Hebei is a province in North China. It is China's sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people.
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (771–226 BC), the region was ruled by the states of Yan and Zhao. During the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), the region was called Zhongshu Sheng. It was called North Zhili during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), and simply Zhili Province during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). The modern province of Hebei was created in 1928. Five UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be found in the province: the Great Wall of China, Chengde Mountain Resort, Grand Canal, Eastern Qing tombs, and Western Qing tombs. It is also home to five National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities: Handan, Baoding, Chengde, Zhengding County and Shanhaiguan.
Hebei's economy is based on agriculture and manufacturing; it is China's premier steel producer, which has contributed to serious air pollution.
Etymology
"Hebei" means 'north of the river', derived from the province's location north of the
Yellow River in the North China Plain.
[ Origin of the Names of China's Provinces , People's Daily Online.][ Origin of the Names of China's Provinces , People's Daily Online.] In the
Yu Gong, the province is recorded as "Jizhou", lending to its traditional abbreviation of "Ji" ().
The province's nickname is "Yanzhao" (), which is the collective name of the Yan and Zhao states that controlled the region during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (771–221 BC).
History
Pre and early history
Peking Man, an early pre-historic
Homo erectus, lived on the plains of Hebei around 200,000 to 700,000 years ago.
Neolithic findings at the prehistoric Beifudi site date to 7000 and 8000 BC.
Many early Chinese myths are set in the province. Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, is said to have lived in present-day Xingtai.
During the Spring and Autumn period (722–476 BC), Hebei was under the rule of Yan in the north and Jin in the south. Also during this period, a nomadic people known as Beidi invaded the plains of northern China and established Zhongshan in central Hebei. In the Warring States period (403–221 BC), Jin was partitioned and much of its territory in Hebei went to Zhao.
Qin and Han dynasties
The
Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BC. The
Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) ruled the area under two provinces,
You Prefecture in the north and
Ji Province in the south. At the end of the Han dynasty, most of Hebei was under the control of
Gongsun Zan in the north and
Yuan Shao further south. Yuan Shao emerged as the victor of the two, but he was defeated by
Cao Cao in the Battle of Guandu in 200. Hebei came under the rule of the
Cao Wei, established by the descendants of Cao Cao.
Jin through the Three Kingdoms
After the invasions of northern nomadic peoples at the end of the Western Jin dynasty, chaos ensued in the
Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern dynasties. Because of its location on the northern frontier, Hebei changed hands many times and was controlled at various times by
Later Zhao,
Former Yan,
Former Qin, and
Later Yan. The
Northern Wei reunified northern China in 440 but split in 534, with Hebei coming under
Eastern Wei; then the
Northern Qi, with its capital at Ye near modern
Linzhang, Hebei. The
Sui dynasty again unified China in 589.
Tang and Five dynasties
During the
Tang dynasty (618–907), the area was officially called Hebei for the first time. The Great Yan State was established in Hebei from 756 to 763 during the An Lushan Rebellion. After the rebellion,
Lulong Jiedushi retained its autonomy from Tang during most of the 9th century. During the late Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Lulong was fragmented among several regimes including the short-lived Yan. It was eventually annexed in 913 by
Li Cunxu, who established the
Later Tang (923–936). Emperor Gaozu of the Later Jin dynasty ceded much of northern Hebei to the
Khitan people Liao dynasty. This territory, called the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, became a weakness in the Chinese defense against the Khitans for the next century because it lay within the
Great Wall.
Song through Yuan dynasties
During the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), the sixteen ceded prefectures continued to be an area of contention between Song China and the Liao dynasty. Later, the Southern Song dynasty abandoned all of
North China, including Hebei, to the Jurchen Jin dynasty after the 1127 Jingkang Incident of the Jin–Song wars. Hebei was heavily affected by the flooding of the Yellow River; between 1048 and 1128, the river ran directly through the province rather than to its south.
