[2025 Zhuozhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Liao Dynasty Twin Towers (Updated Jul)

🏯 1. Zhengding (Hebei) High-speed rail duration: 1 hour (Beijing West → Zhengding Airport Station) Must-visit highlights: ✅ Longxing Temple: Song Dynasty inverted Guanyin statue, praised by Liang Sicheng as the "No.1 ancient temple outside Beijing" 🎫50 RMB. ✅ Zhengding Ancient City Wall: Night tour of the brightly lit Ming Dynasty city wall ✨ (free). ✅ Rongguo Mansion: Filming location of the 1987 version of "Dream of the Red Chamber," immersive Hanfu experience in the Grand View Garden 📸🎫40 RMB. Special local food: Hao’s Spare Ribs, Wang’s Shaomai (about ¥30 per person). Off-the-beaten-path reason: Well-preserved millennium-old architecture cluster, fewer tourists and low prices, the lantern street at night feels like traveling back to Chang’an. 🌊 2. Bazhou (Hebei · Shengfang) High-speed rail duration: 39 minutes (Beijing South → Bazhou West) Must-visit highlights: ✅ Shengfang Ancient Town: Ride a punt boat through the northern original water town, visit Qing Dynasty merchant courtyard (free). ✅ Mingtang Hot Springs: Soak in Japanese-style open-air pools ♨️, super relaxing for family fun 🎫158 RMB. Special local food: Shengfang preserved eggs, fried cakes (¥2 each). Off-the-beaten-path reason: Combination of hot springs and ancient town, enjoy lanterns while soaking in autumn and winter, full of local life without commercial noise. 🏛️ 3. Zhuozhou (Hebei) High-speed rail duration: 25 minutes (Beijing West → Zhuozhou East) Must-visit highlights: ✅ Liao Dynasty Twin Pagodas: Capture the ancient towers at sunset, check in at artsy cafes for photos (free). ✅ Sanyi Palace: Pilgrimage site for Three Kingdoms fans, relive the "Oath of the Peach Garden" history 🎫20 RMB. Special local food: Shaban chicken, Yang Prince sugar cakes (¥5 each). Off-the-beaten-path reason: Ideal for half-day trips, concentrated attractions with fast high-speed rail access, perfect for lazy short trips. 🏯 4. Dingzhou (Hebei) High-speed rail duration: 1 hour 11 minutes (Beijing West → Dingzhou East) Must-visit highlights: ✅ Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda: Climb the "China’s First Pagoda" for a bird’s-eye view of the ancient city, unlock secrets of the Song Dynasty underground palace 🎫10 RMB. ✅ Dingzhou Museum: Free to see treasures like the green jade dragon and chi holding a ring, educational for families. Special local food: Dingzhou steamed jelly, hand-torn sausage (¥8 per bowl of knife-cut noodles). Off-the-beaten-path reason: Dense cultural relics but few tourists, museum level comparable to provincial, very affordable. 🏞️ 5. Jizhou (Tianjin) High-speed rail duration: 32 minutes (Beijing → Jizhou Station) Must-visit highlights: ✅ Dule Temple: See the 16-meter-high Liao Dynasty clay Guanyin statue, a millennium-old temple that impresses 🎫40 RMB. ✅ Panshan Mountain: The "No.1 Mountain East of Beijing" visited 32 times by Emperor Qianlong, cable car views of strange pines and rocks 🎫78 RMB. Special local food: Jizhou rice bowl cake, reservoir fish head (farmhouse meals including three meals ¥80 per person). Off-the-beaten-path reason: Combines the elegance of Jiangnan with the grandeur of the north, ancient temples and mountain water Zen coexist, a top weekend healing choice. 🦁 6. Cangzhou (Hebei) High-speed rail duration: 1 hour (Beijing South → Cangzhou West) Must-visit highlights: ✅ Cangzhou Iron Lion: Millennium cultural relic "Sea-Calming Roar," feel the history of the martial arts hometown. ✅ Wu Qiao Acrobatic World: Watch thrilling acrobatic shows, experience intangible cultural heritage 🎫100+ RMB. Special local food: 0317 hot pot chicken, golden thread jujubes. Off-the-beaten-path reason: Extremely low prices and unique culture, perfect for history and folk culture enthusiasts for deep experiences. 💡 Travel Tips Tickets: Book 3 days in advance on 12306, weekend tickets are tight (such as Zhengding, Jizhou). Accommodation: Mainly homestays (¥100–300/night), Huailai Guanting Lakeside and Bazhou Hot Spring Hotels are worth experiencing. Routes: ➤ One-day trip: Choose Zhuozhou (Three Kingdoms culture), Bazhou (hot springs + ancient town); ➤ Two-day trip: Zhengding (deep ancient architecture), Jizhou (mountains, water & ancient temples). Seasonal highlights: Spring to enjoy Jizhou peach blossoms 🌸, autumn to see Zhengding’s golden ginkgo 🍂, winter to soak in Bazhou hot springs ❄️. These cities are like "slow life copies" scattered across Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, unlocking triple healing of history, nature, and local life with a high-speed rail ticket. Avoid the crowds and set off this weekend! 🚄✨

