Charging stations

Zhengding county received an average of 500,000 tourists a day during the National Day holiday this month, nearly three times more than the same period last year, according to a report by the China Media Group.

With more and more tourists coming to Zhengding, the local government has rolled out measures in recent years to improve public services.

These include 44,800 free parking spaces, clean and tidy public toilets, free sightseeing buses, convenient charging stations for electronic vehicles, and free drinking fountains.

For Li Nan, a 36-year-old tourist from Beijing, Zhengding was the best weekend choice for her family on Oct 12 and 13.Unlike Liang, who took 10 hours to get to Zhengding in the 1930s, Li's train journey took just over an hour.

"The first day, we traveled to the county by high-speed train, and then visited many scenic spots, such as the Longxing Temple, and Rong Mansion," Li says, talking about the trip she and her family of four took. "We also tasted many types of traditional local cuisine, like Badawan ("eight big bowls" of steamed dishes). At night, we enjoyed the view and ate snacks at the famous Zhengding night market."

Her itinerary is typical of a one-day tour of Zhengding. Rong Mansion, or Rongguo Fu is a group of buildings built in the 1980s in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), and is based on the classical novel Dream of the Red Chamber by Qingera writer Cao Xueqin.

"The food was delicious, while the ancient buildings were magnificent, but you can only get to know them better if you go with a guide, who can tell you details and stories about the old buildings," she says.

On their second day in Zhengding, the family toured other temples. "The journey was short, but the culture was deep. We appreciated it a lot," Li says.