Handan’s latest move is absolutely wild! Wearing ancient costumes to stroll through the ancient city, with 40 NPCs acting out a martial arts drama with you
The moment I stepped into Guangfu Ancient City, I almost spilled the milk tea in my hand—under the city gate tower, armored soldiers slammed open the heavy wooden door with a clang, shouting "Open the city—", startling the pigeons above to flutter away. A girl in Hanfu walked by holding an oil-paper umbrella, and suddenly a "hero" wearing a bamboo hat popped out from around the corner, giving me a look: "Miss, are you here for the appointment?"
Later I realized this wasn’t a time-travel drama scene, but the daily “crazy literature” of Handan people—here, even the old man selling sugar paintings will say, “Please come inside, guest.” Over 40 NPCs hide in every corner of the ancient city, ready to perform a grand martial arts drama with you anytime.
Guangfu Ancient City: where you’re truly “in the play”
Don’t sleep in early morning! The 8 o’clock city opening ceremony is a must-see. When the soldiers line up, their armor gleams in the light, and the magistrate’s voice reading the “announcement” drifts with the wind. The crowd of uncles squeeze forward holding up their phones: “Show this to my kid, now this is what ceremony feels like!” After the event, an NPC in a blue robe will slip you a note. Opening it, it reads—“At the third quarter of the Si hour, meet at the City God Temple,” instantly giving me goosebumps.
A whole day of joyful “spoilers”
· Watch the Tai Chi performance by the city wall. The white-bearded old man suddenly waves at you mid-move: “Come, try pushing me?” As soon as I took his hand, he used “four ounces to move a thousand pounds” to make me stagger, causing laughter all around.
· Walking through the alleys, the rouge-selling landlady quietly says, “Shopkeeper Li on West Street is hiding a secret message, why don’t you ask him?” When you find Shopkeeper Li, he flips through his ledger pretending to be clueless: “Buy a box of ink sticks, and I’ll tell you...”
· The most amazing is the “water, land, and air” Tai Chi show: on the water, a white-clad figure on a bamboo raft practices boxing; on the shore, the team forms an “S” shape; even in the sky, a kite suspends a “fairy” drifting by. The sunset casts shadows on the city wall like a living ink painting.
At night, you’re fully “in character”
I chose a “martial arts” themed murder mystery game, and my hands trembled when I got my character card—I was an orphan searching for family. Following clues, the wine seller suddenly lowered his voice: “The person you’re looking for went to the moat last night…” Turning around, I bumped into a sword-bearing guard who glared at me: “Miss, sneaking around, are you a demon from the evil cult?” Scared, I grabbed a young man dressed as a scholar and ran away. Later I found out he was also a tourist.
Daming County: a “clash of old and new” by the canal
After a bumpy hour-long bus ride from Guangfu Ancient City to Daming County, I was dazzled by the red lanterns as soon as I entered the Handan Dao Historical and Cultural Street. At the night market by the canal, a young lady in a qipao was live streaming singing Peking opera, while the old man at the next stall was crafting a “Grand Canal dragon boat” from sugar paintings, the sweet aroma blending with the river breeze.
Don’t miss the night tour of the canal
I rented a small boat drifting on the canal, the boatwoman rowing and singing folk tunes. Lanterns on both banks reflected in the water like scattered gold. Suddenly, a gong sounded on the shore, and a man in official robes held a lantern shouting, “The grain transport has arrived—” The cat at the bow jumped with a “meow,” making everyone on board laugh.
The “adorable contrast” in the ancient street
At the old cloth shop, an aunt was weaving homespun cloth while her granddaughter filmed a TikTok video, captioned “Grandma’s craftsmanship is more beautiful than any influencer’s filter.” Around the corner, a café used old door panels as tables. Drinking a latte while watching people in traditional mandarin jackets walk by outside—this mix of styles is truly unique.
Local’s “no pretense” guide
1. Don’t rent expensive Hanfu. At Guangfu Ancient City’s entrance, an elderly lady sells handmade Hanfu for 80 yuan a set, including a hairband. It’s much cheaper than renting in the scenic area, and you can even wear it as pajamas after taking photos.
2. For meals, find places “with a stove.” The “Old Ma’s Crispy Fish” in the ancient city sets tables by the stove. The freshly caught crucian carp is so crispy you can eat the bones, paired with a bowl of millet porridge—pure comfort!
3. Choose the “light” script for murder mystery games. Avoid the brain-burning political intrigue lines. The martial arts line has more NPC interaction, and you can even sneak some of their “martial arts snacks” (actually local sugar balls).
4. Don’t take taxis for transportation. Bus 605 from Handan city center to Guangfu Ancient City costs 5 yuan direct, and on the bus, you can hear the elderly chatting about “whose Tai Chi is the best.”
Before leaving, I sat on the city wall of Guangfu Ancient City, watching the sunset stretch shadows long. The armored NPCs had changed into casual clothes and squatted beside me eating buns: “Will you come again tomorrow? I’ll save you a ‘hidden mission.’” Suddenly I felt, Handan isn’t just a tourist spot—it’s a “happy hometown” you never want to leave.
Now open Trip.com and search “Handan Guangfu Ancient City” to book a guesthouse next to the scenic area. Open the window and there’s the city wall—oh, and remember to bring an extra layer, the wind in the ancient city is even more lingering than the martial arts stories.
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