The Mongol Yuan dynasty divided China into provinces but did not establish Hebei as a province. Instead, the area was directly administrated by the Secretariat at the capital Khanbaliq.
Ming and Qing dynasties
The
Ming dynasty ruled Hebei as Beizhili, meaning Northern Directly Ruled because the area contained and was directly ruled by the imperial capital in
Beijing. The "Northern" designation was used because there was a southern counterpart covering present-day
Jiangsu and
Anhui. When the
Manchu Qing dynasty came to power in 1644, they abolished the southern counterpart, and Hebei became known as
Zhili Province or Directly Ruled. During the Qing dynasty, the northern borders of Zhili extended deep into
Inner Mongolia and overlapped in jurisdiction with the leagues of Inner Mongolia.
Republic of China
The Qing dynasty collapsed in 1912 and was replaced by the Republic of China. In a few years, China descended into a civil war, with regional warlords vying for power. Since Zhili was so close to the capital of
Beijing, it was the site of the
Zhiwan War, the First Zhifeng War, and the Second Zhifeng War. With the success of the Northern Expedition in 1926 and 1927 by the
Kuomintang, the capital was moved from Beijing to
Nanjing. As a result, the province's name was changed to Hebei, reflecting the relocation of the capital and its standard provincial administration.
During World War II, Hebei was under the control of the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, a puppet state of the Empire of Japan.
People's Republic of China
The founding of the People's Republic of China saw several changes. The region around
Chengde, previously part of Rehe Province (historically part of
Manchuria), and the region around
Zhangjiakou, previously part of Chahar Province (historically part of
Inner Mongolia), were merged into Hebei. This extended its borders northwards beyond the Great Wall. Meanwhile, the city of
Puyang was carved away, causing Hebei to lose access to the
Yellow River. The city became part of the short-lived Pingyuan Province before eventually being annexed into
Henan.
The capital was also moved from Baoding to the new city of Shijiazhuang, and, for a short period, to Tianjin. On July 28, 1976, Tangshan was struck by the Tangshan earthquake, the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century, killing over 240,000 people. There were a series of smaller earthquakes in the following decade.
Today, Hebei, along with Beijing and Tianjin municipalities which it includes, make up the Jing-Jin-Ji megalopolis region. With a population of 130 million, it is about six times the size of the New York metropolitan area and is one of the largest megalopolis clusters in China.
Geography
Hebei is the only province in China to contain plateaus, mountains, hills, shorelines, plains, and lakes.
Most of central and southern Hebei lies within the North China Plain. Western Hebei rises into the Taihang Mountains (Taihang Shan), while the
Yan Mountains (Yan Shan) runs through northern Hebei. Beyond the mountains are the grasslands of
Inner Mongolia. The highest peak is
Mount Xiaowutai in Yu County in the northwest of the province, with an altitude of .
Hebei borders the Bohai Sea on the east. The Hai River drainage basin covers most of the province's central and southern parts; the Luan River watershed covers the northeast. Excluding manmade reservoirs, the largest lake in Hebei is Baiyangdian, located in Anxin County, Baoding.
Major cities in Hebei include: Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, HandanZhangjiakou.
Hebei has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate. Its winters are cold and dry, while its summers are hot and humid. Temperatures average in January and in July. The annual precipitation ranges from , concentrated heavily in summer.
+ Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected locations in Hebei Province, China |
|
| 36.5/18.1 |
| 32.2/16.2 |
| 33.6/13.6 |
| 36.0/8.8 |
Government
As with other provincial-level divisions in mainland China, Hebei is governed under a dual party-government system. The Governor of Hebei is the highest-ranking official in the People's Government of Hebei and is responsible for the provincial administration. However, the most powerful official in the province is the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Hebei Provincial Committee, commonly known as the "Party Secretary", who holds greater influence than the governor within the province's political structure.