Weekend escape to this quaint and nostalgic small town🏠 Just 20 minutes from Beijing📍Perfect for a day trip❗ The old street here preserves 1980s charm with historic buildings, local snacks, and artsy photo walls—plus wallet-friendly prices👇 ‼️Your ultimate🌈one-day citywalk guide is here~ 🗺️Itinerary: See Figure 2🟡 🔜Gulou Street➡️Zhuozhou Museum➡️Old District➡️Liao Dynasty Twin Pagodas➡️Fried Sesame Cake Wrap➡️Sixth Patriarch Zen Temple 1️⃣Gulou Street: Zhuozhou’s bustling commercial hub full of local life🍜 Grab breakfast here—locals swear by Lao Ma’s Tofu Pudding and Lao Fang’s Steamed Buns🥟 Hidden photo spot🤫Turn into Shanggong Street, then right to find the mural: "We Love Zhuozhou So Much"📸 2️⃣Zhuozhou Museum: Free entry with ID🎫 Explore ancient Zhuoshui River history to modern development⚱️ The treasure? A painted Eastern Han pottery lamp—budget ~1 hour 3️⃣Old District: Left twice from the museum, walk minutes to the📸 "Young People, May You Illuminate Zhuozhou" mural—insta-worthy literary vibes📚 4️⃣Liao Dynasty Twin Pagodas: Stroll further to see South Tower (Zhidu Temple) & North Tower (Yunju Temple)🪔 Soak in 1,000 years of history, with photogenic alleys everywhere🎬 5️⃣Fried Sesame Cake Wrap: A local must-eat🤤 Freshly fried cake stuffed with sausage and veggies—only ¥5🥙 6️⃣Sixth Patriarch Zen Temple: A café hidden in a village with red walls☕ Perfect for a lazy afternoon + a dozen adorable cats🐱 🚅Transport: Trains are fastest❗Zhuozhou Station is closer downtown; Zhuozhou East has more departures. Walk between nearby spots🚶🏻‍♀️ 🍢Food: Beyond breakfast & cake wraps, try donkey burgers (round, unlike Beijing’s) and beef pancake soup🍜 💨What are you waiting for? Pick a weekend and start this spontaneous Zhuozhou citywalk!~

