Walls and moat
Among reeds and water.
梓地 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · 梓地 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · H2v5o68z — CC0 · 梓地 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xylener Nee — CC BY-SA 3.0 · 梓地 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · H2v5o68z — CC0 · 梓地 — CC BY-SA 3.0
A walled town that still looks as it did under the Ming, standing in the middle of the Yongnian marshes inside massive walls and a wide moat, so that from afar it seems an island among the reeds and water; it has been rated 5A since 2017. Settled from around the sixth century BC, it was the seat of Guangping Prefecture, which gave it its name; its walls began as earth ramparts under the Tang and were rebuilt in stone and brick under the Yuan and Ming. In the nineteenth century it was home to Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang, founders of the Yang and Wu styles of tai chi, two of the most widespread schools in the world; their homes are now museums. Visitors walk the walls and the moat, wander the old streets restored in traditional style, and take in the marshes around it with their stone bridges. Entry to the town is free at any hour, the walls cost about CNY 20 to 40, combined tickets about 70 to 90, and the paid sights open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, per visitor guides.
Among reeds and water.
Tai chi museums.
And stone bridges.
Guangfu town, Yongnian District, about 25 km north-east of central Handan, Hebei
Handan city has restaurants run by Hui Muslims under the halal sign, while the old town's restaurants serve dishes that may contain pork, so ask about ingredients.