Get to know Zhangjiakou
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Hebei
- Chinese name
- 张家口市
- Local areas
- 16 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 36,861.56 km²
- Population · 2020 census
- 4,118,908
- Administrative seat
- Qiaodong District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Setting and landscape
Bashang, the southern edge of the Inner Mongolian Plateau, covers about a third of the city at around 1,400 metres: rolling ridges, lakes and flats. Baxia's mountains enclose a string of basins, among them Yuxian–Yangyuan. Xiaowutai Mountain (小五台山) in Yuxian (蔚县), 2,882 metres, is called by the city the highest of Hebei's mountains. The Yang (洋河) and Sanggan (桑干河) rivers cross the city, meet in Huailai (怀来) to form the Yongding River (永定河) and flow into the Guanting Reservoir (官厅水库).
History
The city government places the Yellow Emperor's (黄帝) capital, after his war with Chiyou (蚩尤), at Huangdi Cheng (黄帝城) near Fanshan (矾山) in Zhuolu (涿鹿). The Qing installed the Chahar military governor (察哈尔都统) here in 1761, and Zhangjiakou became capital of Chahar Province in 1928 and again in 1949, until the province was abolished in 1952. The Beijing–Zhangjiakou Railway (京张铁路), designed under Zhan Tianyou (詹天佑) and opened in 1909, was surveyed and built by Chinese without foreign money or staff. Beijing and Zhangjiakou were chosen in 2015 to co-host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Errentai (二人台), a folk opera of the Bashang area, joined the first national heritage list in 2006.
What to see
Dajingmen (大境门) in Qiaoxi District (桥西区), which the city tourism bureau counts among the four great passes of the Great Wall, is a national key cultural relics protection unit and part of a Ming pass more than 400 years old. Xuanhua (宣化), called by the city the first of the Ming Nine Frontier garrisons (九边), keeps its Qingyuan (清远楼) and Zhenshuo (镇朔楼) towers. Yuxian, a national historic city since 2018, stages dashuhua (打树花) at Nuanquan (暖泉): molten iron flung against the old town wall bursts into tree-shaped sparks. Jimingyi (鸡鸣驿), a walled post station in Huailai and a national key cultural relics protection unit, lodged Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧) and the Guangxu Emperor (光绪) overnight in 1900 on their flight to Xi'an. The Chongli Ice and Snow Resort (崇礼冰雪旅游度假区) in Chongli (崇礼) is a national-level tourist resort; the Grassland Skyway (草原天路) winds along the plateau rim, 116 kilometres in Guyuan (沽源) alone.
Food and local products
Yuxian paper-cuts (蔚县剪纸), dating from the Ming, are carved rather than cut from thin xuan paper (宣纸) and then coloured; they entered UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2009. Naked oats (莜麦), nicknamed the 'pearl beyond the frontier', are in the city's words the main grain of the Bashang counties; koumo mushrooms (口蘑) come from the grasslands north of the city; and Chaigoubao smoked pork (柴沟堡熏肉) from Huai'an (怀安) is a China Time-honored Brand.
Sources for this guide
市情概览-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
建置沿革-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
资源环境-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
蔚县剪纸-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
柴沟堡熏肉-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
坝上莜麦-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
口蘑-张家口市人民政府 · Zhangjiakou Municipal People's Government
这么近，那么美，周末到河北 桥西·大境门-张家口市文化广电和旅游局 · Zhangjiakou Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau (text from Zhangjiakou News)
张家口市 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
沽源：草原天路东线秋季指引攻略-张家口市文化广电和旅游局 · Zhangjiakou Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-30.