Administrative divisions
Hebei is divided into 11 prefecture-level divisions, all of which are prefecture-level cities:
These prefecture-level cities are further subdivided into 168 county-level divisions:
-
47 districts
-
21 county-level cities
-
94 counties
-
6 autonomous counties
These in turn are divided into 2,207 township-level divisions, comprising:
-
1 District public office
-
937 towns
-
979 townships
-
55
-
235 subdistricts
As of the end of 2017, Hebei had a population of approximately 75.2 million.
Map and division table
Urban areas
The following table lists major urban areas in Hebei based on the 2020 census, along with historical comparisons and total city populations. "Urban area" refers to built-up zones and may exclude newer administrative districts established since the 2010 census.
|
| 11,235,086 |
| 7,717,983 |
| 9,413,990 |
| 11,544,036 |
| 7,111,106 |
| 3,136,879 |
| 4,118,908 |
| 5,464,087 |
| 7,300,783 |
| 4,212,933 |
| 3,354,444 |
| — |
Notes
Economy
Hebei is one of northern China's major industrial provinces, with a diverse economy shaped by its strategic location surrounding Beijing and Tianjin, and a strong manufacturing base—though by national standards, it ranks relatively low in per capita income and development indicators. As of 2023, Hebei's gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately 4.394 trillion yuan (about US$624 billion), ranking it 12th among China's provincial-level regions.
[National Bureau of Statistics of China, "2023 Provincial GDP Rankings", retrieved April 21, 2025.] The province's GDP per capita was around 59,300 yuan (roughly US$8,420), placing it 26th nationally.
In terms of economic structure, Hebei's economy in 2023 was composed of a primary sector (agriculture, forestry, and fisheries) contributing 446.6 billion yuan, a secondary sector (manufacturing and construction) contributing 1.397 trillion yuan, and a tertiary sector (services) contributing 2.551 trillion yuan.[CEIC Data, "Hebei Provincial GDP Breakdown by Sector (2023)", retrieved April 21, 2025.] The registered urban unemployment rate was 3.08% as of the latest available data from 2021.[CEIC Data, "Urban Unemployment Rate in Hebei", retrieved April 21, 2025.]
Hebei's economy is supported by a robust industrial base, with mining and heavy industry playing a central role. The province is a key hub for coal and iron ore mining, as well as for steel production. Other important industries include petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, ceramics, power generation, food processing, and textiles.
Hebei possesses significant mineral resources, which form the backbone of its industrial development. The Kailuan coal mine in Tangshan, with origins dating back to the late 19th century, is one of China's oldest and most historically important modern mines. It remains operational today, producing over 20 million tonnes of coal annually.[Kailuan Group official website, "Company Profile", retrieved April 21, 2025.] In addition to coal, the province is rich in iron ore. Major deposits are found in Handan and Qian'an, both of which supply raw materials to nearby steel plants.[Hebei Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, "Overview of Mineral Resources in Hebei", retrieved April 21, 2025.]
Hebei is also home to a portion of the North China Oilfield, one of China's largest inland oilfields, which supports the province's petroleum and petrochemical industries.[China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), "North China Oilfield Company", retrieved April 21, 2025.]
Despite its industrial strength, Hebei also retains a significant agricultural workforce, with about 40% of the labor force engaged in agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry. A large portion of Hebei's agricultural output supplies the neighboring cities of Beijing and Tianjin. Principal crops include wheat, maize, millet, and sorghum, while cash crops such as cotton, , soybeans, and sesame are also cultivated.
Economic and technological development zones
-
Baoding Hi-Tech Industry Development Zone
-
Langfang Export Processing Zone
-
Qinhuangdao Economic & Technological Development Zone
-
Qinhuangdao Export Processing Zone
-
Shijiazhuang Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone
-
Xiong'an New Area
Demographics
The population in Hebei is mostly
Han Chinese. There are 55 ethnic minorities in Hebei, representing 4.27% of the total population. The largest ethnic groups are
Manchu (2.1 million people),
Hui people (600,000 people), and
Mongol (180,000 people).
Population totals do not include those in active service with the People's Liberation Army.