"The mournful wind scatters over Zhuolu, the precious pagodas soar into the sky preserving Buddhist scriptures. Staff-wielding immortals climb a hundred steps, towers overlook thousands of households in the capital's outskirts." The Liao Dynasty Twin Pagodas, also known as the Zhuozhou Twin Pagodas, are iconic landmarks of ancient Zhuozhou. Located in the northeast corner of Zhuozhou's old town in Hebei Province, the two pagodas stand facing each other about 260 meters apart. "Twin Pagodas in Clear Mist" was one of the eight famous scenic spots of ancient Zhuozhou. The Zhidusi Pagoda is the southern pagoda, built in the 11th year of the Liao Taiping era (1031 AD). This five-story octagonal brick pagoda stands 44 meters tall and was named after Zhidusi Temple, which was later destroyed, leaving only the pagoda. The Yunju Temple Pagoda is the northern pagoda, slightly taller at 56 meters. Constructed in the 8th year of the Liao Da'an era (1092 AD), this six-story octagonal pagoda was named after Yunju Temple, which also perished over time, leaving only this pagoda. Standing between these two millennium-old Buddhist pagodas, one feels their profound significance. The northern Yunju Temple Pagoda is a true relic pagoda containing the parietal bone relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, while the southern Zhidusi Pagoda enshrines the "Unstained Pure Light Dharani Sutra" and other scriptures at its pinnacle - as "scriptures are the Dharma-body relics," making it a Dharma-body pagoda. These two giant pagodas resemble two massive Tathagatas gazing at each other across time: "Two Tathagatas sit exposed, eternally facing each other from afar." Only by visiting can one truly appreciate the magnificent grandeur of the Liao Dynasty Twin Pagodas. I hope on my next visit there will be tea🍵 and coffee☕ spots nearby where I can relax and quietly admire them... It would be even better if there were professional tour guides to explain their history! Parking can be challenging around the scenic area - you may need to circle nearby to find a spot. I hope the cultural tourism authorities will continue exploring the historical and cultural value of these Liao Dynasty Twin Pagodas, and that they will be better protected and promoted[Grin]

Zhuozhou is so close to Beijing! Zhuozhou is an ancient cultural city with a history of more than 2,300 years. It is known as "The No. 1 Prefecture in the World". It is a place with abundant resources, outstanding people, and a wealth of talent, such as Huineng, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Li Daoyuan, and Zhao Kuangyin. The Zhuozhou Twin Towers, Sanyi Temple, and Zhuozhou Museum are worth a visit if you have time. The millennium-old Liao Dynasty Twin Towers are exquisite and shocking. The story of the three sworn brothers in the Peach Garden is also visualized here. The content of the books in childhood suddenly jumps out vividly... There are also stories about the Yellow Emperor fighting Chiyou, the Lu Clan culture, the Li Xue culture, the Zen culture, and the Yi culture. Come and see it if you have time.

On the street corner of the city, there is a scent 😃, like the seductive magic in ancient legends ✨! Following this aroma, you can see the crispy golden bun, tightly wrapped with the tender, juicy, spiced meat🥩. This is the Roujiamo that can instantly activate all your taste buds😍! As soon as we entered the store, the aroma of Roujiamo hit our noses👃. Their meat is really super fragrant! The carefully selected top-quality pork🐷 has been stewed for a long time, making the meat tender and juicy💧. Every fiber is soaked in rich spices. Sandwiched in the crispy pancake, it is a perfect match👏. Speaking of this pancake with meat and steamed buns, it is even better🥙. It is golden in color. When you take a bite, you will hear a "click" and it will fall apart😜, followed by the aroma of meat and wheat intertwined in your mouth, full of happiness. Feeling💕. This shop doesn’t just have Roujiamo! And the mouth-watering sesame seed cakes filled with everything 😋, whether it’s filled with crisp vegetables 🥬, fresh eggs 🥚, or various unique braised flavors, it can create different sparks on the tip of your tongue 🔥, you You can mix and match according to your own preferences to create your own delicious combination. Every bite is full of surprises and satisfaction🎉. Eating steamed buns with a bowl of their porridge or soy milk🥣, it feels like a perfect ending to this gourmet journey😊. Sweet pumpkin porridge🎃, and classic soy milk, drink it in one sip, and it will slide warmly down your throat, which is both relieving and comforting, full of nutrition and deliciousness💯. Although the store is not big, it is clean and tidy🧹, giving people a warm and comfortable feeling🤗. The boss is very enthusiastic🙌. Every time I go there, I feel full of sincerity and care, and I feel as comfortable as eating at my own home😌. In short, Xiaozhou Roujiamo is really a treasure shop🌟, highly recommended to all food lovers, you must try it😎!