Explore Zhangjiakou
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Dajingmen 大境门
Xuanhua 宣化古城
Wanlong Ski Resort 万龙滑雪场
Genting Snow Park 云顶滑雪公园
Xuanhua Museum 宣化博物馆
Thaiwoo Ski Town 太舞滑雪小镇
Grassland Sky Road 草原天路
Jimingyi Post Town 鸡鸣驿城
Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park 官厅水库国家湿地公园
Luanhe Shenyun Scenic Area 滦河神韵
Nuanquan Old Town 暖泉古镇
Xiaowutai Mountain Scenic Area 小五台山开放景区
Yuzhou Old Town 蔚州古城
Haituo Valley 海坨山谷
Qiaodong District 桥东区
Qiaoxi District 桥西区
Xuanhua District 宣化区
Xiahuayuan District 下花园区
Wanquan District 万全区
Chongli District 崇礼区
Zhangbei County 张北县
Kangbao County 康保县
Guyuan County 沽源县
Shangyi County 尚义县
Yuxian 蔚县
Yangyuan County 阳原县
Huai'an County 怀安县
Huailai County 怀来县
Zhuolu County 涿鹿县
Chicheng County 赤城县
Places to explore around Zhangjiakou
Dajingmen · 河北省张家口市境内的长城关隘大境门Dajingmen大境门
Dajingmen is a Great Wall gateway at the northern edge of Zhangjiakou, where mountain terrain meets the route towards the Mongolian grasslands. Its history involves trade as well as defence: goods moving through the frontier…
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Changping Gate and its Gongji Tower at the south entrance of Xuanhua’s old city. Photographed on 14 April 2020.Xuanhua宣化古城
Xuanhua's old city preserves a strong north–south sequence of monumental structures from its role as a fortified gateway towards Beijing. Gongji Tower stands over the surviving southern gate, followed by Zhenshuo Drum Tower and…
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AI illustration; an interpretive view, not a photograph. AI 示意图，非景点实拍。Wanlong Ski Resort万龙滑雪场
Wanlong occupies the Honghualiang slopes in Chongli, with mountain terrain and a network of differently graded ski runs shaping the visit. Its named trails include Wolong and Youlong as well as steeper mountain routes, but an…
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A resort base building at Genting Snow Park in Chongli during summer, before the 2022 Winter Games. Photographed on 31 July 2021.Genting Snow Park云顶滑雪公园
Genting Snow Park is the Chongli ski resort that hosted freestyle skiing and snowboarding during the Beijing Winter Olympics. Its halfpipe and other competition terrain remain part of an active sporting landscape, with later…
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Street facade of Xuanhua Museum. Photograph date recorded by the source: 2021-07-04 15:44:53.Xuanhua Museum宣化博物馆
Xuanhua Museum combines the long history of the fortified city with the much more recent history of the Chahar Democratic Government, whose former premises house the museum. The archaeological collection includes objects from…
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Thaiwoo Ski Town太舞滑雪小镇
Taiwoo Ski Town (太舞滑雪小镇) is a ski and mountain resort in Chongli, built around the valley below Yushiliang, a peak reaching 2,160 metres.
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Grassland Sky Road · 草原天路Grassland Sky Road草原天路
Grassland Sky Road (草原天路) is a scenic road through the rolling Bashang uplands of the Zhangbei–Chongli area, with steep slopes, valleys and forested stretches along the way.
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Aerial view over the walled post town of Jimingyi in Huailai County, Hebei · 鸡鸣驿城俯瞰，河北省怀来县 Source-recorded photograph date: 2009-04-29.Jimingyi Post Town鸡鸣驿城
Jimingyi is a walled former postal station in Huailai County, built around the work of relaying official messages and supporting travellers.
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park官厅水库国家湿地公园
Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park (官厅水库国家湿地公园) protects reservoir-edge wetlands and the Yongding River floodplain across central Huailai County.
Read the place guide →
Luanhe Shenyun Scenic Area · 滦河神韵Luanhe Shenyun Scenic Area滦河神韵
Luanhe Shenyun (滦河神韵) is a wetland-viewing area around Zhuanfoshan in Guyuan County, overlooking the winding Shandian River and the Bashang meadow landscape.
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Nuanquan Old Town (暖泉古镇), Yuxian. Photograph: "暖泉华严寺 前殿".Nuanquan Old Town暖泉古镇
Nuanquan is an old fortified town in Yu County, associated with courtyard houses, temples and the local molten-iron performance known as Dashuhua.
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AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Xiaowutai Mountain Scenic Area小五台山开放景区
Scenic area on Xiaowutai Mountain in Yu County, whose 2,882 m East Terrace is Hebei's highest point, with high meadows, old temples and pagodas.