[{{Source: Department of Population, Social, Science, and Technology Statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics of China and Department of Economic Development of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, eds. Tabulation on Nationalities of 2000 Population Census of China. 2 vols. Beijing: Nationalities Publishing House (民族出版社), 2003. ()}}]
|
|
| 95.65% |
| 3.18% |
| 0.78% |
| 0.26% |
| 0.031% |
In 2019, the
birth rate was 10.83 births per 1,000 people, while the
death rate was 6.12 deaths per 1,000 people.
The male population is 37,679,003 (50.50%), the female population is 36,931,232 (49.50%). The gender ratio of the total population was 102.02, decreasing by 0.82 from 2010.
Religion
The dominant religions in Hebei are Chinese folk religions,
Taoism, and
Chinese Buddhism. According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 5.52% of the population believe in and are involved in ancestor veneration, while 3.05% identify as Christian, belonging mostly to the
Catholic Church.
As of 2010 Muslims constitute 0.82% of the population of Hebei.
[Min Junqing. The Present Situation and Characteristics of Contemporary Islam in China. JISMOR, 8. 2010 Islam by province, page 29. Data from: Yang Zongde, Study on Current Muslim Population in China, Jinan Muslim, 2, 2010.]
Although the surveys did not provide specific data for other religions, 90.61% of the population are either nonreligious or are involved in worship of nature deities, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and folk religious sects. Zailiism is a folk religious sect that originated in Hebei. Local worship of deities organized into benevolent churches in reaction to Catholicism in the Qing dynasty.
Hebei has the largest Catholic population in China, with one million members and 1.5 million Catholics according to the Catholic Church.[ Country Advice China, Australian Government 13 February 2012] Many Catholics in Hebei remain loyal to the Pope and reject the authority of the Catholic Patriotic Church. Four of Hebei's underground bishops have been imprisoned in recent years: Bishop Francis An Shuxin of Donglu since 1996; Bishop James Su Zhimin since October 1997; Bishop Han Dingxiang of Yongnian who died in prison in 2007, and Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding since late 1999.[ Hebei , Pray for China] of Zhengding, Hebei Province, built in AD 1045 during the Song dynasty]]
Culture
Language
People speak dialects of
Mandarin Chinese across the Hebei, with most classified as part of the Ji Lu Mandarin subdivision of Chinese. Along the western border with
Shanxi, dialects are distinct enough for linguists to consider them as part of
Jin Chinese, another subdivision of Chinese. In general, the dialects of Hebei are similar to the
Beijing dialect, which forms the basis for
Standard Chinese and the official language of the nation. However, there are also some distinct differences, such as the pronunciation of some words, made by
entering tone syllables (syllables ending on a plosive) in
Middle Chinese.
Arts
Traditional forms of
Chinese opera in Hebei include
Pingju,
Hebei Bangzi (Hebei Clapper Opera), and
Cangzhou Kuaibanshu. Pingju is especially popular because it tends to use colloquial language which is easier for audiences to understand. Originating from northeastern Hebei, Pingju was influenced by other forms of Chinese opera such as
Beijing opera. Traditionally Pingju has a
xiaosheng (young male lead), a
xiaodan (young female lead), and a
xiaohualian (young comic character), though it has diversified to include other roles.
Quyang County, in central Hebei, is noted for Ding ware, a type of Chinese ceramics which includes various vessels such as bowls, plates, vases, and cups, as well as figurines. Ding ware is usually creamy white, though it is also made in other colors.
Cuisine
Hebei cuisine is typically based on wheat, mutton, and beans. The
donkey burger, originating from the cities of
Baoding and
Hejian,
Cangzhou, is a staple in provincial cuisine and has spread into the two municipalities. Other dishes include local variants of
shaobing.
Entertainment
Beidaihe, located near Shanhaiguan, is a popular beach resort.
