Suning County 肃宁县

History

In 350 BC the state of Yan (燕国) created Wuyuan County (武垣县), whose seat lay 7.8 kilometres southeast of today's county town; it passed to Zhao (赵国) in 300 BC. The present town began as the Pinglu stockade (平虏寨), set up by the Song in 986 west of Hejian (河间) and renamed the fort of Suning (肃宁城) in 1005. Under the Jin, Suning County was created here between 1156 and 1158, under Hejian prefecture (河间府).

An anti-Japanese democratic government for the county was formed in February 1938. On 20 November 1958 Suning was merged with Hejian under Tianjin, and the county was restored on 27 March 1962 within Cangzhou prefecture.

What to see

The Wuyuan city site (武垣城址), an ancient settlement dating from the Warring States to the Han and again from the Sui and Tang, is a national key cultural relics protection unit, entry 7-0025 on the national list.

Shangcun town (尚村镇), northwest of the county town, is recognised as a China fur base (中国裘皮基地), and in 2005 the China National Light Industry Council and the China Leather Association named it "China's Fur Capital" (中国裘皮之都). The Hebei provincial tourism plan for 2018 to 2025 lists the Suning Huasi fur industry town (肃宁华斯裘皮产业特色小镇) among the province's themed tourism towns.

Getting oriented

Suning borders Hejian to the east, Gaoyang (高阳县) to the north, Lixian (蠡县) to the west, and Raoyang (饶阳县) and Xianxian (献县) to the south. The Beijing–Kowloon (京九铁路) and Shuohuang (朔黄铁路) railways and the Daguang (大广高速) and Cangzhou–Baoding (沧保高速) expressways pass Suning town. Suning station is on the Beijing–Kowloon line, and the Beijing–Hong Kong high-speed line stops at Suning-Hejian station (肃宁河间站). The climate is warm-temperate continental monsoon.

Highlights

• Wuyuan city site 武垣城址: Ancient city site, Warring States to Han and Sui–Tang, on the national list of key protected sites (7-0025).
• Shangcun fur town 尚村镇: Named China's Fur Capital in 2005 by the China National Light Industry Council and the China Leather Association.