Read the place guide →
Yuzhou Old Town (蔚州古城), Yuxian. Photograph: "天齐庙大门".Yuzhou Old Town蔚州古城
Yuzhou Old Town is the historic centre of Yu County in western Hebei, with temples, towers and traditional streets gathered within an old urban setting.
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Haituo Valley · 海坨山谷Haituo Valley海坨山谷
Haituo Valley (海坨山谷) is a developed mountain-holiday destination in Chicheng's Dahaituo area, centred on outdoor sport and a wooded valley setting.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Zhangjiakou local specialties
张家口市特色美食 · 10 specialties to discover
Steamed Naked-Oat Rolls 莜面窝窝
Steamed Naked-Oat Rolls (莜面窝窝), also written youmian kaolaolao (莜面栲栳栳 or 攸面栲栳栳), are small hand-rolled pieces of naked-oat dough, steamed in a basket and dipped in sauce.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
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Fish-Shaped Oat Noodles 莜面鱼鱼AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Fish-Shaped Oat Noodles (莜面鱼鱼) are a hand-shaped form of oat dough eaten in Zhangjiakou (张家口). The flour comes from naked oats, a crop suited to the region’s cool, dry conditions.
Read the dish guide →
Chaigoubao smoked pork 柴沟堡熏肉AI illustration · AI 示意图
Smoke is the first impression, followed by salty meat and softer fatty layers. Bread or a plain staple moderates the concentrated flavor.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Yangyuan Flaky Baked Pastry 阳原圪渣饼AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Yangyuan Flaky Baked Pastry (阳原圪渣饼) is a thin, sweet, crisp pastry associated with Chuaigutuan (揣骨疃) in Yangyuan County (阳原县). Its local name refers to guoba (锅巴), the crisp crust formed in a cooking pot.
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Huai'an Tofu Skin 怀安豆腐皮Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Huai'an Tofu Skin (怀安豆腐皮) is the paper-thin soybean sheet of Huai'ancheng (怀安城) in Huai'an County (怀安县), Zhangjiakou (张家口), Hebei.
Read the dish guide →
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Yuxian Yellow Millet Cake 蔚县黄糕AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Yuxian Yellow Millet Cake (蔚县黄糕) is made from sticky yellow millet flour in Yu County (蔚县), Zhangjiakou (张家口). The grain is hulled and ground before cooking.
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Bashang Hand-Held Boiled Mutton 坝上手把肉
Bashang Hand-Held Boiled Mutton (坝上手把肉) is a regional mutton dish also found in Zhangbei (张北), within Zhangjiakou (张家口).
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Xuanhua Steamed Naked-Oat Rolls 宣化油面窝窝AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Xuanhua Steamed Naked-Oat Rolls (宣化油面窝窝) are small hand-rolled pieces of naked-oat flour, steamed in steamer baskets and dipped in a mushroom sauce, from Xuanhua (宣化), a district of Zhangjiakou (张家口) in Hebei.
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (10)
- Steamed Naked-Oat Rolls · 莜面窝窝
- Fish-Shaped Oat Noodles · 莜面鱼鱼
- Chaigoubao smoked pork · 柴沟堡熏肉
- Yangyuan Flaky Baked Pastry · 阳原圪渣饼
- Huai'an Tofu Skin · 怀安豆腐皮
- Yuxian Yellow Millet Cake · 蔚县黄糕
- Bashang Hand-Held Boiled Mutton · 坝上手把肉
- Xuanhua Steamed Naked-Oat Rolls · 宣化油面窝窝
- Zhangbei Whole Roast Lamb · 张北烤全羊
- Zhuolu Raisin Flatbread · 涿鹿葡萄干饼
More dishes from across Hebei are in the Hebei food guide.
Counties & districts in Zhangjiakou
16 areas belong directly to Zhangjiakou.
16 areas
Qiaodong District 桥东区
Qiaodong District (simplified Chinese: 桥东区; traditional Chinese: 橋東區; pinyin: Qiáodōng Qū; lit. 'East of the Bridge') is a district and the seat of the city of Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictQiaoxi District 桥西区
Qiaoxi District (simplified Chinese: 桥西区; traditional Chinese: 橋西區; pinyin: Qiáoxi Qū; lit. 'West of the Bridge') is a district of the city of Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China.
