Hebei Province

The Gateway Surrounding Beijing

Hebei Province, located in northern China, surrounds the national capital Beijing and the port city Tianjin, forming part of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) metropolitan region — one of the most important economic zones in the world. Known for its Great Wall heritage, ancient capitals, and modern industry, Hebei serves as a crucial link between China’s political heart and its northern frontiers.

🏛️ Formation & Historical Background

Hebei’s name means “north of the river” (north of the Yellow River). The region has played a central role in Chinese civilization since ancient times, serving as a political, cultural, and military hub through multiple dynasties.

Key Historical Timeline:

Period Major Event
Zhou–Han Periods Early states of Yan and Zhao flourish in present-day Hebei
Tang–Song Era Prosperous agricultural and cultural region
Ming Dynasty Construction of key Great Wall sections and frontier fortresses
Qing Dynasty Becomes a vital buffer zone protecting Beijing
1912 Named Hebei after the fall of the Qing dynasty
1949 Incorporated into the People’s Republic of China
2015–Present Formation of Xiong’an New Area as a national development hub under President Xi Jinping’s reform plan

Hebei has witnessed millennia of China’s dynastic transformations — from Great Wall garrisons to industrial modernization.

🧭 Basic Provincial Information

Category Details
Official Name Hebei Province (河北省)
Provincial Capital Shijiazhuang
Largest Cities Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Handan, Baoding, Qinhuangdao
Governor (2025) Wang Zhengpu
Area ~188,800 sq km
Population (2025 est.) ~74 million
Major Rivers Hai River, Luan River, Zhang River
Climate Temperate continental; cold winters, hot summers
Time Zone China Standard Time (UTC +8)
Dial Code +86 (031x prefixes)
Top-Level Domain .cn
Provincial Motto “Innovation, Coordination, Green Growth”

⚖️ Government and Administration

Position Current Officeholder (as of 2025)
Party Secretary Ni Yuefeng
Governor Wang Zhengpu
Legislature Hebei Provincial People’s Congress
Judiciary Hebei High People’s Court
Administrative Divisions 11 Prefecture-level cities, 174 counties & districts

Hebei’s government plays a leading role in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Integration Plan, focusing on balanced urbanization and environmental management.

🗺️ Administrative Structure

Level Name Notes
Provincial Capital Shijiazhuang Political and industrial center
Major Cities (11) Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Handan, Baoding, Zhangjiakou, Chengde, Qinhuangdao, Cangzhou, Langfang, Hengshui, Xingtai Cover coastal, mountain, and industrial regions
Special Zones Xiong’an New Area China’s future innovation and administrative hub, often called “the city of the future”

Hebei comprises 11 prefecture-level cities, each further divided into districts, counties, and county-level cities. Below is the full breakdown:

  1. Shijiazhuang (石家庄市) – Provincial Capital
    • Districts: Chang’an (长安区), Qiaoxi (桥西区), Xinhua (新华区), Yuhua (裕华区), Jingxing Mining (井陉矿区), Luancheng (栾城区), Gaocheng (藁城区), Luquan (鹿泉区), Xingtang (行唐县), Zhengding (正定县), Lingshou (灵寿县), Gaoyi (高邑县), Shenze (深泽县), Zanhuang (赞皇县), Wuji (无极县), Pingshan (平山县), Jingxing (井陉县), Yuanshi (元氏县), Zhao (赵县)
    • County-level Cities: Xinji (辛集市), Jinzhou (晋州市), Xinle (新乐市)
  2. Tangshan (唐山市)
    • Districts: Lunan (路南区), Lubei (路北区), Guye (古冶区), Kaiping (开平区), Fengnan (丰南区), Fengrun (丰润区), Caofeidian (曹妃甸区)
    • Counties: Luanxian (滦县), Luannan (滦南县), Leting (乐亭县), Qianxi (迁西县), Yutian (玉田县)
    • County-level Cities: Zunhua (遵化市), Qian’an (迁安市)
  3. Qinhuangdao (秦皇岛市)
    • Districts: Haigang (海港区), Shanhaiguan (山海关区), Beidaihe (北戴河区)
    • Counties: Changli (昌黎县), Funing (抚宁县), Lulong (卢龙县), Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County (青龙满族自治县)
  4. Handan (邯郸市)
    • Districts: Congtai (丛台区), Hanshan (邯山区), Fuxing (复兴区), Fengfeng Mining (峰峰矿区)
    • Counties: Handan (邯郸县), Yongnian (永年区), Feixiang (肥乡区), Ci (磁县), She (涉县), Linzhang (临漳县), Cheng’an (成安县), Daming (大名县), Wei (魏县), Quzhou (曲周县), Jize (鸡泽县), Guangping (广平县)
    • County-level Cities: Wu’an (武安市)
  5. Xingtai (邢台市)
    • Districts: Qiaodong (桥东区), Qiaoxi (桥西区), Xingtai (邢台县)
    • Counties: Ren (任县), Nanhe (南和县), Neiqiu (内丘县), Lincheng (临城县), Longyao (隆尧县), Ningjin (宁晋县), Julu (巨鹿县), Xinhe (新河县), Guangzong (广宗县), Pingxiang (平乡县), Weixian (威县), Qinghe (清河县), Linxi (临西县)
    • County-level Cities: Shahe (沙河市), Nangong (南宫市)
  6. Baoding (保定市)
    • Districts: Jingxiu (竞秀区), Lianchi (莲池区), Mancheng (满城区), Qingyuan (清苑区), Xushui (徐水区)
    • Counties: Laishui (涞水县), Dingxing (定兴县), Tang (唐县), Gaoyang (高阳县), Yi (易县), Quyang (曲阳县), Li (蠡县), Fuping (阜平县), Shunping (顺平县), Xiong (雄县), Rongcheng (容城县), Anxin (安新县)
    • County-level Cities: Zhuozhou (涿州市), Dingzhou (定州市), Anguo (安国市), Gaobeidian (高碑店市)
  7. Zhangjiakou (张家口市)
    • Districts: Qiaodong (桥东区), Qiaoxi (桥西区), Xuanhua (宣化区), Xiahuayuan (下花园区)
    • Counties: Zhangbei (张北县), Kangbao (康保县), Guyuan (沽源县), Shangyi (尚义县), Yuxian (蔚县), Yangyuan (阳原县), Huaian (怀安县), Huailai (怀来县), Zhuolu (涿鹿县), Chicheng (赤城县)
    • County-level City: Zhangjiakou (宣化市)
  8. Chengde (承德市)
    • Districts: Shuangqiao (双桥区), Shuangluan (双滦区), Yingshouyingzi (鹰手营子矿区)
    • Counties: Chengde (承德县), Xinglong (兴隆县), Pingquan (平泉市), Longhua (隆化县), Fengning Manchu Autonomous County (丰宁满族自治县), Luanping (滦平县), Kuancheng (宽城县), Weichang (围场满族蒙古族自治县)
  9. Cangzhou (沧州市)
    • Districts: Yunhe (运河区), Xinhua (新华区)
    • Counties: Cangxian (沧县), Dongguang (东光县), Haixing (海兴县), Yanshan (盐山县), Suning (肃宁县), Nanpi (南皮县), Wuqiao (吴桥县), Xian (献县), Mengcun Hui Autonomous County (孟村回族自治县), Qingxian (青县)
    • County-level Cities: Hejian (河间市), Botou (泊头市), Renqiu (任丘市), Huanghua (黄骅市)
  10. Langfang (廊坊市)
  • Districts: Anci (安次区), Guangyang (广阳区)
  • Counties: Yongqing (永清县), Gu’an (固安县), Wen’an (文安县), Dacheng (大城县), Xianghe (香河县)
  • County-level Cities: Bazhou (霸州市), Sanhe (三河市)
  1. Hengshui (衡水市)
  • Districts: Taocheng (桃城区)
  • Counties: Jizhou (冀州区), Zaoqiang (枣强县), Wuyi (武邑县), Wuqiang (武强县), Raoyang (饶阳县), Anping (安平县), Gucheng (故城县), Jingxian (景县), Fucheng (阜城县)
  • County-level City: None

Summary:

Level Quantity
Prefecture-level Cities 11
County-level Divisions 170+
Township-level Divisions 2,200+

🌐 Geography & Environment

  • Location: Northern China, bordering Beijing and Tianjin

  • Terrain: Plains in the east; mountains and plateaus in the west

  • Major Landforms: Taihang Mountains, Yanshan Mountains, Bohai Sea coast

  • Climate: Temperate continental; four distinct seasons

  • Natural Resources: Iron, coal, limestone, oil, natural gas

Hebei’s diverse geography includes Great Wall mountains, fertile plains, and a strategic coastal region.

