Day Trips from Handan. Excursions, Nearby Cities, Tours

Nearby Destinations

Guangfu Ancient City (广府古城): Close TO 20 km northeast of Handan. This city is famous for Tai Chi and its well-preserved ancient city walls.

Xiangtangshan Grottoes (响堂山石窟): About 20 km southwest. These Buddhist grottoes date from the Northern Qi Dynasty. Wahuang Palace (娲皇宫): Located in Shexian County, about 80 km south. This historic temple complex is dedicated to the goddess Nüwa.

Transportation for each

Guangfu Ancient City: Take a local bus from Handan Passenger Transport Center, or use a taxi/Didi.
Xiangtangshan Grottoes: Catch a local bus to Fengfeng Mining District, then use local transport. A taxi or Didi can take you directly.
Wahuang Palace: Take a long-distance bus to Shexian County, then a local taxi or bus.
Wu'a City: Frequent local buses run from Handan. A short train ride also is an option.

Planning Your Excursion

Different travel styles suit different destinations.

Independent Travel

More flexibility and generally cheaper. It demands navigation skills and some language proficiency. This method works for Guangfu Ancient City and Xiangtangshan Grottoes.

Suggested Timeframes

Guangfu Ancient City: Allocate half to a full day. Explore the city walls, temples, and Tai Chi sites.
Xiangtangshan Grottoes: Plan for half to a full day. Visit both the North and South grottoes.
Taihang Mountains (Wu'an): Dedicate a full day for hiking and nature exploration.

Organized Travel

Specific organized tours for international visitors are less common for Handan. You might join a domestic tour group, or hire a private car with a driver. This acts as a personalized tour. Hiring a private car is advised for Wahuang Palace.

Suggested Destination

Wahuang Palace: This takes a full day. It involves significant travel time.
Consider GetYourGuide for Day Trips in other regions.
Explore ethical tours with G Adventures.

Natural Escapes & Landscapes

Parks and Reserves

Huangliangmeng National Forest Park: Forests, trails, scenic areas.
Jinlong Mountain Scenic Area: Lake, mountains, cultural sites for outdoor activities.
Taihang Mountains foothills: Dramatic landscapes in Shexian and Wu'an.
Seasonal phenomena: Autumn foliage in late October/early November in the Taihang Mountains.

Cultural Sites & Pilgrimages

Cizhou Kiln Site: Ceramic history, Handan's famous pottery.
Wahuang Palace: Significant pilgrimage site for goddess Nüwa.
Rural villages and agricultural areas for local insights.
No beaches in the region, mountain and the countryside dominate.

Multi-Day Extensions

Beijing (1.5-2 hours by high-speed train):Great Wall, Forbidden City.
Shijiazhuang (1 hour by high-speed rail):Zhaozhou Bridge, Hebei capital.
Zhengzhou (ONE hour by high-speed rail):Gateway to Shaolin Temple.
Suggested Route:Beijing -> Shijiazhuang -> Handan -> Zhengzhou -> Luoyang -> Xi'an.

Handan East Railway Station:Excellent high-speed rail connections.
Plan efficiently:Connects Northern & Central China.
Multi-day extensions:Easy to plan for further exploration.
Book ahead:Especially during peak travel times.

Transportation Connections

Handan East Railway Station has excellent high-speed rail connections to major cities in The north of and Central China. This simplifies planning longer journeys.

Beyond Handan City

Explore diverse experiences surrounding Handan.

Guangfu Ancient City

Ancient city walls, Tai Chi heritage.

Xiangtangshan Grottoes

Buddhist grottoes from Northern Qi.

Wahuang Palace

Temple dedicated to goddess Nüwa.

Natural Parks

Peaceful escapes into nature.

Green Spaces

Huangliangmeng National Forest Park: Forests, trails.
Jinlong Mountain Scenic Area: Lake, mountains, culture.
Taihang Mountains: Scenic landscapes, hiking.

Cultural Heritage

Dive into the region's rich past.

Historical Sites

Cizhou Kiln Site: Handan's pottery history.
Zhao Wangcheng Site: Ancient capital ruins.
Local markets: Agricultural insights.

Seasonal Experiences

Fall Colors:Taihang Mountains, late Oct/early Nov.

Summer:Boating on Longhu Lake.

Winter:Hot pot, indoor cultural shows.

Chinese New Year:Festive atmosphere.

National Day (Golden Week):Major travel period, plan ahead.

No major seasonal closures, except public holidays:Plan for crowds.

Traveler's Note

To enjoy multi-day extensions efficiently, consult high-speed rail schedules from Handan East Railway Station.
This links ancient capitals and cultural sites.
Book tickets in advance, particularly during busy travel periods.
Utilize GetYourGuide for securing your spot for activities at your next destination.

Extend Your Journey

Handan makes a perfect base for further Chinese exploration.

Nearby City Adventures

High-speed rail connects Handan to major Northern and Central Chinese cities quickly.

Quick Escapes

Beijing: 1.5-2 hours. Explore the Great Wall, Forbidden City.
Shijiazhuang: 1 hour. Visit Zhaozhou Bridge.
Zhengzhou: 1 hour. Gateway to Shaolin Temple.

Longer Regional Travel

Connect several ancient capitals and significant cultural sites for a immersing in the past.

Suggested Historical Route

Beijing (Imperial Capital)
Shijiazhuang (Hebei Capital)
Handan (Ancient Zhao Capital)

Further Destinations

Continue south along the high-speed rail for more exploration.

Southern Connections

Luoyang: Heritage sites like Longmen Grottoes.
Xi'an: Terracotta Army, ancient city walls.
Wuhan: Yellow Crane Tower, bustling city life.

High-Speed Rail Travel

Handan East Railway Station serves as a central hub.

Efficient Connections

Modern stations, generally accessible.
Common services to most major cities.
Book tickets in advance, especially during holidays.

Customized Multi-Day Itineraries

Mix and match destinations for a personalized journey.

Culture Buff

Combine Handan with Luoyang and Xi'a for ancient history.

Modern Explorer

Pair Handan with Beijing and Shanghai for a mix of old and new.

Nature Lover

Add trips to scenic mountain regions near Shijiazhuang.

Planning Tip

Using high-speed rail, many major Chinese cities are within a few hours of Handan. This makes multi-day extensions effortless and efficient to plan.

Day Trips from Handan