Langfang Travel Guide

Population: 3,957,000

Area: 6,429 square kilometers (2,482 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 2 districts (Guangyang, Anci), 2 county-level cities (Sanhe, Bazhou), 6 counties (Dachang, Xianghe, Yongqing, Gu'an, Wen'an, Dacheng)

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0316-2190161
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiries: 184

Scenic Location: Situated in the eastern-central part of Hebei Province, Langfang City borders Beijing in the north, Tianjin in the east, Cangzhou in the south, and Baoding in the west. It is in the central area around Bohai Sea, and is regarded as a nexus linking Beijing and Tianjin.

Physical Features: The terrain of the city is low and flat. Depressions and dunes can both be found in this area. Its northern part is mainly comprised of hills and mountain areas. But the central and southern part of the city is alluvial plain which is much lower in altitude.

Climatic Features: Langfang enjoys a temperate, continental monsoon climate with four clear seasons. The weather in spring is dry and windy, and it is hot and rainy in summer. Autumn is cool and comfortable, while winter is chilly. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 4.7C (40.5F) and July the hottest with an average temperature of 26.2C (79.2F).

When to Go: Autumn is the best season in which to visit Langfang.

History: According to historical records, ancestors of the Langfang people inhabited this area as early as 6,000 thousand years ago. It was included in the territory of the Yan Kingdom during the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), and as a national boundary of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Liao Kingdom (an ethnic regime in north China). It was just a small and shallow village in the eighteenth Century and gradually became a town in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Scenic Locations:
The First Town: This grand historical scenic area is built around a rampart from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties. The nightscape here is particularly fascinating.
Natural Park: This is the only natural landscape garden in Langfang, where visitors can find lakes, animals, forest and some amusement facilities.

Special Local Products:
Foods: pear, walnut, golden thread small jujube
Handicrafts: willow knitting of Gu'an County, cloisonne

Tourist Tips:
Langfang is only a 20 or 30 minute ride from Beijing and Tianjin respectively. There are buses and trains daily from Langfang to Beijing and Tianjin departing every 15 to 20 minutes. Many trains go to Beijing and Tianjin via Langfang, the trip taking about one hour.

Langfang New Century Walk Street is a good shopping destination which is located in the central downtown area. The European style architecture of the street truly provides a feast for the eye. In addition, Langfang has rich geothermal resources. It is a wonderful idea to have a spa in the Mingtang Hotspring in Bazhou City.