Architectural and cultural sites
The Ming Great Wall crosses the northern part of Hebei, and its eastern end is located on the coast at
Shanhai Pass (Shanhai Pass), near
Qinhuangdao. Informally known as the First Pass of The World, Shanhaiguan Pass was where Ming general
Wu Sangui opened the gates to Manchu forces in 1644, beginning nearly 300 years of Manchu rule.
The Chengde Mountain Resort and its outlying temples are a World Heritage Site. Also known as the Rehe Palace, this was the summer resort of the Manchu Qing dynasty emperors. The resort was built between 1703 and 1792. It consists of a palace complex and a large park with lakes, pavilions, causeways, and bridges. There are also several Tibetan Buddhist and Han Chinese temples in the surrounding area.
There are Qing dynasty imperial at Zunhua (Eastern Qing Tombs) and Yixian (West Qing Tombs). The Eastern Qing Tombs are the resting place of 161 Qing emperors, empresses, and other members of the Qing imperial family, while the West Qing Tombs have 76 burials. Both tomb complexes are part of a World Heritage Site.
The Zhao County, or Anji Bridge, was built by Li Chun during the Sui dynasty and is the oldest stone arch bridge in China. It is one of the most significant examples of pre-modern Chinese civil engineering. Baoding, the old provincial capital, contains the historic Zhili governor's residence and the former court.
Xibaipo, a village about from Shijiazhuang in Pingshan County, was the location of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army during the decisive stages of the Chinese Civil War between May 26, 1948, and March 23, 1949. Today, the area houses a memorial site.
Sports
The 2018 Women's Bandy World Championship was held in Hebei. Sports teams based in Hebei include National Basketball League (China), Hebei Springs Benma, and the Chinese Football Association team Hebei F.C., Hebei Elite F.C., and Cangzhou Mighty Lions F.C. Baoding is home to the
Baoding balls, a kind of metal ball for exercise and meditation.
Education
Under the national Ministry of Education:
-
North China Electric Power University (华北电力大学)
Under other national agencies:
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Central Institute for Correctional Police (中央司法警官学校)
-
Chinese People's Armed Police Force Academy (中国人民武装警察部队学院)
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North China Institute of Science and Technology (华北科技学院)
Under the provincial government:
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Chengde Medical College (承德医学院)
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Handan College (邯郸学院)
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Hebei Agricultural University (河北农业大学)
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Hebei Engineering University (河北工程大学)
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Hebei Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering (河北建筑工程学院)
-
Hebei Medical University (河北医科大学)
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Hebei Normal University (河北师范大学)
-
Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology (河北科技技师学院)
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Hebei North University (河北北方学院)
-
Hebei Physical Educational Institute (河北体育学院)
-
North China University of Science and Technology (华北理工大学)
-
Hebei University (河北大学)
-
Hebei University of Economics and Business (河北经贸大学)
-
Hebei University of Technology (河北工业大学)
-
Hebei University of Science and Technology (河北科技大学)
-
Hengshui University (衡水学院)
-
Langfang Teacher's College (廊坊师范学院)
-
North China Coal Medical College (华北煤炭医学院)
-
Shijiazhuang College (石家庄学院)
-
Shijiazhuang Railway Institute (石家庄铁道学院)
-
Shijiazhuang University of Economics (石家庄经济学院)
-
Tangshan College (唐山学院)
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Tangshan Teacher's College (唐山师范学院)
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Xingtai University (邢台学院)
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Yanshan University (燕山大学)
There are also
Tibetan Buddhism in the province.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Intracity Rail
The Shijiazhuang Metro is the only operational rapid transit system in Hebei. Xiong'an Rail Transit is a planned metro system in Xiong'an.
Intercity Rail
As of early 2013, railway schedule systems listed 160 passenger train stations within the province.