Explore the area →DistrictXuanhua District 宣化区
Xuanhua is an urban district of Zhangjiakou in northwestern Hebei Province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictXiahuayuan District 下花园区
Xiahuayuan District (simplified Chinese: 下花园区; traditional Chinese: 下花園區; pinyin: Xiàhuāyuán Qū) is a district of the city of Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Wanquan District 万全区
Wanquan (simplified Chinese: 万全区; traditional Chinese: 萬全區; pinyin: Wànquán Qū) is a district of the city of Zhangjiakou, in the northwest of Hebei province, China, located just to the southwest of…
Explore the area →DistrictChongli District 崇礼区
Chongli District is a district of Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China. By road, it is 241 kilometres (150 mi) from Beijing.
Explore the area →CountyZhangbei County 张北县
Zhangbei County (simplified Chinese: 张北县; traditional Chinese: 張北縣; pinyin: Zhāngběi Xiàn), in northwestern Hebei province, China, is a county formerly in the Chahar province.
Explore the area →CountyKangbao County 康保县
Kangbao County (simplified Chinese: 康保县; traditional Chinese: 康保縣; pinyin: Kāngbǎo Xiàn) is a county in the northwest of Hebei province, China.
Explore the area →CountyGuyuan County 沽源县
Guyuan County (simplified Chinese: 沽源县; traditional Chinese: 沽源縣; pinyin: Gūyuán Xiàn) is a county under the administration of Zhangjiakou, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
Explore the area →CountyShangyi County 尚义县
Shangyi County (simplified Chinese: 尚义县; traditional Chinese: 尚義縣; pinyin: Shàngyì Xiàn) is a county in the northwest of Hebei province, China.
Explore the area →CountyYuxian 蔚县
Yu County, also known by its Chinese name Yuxian, is a county under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Zhangjiakou in northwestern Hebei province, China. Yuzhou town (蔚州镇) is the county seat.
Explore the area →CountyYangyuan County 阳原县
Yangyuan County is a county in Zhangjiakou Prefecture, Hebei Province, China.
Explore the area →CountyHuai'an County 怀安县
Huai'an County (simplified Chinese: 怀安县; traditional Chinese: 懷安縣; pinyin: Huái'ān Xiàn) is a county in the northwest of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Zhangjiakou City.
Explore the area →CountyHuailai County 怀来县
Huailai (simplified Chinese: 怀来县; traditional Chinese: 懷來縣; pinyin: Huáilái Xiàn) is a county in northwestern Hebei province, People's Republic of China, under the administration of the prefecture-level city…
Explore the area →CountyZhuolu County 涿鹿县
Zhuolu County (simplified Chinese: 涿鹿县; traditional Chinese: 涿鹿縣; pinyin: Zhuōlù Xiàn) is a county in the northwest of Hebei province, bordering Beijing's Mentougou District to the east.
Explore the area →CountyChicheng County 赤城县
Chicheng, or Ch’ih-ch’eng, is a county under the administration of Zhangjiakou City, northwestern Hebei province, bordering Beijing to the southeast.
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 张家口市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Dajingmen and Xuanhua are about 30 km apart in a straight line. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Hebei →More in Hebei
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 张家口市 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo: Dajingmen · Wangyunfeng · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and WebP compressed; subject not altered.
Photo: Xuanhua · Vikarna · CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
Photo: Genting Snow Park · N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportionally resized and converted to WebP without cropping, retouching or changing the photographed subject.
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Photo: Xuanhua Museum · Vikarna · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Grassland Sky Road · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Jimingyi Post Town · Zeus1234 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Luanhe Shenyun Scenic Area · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Nuanquan Old Town · HaziiDozen · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; EXIF orientation normalized, proportionally resized to at most 800 pixels and converted to WebP. No generated pixels or subject changes. Cards may crop the display.
Photo: Yuzhou Old Town · HaziiDozen · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; EXIF orientation normalized, proportionally resized to at most 800 pixels and converted to WebP. No generated pixels or subject changes. Cards may crop the display.
Photo: Haituo Valley · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
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