Two-Day Tour
On the first day, visit the Lotus Grand View Garden and Baiyangdian Culture Garden, and at night experience a night tour of the reed marshes. On the second day, watch the "Gazi Impression" live-action show and go to Mandarin Duck Island to experience the atmosphere of love culture.
Travel Tips：
Season Selection: In summer (July-September), lotuses are in full bloom. Visitors can enjoy lotus flowers and birdwatching, but should guard against heatstroke; the average temperature is 30°C. In autumn (October), reed flowers fly like snow and river crabs are plump and delicious, with fewer tourists, making it suitable for photography. In spring (May), reeds are newly green and lotuses are beginning to bloom; visitors can travel off-peak, with fewer people and beautiful scenery.
Itinerary Planning: A one-day tour can cover the essential attractions. If time permits, a two-day tour allows for a deeper experience and participation in activities such as a night tour of the reed marshes.
Experience Activities: Visitors can participate in the interactive live-action show "Little Soldier Zhang Ga," wear military uniforms, and carry red-tasseled spears to immersively experience the story of the War of Resistance. Those visiting in May-June can watch water sports events such as dragon boat invitational races and canoe marathon open competitions.
Notes：
Weather Changes: In summer, temperatures in the scenic area are relatively high, so sun protection measures should be taken, including bringing a sun hat and sunscreen. In case of extreme weather such as rainstorms or strong winds, some attractions may close or shorten their opening hours. Check the weather forecast before traveling.
Boat Safety: When taking a boat, follow the instructions of staff, wear a life jacket properly, and do not move around or horseplay on the boat to avoid danger.
Protect the Environment: Baiyangdian is a wetland nature reserve. Visitors should protect the local ecological environment, not pick lotus flowers or reeds at will, not litter, and keep the scenic area clean.
Transportation：
Self-Driving: Starting from Qiaoxi, Zhangjiakou, take the Beijing-Tibet Expressway, transfer to the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway, then take the Baoding-Tianjin Expressway to the "Rongcheng/Anxin" exit. The whole journey takes about 3 hours, with tolls of about 150 yuan. It is recommended to navigate to "Baiyangdian Tourist Pier"; parking in the scenic area is capped at 20 yuan/day.
High-Speed Rail: From Zhangjiakou South Railway Station to Tianjin West Railway Station (about 1.5 hours), transfer to high-speed rail to Baiyangdian Railway Station (about 1 hour), then take Bus No. 16 directly to the scenic area pier (20 minutes). Alternatively, from Zhangjiakou South Railway Station to Baoding Railway Station (about 2.5 hours), transfer to a coach to Anxin County (1 hour), then take a taxi to the pier (about 10 yuan).
Coach: There are direct coaches to Anxin County from Beijing Muxiyuan, Tianjin West Railway Station, and Baoding Coach Station. The journey takes about 2-3 hours, and the fare is 50-80 yuan.
Transportation Within the Scenic Area: For boats, wooden boats cost 100-210 yuan each (4-14 people), and speedboats cost 170 yuan/hour; visitors can share boats to split the cost. Sightseeing buses run from the pier to various attractions for 30 yuan/person round trip, suitable for families with elderly people or children.
Opening Hours：
Peak season (May 1-October 15): daily 7:00-17:00. In case of extreme weather such as rainstorms or strong winds, it may temporarily close. The opening hours of core areas such as the Lotus Grand View Garden may be shortened to 8:00-16:00.
Tickets：
Tickets (including round-trip boat fare) start at 98 yuan.