🏘️ Local Government Structure

Local governments manage industrial parks, logistics hubs, and environmental rehabilitation projects.
Hebei is central to China’s ecological transition, balancing steel industry reduction with renewable energy development.

🧩 Leadership & Development Focus

Hebei’s modern development revolves around:

  • Xiong’an New Area: A futuristic smart city for innovation and government decentralization

  • Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) Integration: Coordinating infrastructure and economy

  • Clean industry & renewable energy transitions

  • Tourism & heritage protection (Great Wall, Chengde Summer Resort)

The province is rapidly becoming a model for green urban transformation.

🛡️ Law Enforcement & Safety

Department Function
Hebei Public Security Bureau Provincial policing and urban management
Coastal & Border Police Protection of Bohai Sea routes
Emergency Management Department Earthquake, flood, and industrial safety programs

Hebei maintains strong disaster response systems, especially in earthquake-prone and industrial areas.

🕊️ Religion, Language & Culture

Category Details
Major Religions Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Folk Traditions
Official Language Mandarin (Putonghua)
Local Dialects Hebei dialect (northern Mandarin), Jin dialect
Ethnic Composition Predominantly Han with Hui and Manchu minorities
Cultural Identity Birthplace of Chinese martial arts, Great Wall heritage, and Peking Opera roots

Hebei’s culture bridges northern tradition and modern reform — from ancient temples to new megacities.

📈 Economy & Key Sectors

Sector Description
GDP (2025 est.) ~ $950 billion USD
Main Industries Steel, machinery, textiles, renewable energy, logistics
Top Exports Steel products, glass, electronics, vehicles
Major Partners Beijing, Tianjin, Korea, Japan, Europe
Development Zones Xiong’an New Area, Tangshan Port Zone, Shijiazhuang Economic Zone

Hebei is transforming from a traditional industrial base into a high-tech and logistics-driven economy.

🎓 Education & Healthcare

Category Details
Literacy Rate ~98%
Top Universities Hebei University, Yanshan University, Hebei Agricultural University
Education System Focus on applied sciences and engineering
Healthcare Expanding public hospitals and digital health networks
Life Expectancy ~78 years

The province promotes educational-industrial integration to support innovation in manufacturing and green tech.

✈️ Transport & Infrastructure

Category Details
Airports Shijiazhuang Zhengding, Qinhuangdao Beidaihe, Zhangjiakou Ningyuan
Ports Tangshan Port, Qinhuangdao Port, Huanghua Port
Railways Beijing–Shijiazhuang HSR, Tianjin–Baoding HSR
Highways G4 Beijing–Hong Kong–Macau Expressway, G25 Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway
Energy Projects Wind and solar farms in Zhangjiakou and Cangzhou

Hebei’s transport network integrates seamlessly with Beijing and Tianjin, making it a logistics powerhouse.

🏞️ Tourism & Attractions

Top Destinations:

  • The Great Wall (Badaling & Shanhaiguan Pass): Eastern starting point of the Wall

  • Chengde Mountain Resort: UNESCO World Heritage Site

  • Qinhuangdao: Coastal resort and port city

  • Zhangjiakou: 2022 Winter Olympics host city (ski resorts)

  • Beidaihe: Famous seaside destination

  • Cangyan Mountain & Zhaozhou Bridge: Ancient architecture marvels

Hebei combines imperial heritage, natural beauty, and modern sports tourism.

🌍 Global Role & Relations

Aspect Details
International Partnerships Sister-province relations with states in Japan, Korea, and Europe
Global Events 2022 Beijing–Zhangjiakou Winter Olympics partnership
BRI Role Northern hub connecting Bohai Rim with Eurasian trade routes

Hebei plays a vital role in China’s northern economic corridor and green development diplomacy.

📝 Summary

Hebei Province stands as the gateway between ancient China and modern progress. With its Great Wall heritage, industrial might, and futuristic Xiong’an New Area, Hebei reflects China’s ambition — preserving history while building a sustainable, innovative future.

📢 News & Articles

  • “Xiong’an: China’s City of the Future”

  • “From Steel to Sustainability: Hebei’s Industrial Transition”

  • “Chengde Mountain Resort – Legacy of the Qing Emperors”

🎯 Our Mission

This profile is part of the AFP Global Knowledge Hub, dedicated to providing accurate, educational insights on every province and region — fostering global awareness and appreciation.

📬 Contact Us

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