[ List of train stations in Hebei ] Because Hebei surrounds Beijing and Tianjin, all the important railway lines from these cities pass through Hebei. The Beijing–Guangzhou railway is one of the most important. It passes through many major cities, including
Baoding,
Shijiazhuang,
Xingtai and
Handan on its way south to
Henan. Other important railways include the Beijing–Kowloon railway, Beijing–Shanghai railway, Beijing–Harbin railway, Beijing–Chengde railway, Beijing–Tongliao railway, Beijing–Baotou railway and Fengtai–Shacheng railway. High-speed rail lines crossing the province include the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway, Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway, and Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan high-speed railway.
During the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, Beijing and Hebei collaborated on a new passenger railway. The RMB 82.6 billion network will add to the system. Current railway systems for Hebei are also being upgraded and will soon be able to travel at speeds of between per hour.
Highways and primary routes
The recent expressway boom in China included Hebei. There are expressways to every prefecture-level city in Hebei, totaling approximately . The total length of highways within Hebei is around .
Air transit
Shijiazhuang's Zhengding Airport is the province's center for air transportation, with domestic and international flights. Parts of Hebei are served by the Beijing Daxing International Airport in
Beijing.
Ocean transit
There are several ports along the
Bohai Sea, including Huanghua,
Jingtang, and
Qinhuangdao. Qinhuangdao is the second busiest port in China and has a capacity of over 100 million tons.
Media
Hebei is served by the province-wide
Hebei Television, abbreviated HEBTV. Shijiazhuang Radio & Television is a regional network that covers the provincial capital. Hebei is also served by three major newspapers:
Hebei Daily,
Yanzhao Metropolis Daily, and
Yanzhao Evening News. Hebei Daily Newspaper Group publishes all three newspapers.
Notable people
-
Zu Chongzhi (429–500) – astronomer, mathematician, politician, inventor, and writer known for calculating pi to an accuracy that was not surpassed for 800 years
-
Feng Dao (881–954) – inventor, printer, and politician
-
Zhang Fei (?–221) – military general during the Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period who became Blood brother with Liu Bei and Guan Yu
-
Xia Gengqi (born 1933) – curator in the Beijing Palace Museum
-
Qin Shi Huang (259 BC–210 BC) – founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China（Born in Hebei）
-
Guo Jingjing (born 1981) – Olympic Games gold medalist diver and world champion
-
Jing Ke (?–227 BC) – retainer of Crown Prince Dan, assassin who attempted to murder Qin Shi Huang
-
Jizi (1942–2015) – ink painter
-
Zhao Lirong (1928–2000) – Singer, film actress, and Ping opera performer
-
Deng Lun (born 1992) – actor who gained popularity from the xianxia novel drama, Ashes of Love
-
Liu Shichao or Hebei Pangzai – Internet personality known for his food and drink stunts
-
Yan Yuan (1635–1704) – Confucian philosopher
-
Zheng Yuanjie (born 1955) – Children's books author, and founder and writer of King of Fairy Tales
-
Zhao Liying (born 1987) – television actress
-
Zhao Yun or Zhao Zilong (?–229) – military general who lived during the same period as Zhang Fei
-
(柳哲生, 1914–1991) – ace-fighter pilot of Nationalist Air Force of China, a veteran of the War of Resistance-WWII
Sister subdivisions
Hebei is a sister district with the following country states, districts, and other subdivisions:
-
Athens (September 26, 2002)
-
Buenos Aires Province (May 19, 1992)
-
East Flanders (October 4, 1991)
-
Goiás (March 24, 1999)
-
Hauts-de-Seine (February 11, 1997)
-
Iowa (July 22, 1983)
-
Leningrad Oblast (July 20, 1992)
-
Missouri (January 25, 1994)
-
Nagano Prefecture (November 11, 1983)
-
Pest County (May 27, 2015)
-
South Chungcheong Province (October 19, 1994)
-
Tottori Prefecture (June 9, 1986)
-
Veneto (May 17, 1988)
See also
-
Dahe Solar Park
-
Dongyi Protectorate
-
Hebei people
-
List of prisons in Hebei
-
Major national historical and cultural sites in Hebei
Notes
Citations
Sources
External links
