2025 Pingquan Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in February)

Check in at Yangshuling, Yixian County Although it was winter, it wasn't cold when climbing. It was only when I was flying a drone at the top of the mountain that I felt like I was freezing. It was a wild mountain with no neat steps or smooth paths. Many places were steep and required both hands and feet. Sometimes, I had to distinguish between the path and the pile of stones. The whole journey took about three and a half hours. The advantage of climbing in winter is that my heart rate was comfortable and I didn't drink much water. I only brought a 200 ml thermos cup, and I just took a sip when I felt thirsty. The last 50 meters of the climb were challenging. Fortunately, there were iron wires or steel bars on the roadside. I guess there were frequent accidents here, and the rescue team had to come up with some safety measures. Otherwise, it would be difficult to rescue everyone. Haha, just my guess. There were two rows of artificial walkways at the top of the mountain. One row was made of cement, less than two meters wide, very solid but without guardrails. I had to walk close to the mountain. Sitting on a big stone, basking in the sun, and overlooking the rolling mountains, I felt open-minded and forgot many troubles hundreds of miles away. The other row was a wooden walkway supported by iron pillars, which was very dangerous due to years of disrepair. Don't go up there. The descent was very unfriendly. I stayed at the top of the mountain for more than half an hour. Although there was sunshine, the temperature was still below zero. I forgot to bring gloves, so it was very uncomfortable to hold the iron wire when going down the mountain. I had to be careful when going down the mountain, and I almost slipped several times. This was the only mountain I had ever climbed that was more tiring to descend than to ascend. There was a landmark building, an abandoned electric blanket. I don't know why someone would bring an electric blanket up the mountain. I heard someone shouting that they had reached the electric blanket, so it seems that this blanket has been here for a long time.

Pingquan Museum The Pingquan Museum is a museum that displays the origins of the Khitan people and the history of the rise and fall of the Liao regime. The Pingquan Museum, also known as the 'Jiuri Pavilion,' is located in the Xishan Park of Pingquan City. Ascending the steps, a giant statue of the founding emperor of the Liao dynasty on horseback looking into the distance conveys his ambition and determination to expand his territory. The walls of the 'Jiuri Pavilion' are adorned with more than a dozen relief sculptures that are majestic and tell the stories of the Khitan people's fishing and hunting life, folk customs, and past battles... The term 'Jiuri Pavilion' originates from Sima Qian's 'Records of the Grand Historian - Annals of the Five Emperors': Emperor Yao was known as Fangxun, his wisdom was like that of a deity, his knowledge shone like the sun, and his presence was like the clouds. It describes the respect and following of the subordinates towards the monarch, and also implies a vision that looks far into the future. The treasure of the Pingquan Museum is a gold plaque with Khitan script. According to the 'History of Liao - Records of Guards and Attendants': 'In important state affairs, the emperor personally receives the envoys with the plaque... Wherever it goes, it is as if the emperor himself is present, and changes must be sought, no one dares to disobey, and the envoy returns to be personally received by the emperor.' After verification, the three Khitan characters on the plaque read 'Chiyisudu'. Location: Fuyou Road, Pingquan City, Chengde, Hebei. Tickets: The museum is open for free. Visitors can obtain tickets with their ID card for admission.

Without exaggeration, this is the most breathtaking tree I've ever seen. On our way to the source of the Liao River, we checked in this ancient tree - Kowloon Coiling Poplar. The age of this ancient tree is said to be over a thousand years, and it is still lush and vibrant. The thick roots are tangled, and the branches are like flying dragons stretching vigorously. We often say 'a single tree does not make a forest', but this tree showed me the spectacle of 'a single tree forming a forest'. 'The world's first strange poplar', it is well-deserved! Blue sky, white clouds, sea of flowers, ancient trees, everything is so complementary. If you have the chance to travel to Pingquan, you might as well go and see the style of Kowloon Coiling Poplar. 📍Xiaqiaotou Village, Liuxi Manchu Township, Pingquan City, Chengde City, Hebei Province.