💰Zhuozhou expenses: Total 186 yuan High-speed train 56 yuan, taxi transportation 30 yuan, meals 100 yuan "So close, so beautiful, to Hebei on the weekend" Zhuozhou, Hebei, a small city less than half an hour away from Beijing by high-speed train Yet it is a historic city with a long history and a place of outstanding people The hometowns of well-known historical figures such as Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, Zhao Kuangyin, and others are all here. . 🚗Transportation 🚗Self-driving: about 1.5h 🚄High-speed train: G331 Beijing West—Zhuozhou East, 09:45—10:10 28 yuan G442 Zhuozhou East—Beijing West, 21:14—21:39 28 yuan . 🏃Tour route: Drum Tower Street—Zhuozhou Museum—"Floral Art for You"—Liao Dynasty South Tower—Liao Dynasty North Tower—Yongji Park 1️⃣Drum Tower Street: This street is the central axis of Zhuozhou and a bustling commercial street. The street offers everything you need for daily life at affordable prices 2️⃣Zhuozhou Museum: No reservation needed, must hold ID card or electronic ID card to exchange for paper tickets on site. The museum's architecture is quite unique, with a circular surrounding structure 3️⃣Liao Dynasty Twin Towers: A must-visit spot. The South Tower is open from Tuesday to Sunday, while the North Tower is currently under construction. However, if you go to No. 30 North Tower Temple Street and head north to the second alley, you will be surprised 4️⃣Yongji Park: One of the eight scenic spots of Zhuozhou, 'Refusing Horse Long Rainbow' and China's longest stone arch bridge—Yongji Bridge are both here · 🎠Tour TIPS: 1️⃣You must bring your ID card to enter the Zhuozhou Museum 2️⃣The items on Drum Tower Street are very affordable 3️⃣The North Tower of the Liao Dynasty Twin Towers is currently under external construction and is not accessible. Take a walk in North Tower Temple Alley, the photo spot is right here. 4️⃣Don't miss the 'Young people, may you shine in Zhuozhou' typewall near the Liao Dynasty Twin Towers. Navigate to 'Floral Art for You', their garden is also very artistic and suitable for taking photos, and the owner is very enthusiastic. 5️⃣The Zhuozhou banquet I had at noon was so-so

The twin towers are both Liao Dynasty pavilion-style octagonal imitation wood brick towers. The north and south towers are 260 meters apart and are collectively called the Twin Towers. The south pagoda is named Zhidu Temple Pagoda, built in the eleventh year of Taiping in Liao Dynasty (1031), with five levels and 44 meters high; the north pagoda is the Yunju Temple Pagoda, built in the sixth year of Chongxi in Liao Dynasty (1037), with six levels, 56 meters high. The Zhuozhou Twin Towers were announced by the State Council as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units on June 25, 2006. The Zhuozhou Twin Towers are the landmark buildings of Zhuozhou City. They have high historical value, artistic value, scientific value and Buddhist value. They have accumulated Zhuozhou’s rich ancient civilization and inherited Zhuozhou’s long history and culture as well as its prosperous and colorful humanities. The twin towers are beautiful in shape and have been praised by many literati and scholars throughout the ages. "Twin Towers Clear Smoke" is one of the eight ancient scenic spots in Zhuozhou. According to historical records, the twin pagodas were repaired to varying degrees in the Liao, Jin, Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Jin-Feng War in the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927), the south tower was shelled, causing damage to the east side tower. In the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, the top and east wall of the tower collapsed, and the tower body cracked. After years of rain erosion, the damage worsened; Yunju Temple was also seriously damaged due to years of disrepair. In 2001, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Hebei Cultural Relics Bureau, and the Zhuozhou Municipal People's Government jointly funded a protection and restoration project for the twin towers, effectively protecting and restoring the historical features. In August 2017, the restoration project of the murals in the cloister of Zhidu Temple Pagoda was launched. The south tower is now open to the public Time (Tuesday to Sunday) 9:00am-12:00am 14:00-17:00 pm Currently, the North Tower is not open.