Hebei Administrative Divisions

Hebei Province (河北省), historically known as the Land of Yan and Zhao (燕赵大地), surrounds Beijing and Tianjin and extends from the Inner Mongolian Plateau to the Bohai Sea. Covering approximately 188,800 square kilometres, the province contains plateau, mountain, hill, plain, lake, wetland, coastal and semi-desert landscapes, making it a compact geographical representation of northern China.

Hebei’s terrain descends from northwest to southeast. The Bashang Plateau (坝上高原) and the Yanshan and Taihang mountains dominate the north and west, while the central and southeastern areas belong mainly to the North China Plain. The province also contains the Baiyangdian wetlands, Hengshui Lake, the Bohai coastline and important sections of the Great Wall.

Hebei’s tourism authority promotes the province as a “condensed national geography textbook” because its territory combines seven major landscape types. Provincial inbound routes now connect the Great Wall, imperial heritage, ancient cities, grasslands, winter sports, coastal resorts, wetlands and the Taihang Mountains.

Current Administrative Structure of Hebei

As of 30 June 2026, Hebei had:

These totals were unchanged from the figures released for 31 December 2025.

Hebei follows the general Chinese administrative structure:

Province → prefecture-level city → county-level division → township-level division

County-level divisions include urban districts, county-level cities, ordinary counties and autonomous counties. Township-level divisions include subdistricts, towns, townships, ethnic townships and one remaining district office.

Special Administrative Arrangements

Dingzhou and Xinji

Dingzhou City (定州市) and Xinji City (辛集市) are county-level cities that exercise province-administered management functions. In national administrative codes and some statistical tables, Xinji may still appear under Shijiazhuang and Dingzhou under Baoding, but provincial planning and departmental documents frequently list them separately from the 11 prefecture-level cities.

For clarity, the complete county-level table below retains their conventional coded relationships while identifying both as province-administered county-level cities.

Xiong’an New Area

Xiong’an New Area (雄安新区) is a national-level new area established in 2017. It principally administers Xiong County (雄县), Rongcheng County (容城县) and Anxin County (安新县) and coordinates development around Baiyangdian Lake. The three counties remain statutory county-level divisions and continue to appear in the complete Hebei county list, although many administrative and development functions are exercised by the Xiong’an New Area authorities.

Development Zones and Management Areas

Economic development zones, high-tech zones, the Bohai New Area, Caofeidian industrial areas and other management zones may exercise local administrative functions, but they are not necessarily independent statutory county-level divisions.

The North China Oilfield area (华北油田地区) also has specialised management arrangements. It is not counted as an additional county-level administrative division in the official total of 167.

Hebei Tourism Geography

Taihang Mountain Cultural Tourism Belt

The Hebei section of the Taihang Mountains connects Zhangjiakou, Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai and Handan. Its tourism resources include Baishi Mountain, Zhangshiyan, Xingtai Grand Canyon, Jingniang Lake, ancient mountain roads, traditional villages and revolutionary heritage sites.

Hebei is developing this corridor around mountain ecology, outdoor recreation, geological education, traditional culture and rural revitalisation. The provincial tourism strategy identifies Zhengding, Pingshan, Yi County, She County and Wu’an among the leading tourism counties associated with the Taihang region.

Great Wall and Imperial Heritage

Hebei contains some of the most significant sections of the Great Wall, including Shanhaiguan, Laolongtou, Jinshanling and mountain sections in Chengde, Qinhuangdao, Zhangjiakou and northern Baoding.

The province also contains major Qing imperial heritage, including the Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Eastern Qing Tombs and Western Qing Tombs. Hebei has components of four UNESCO World Heritage properties: the Great Wall, Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the Grand Canal.

Coastal and Wetland Tourism

Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Cangzhou form Hebei’s Bohai coastal tourism belt. Key resources include Beidaihe, Shanhaiguan, Changli’s beaches and dunes, Tangshan Bay’s islands, Caofeidian wetlands, Huanghua Port and the ancient shell ridges of Cangzhou.

Baiyangdian in Xiong’an and Hengshui Lake in southern Hebei represent the province’s principal wetland tourism areas. Provincial inbound routes combine coastal recreation, birdwatching, fishing culture, port industries and wetland ecology.

Shijiazhuang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Shijiazhuang (石家庄市) is the provincial capital and Hebei’s principal political, transport and commercial centre. Its eastern territory lies on the North China Plain, while the western counties extend into the Taihang Mountains.

Major tourism resources include Zhengding Ancient City (正定古城), Longxing Temple (隆兴寺), Zhaozhou Bridge (赵州桥), Hebei Museum (河北博物院), Xibaipo (西柏坡), Zhangshiyan National Scenic Area (嶂石岩), Cangyan Mountain (苍岩山) and the ancient route through Jingxing. Provincial tourism programmes particularly promote Zhengding, Xibaipo, Pingshan and the western mountain corridor.

Xinji is listed within the Shijiazhuang coding group in the complete table but is administered directly at the provincial level.

Tangshan Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Tangshan (唐山市) combines industrial heritage, imperial tombs, the Great Wall, wetlands, islands and Bohai coastal landscapes.

Major attractions include Eastern Qing Tombs (清东陵), Tangshan South Lake (唐山南湖), Kailuan National Mine Park (开滦国家矿山公园), Hetou Old Street (河头老街), Luanzhou Ancient City (滦州古城), Qingshan Pass Great Wall, Caofeidian Wetlands and the Tangshan International Tourism Island.

The city’s tourism structure is commonly divided into central industrial culture, northern Great Wall and mountain heritage, and southern coastal, island and wetland tourism.

Qinhuangdao Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Qinhuangdao (秦皇岛市) is Hebei’s best-known coastal resort city. Its administrative territory extends from the Bohai coast to the Yanshan Mountains and the eastern Great Wall.

Major tourism resources include Shanhaiguan Pass (山海关), Laolongtou where the Great Wall meets the sea (老龙头), Beidaihe (北戴河), Changli Gold Coast (昌黎黄金海岸), Aranya (阿那亚), Pigeon Nest Park (鸽子窝公园), Jiaoshan Great Wall and Qinglong’s mountain landscapes.

Beidaihe and Shanhaiguan have developed into major coastal and heritage tourism districts, while Changli and the Beidaihe New Area combine beaches, dunes, wine culture and contemporary resorts.

Handan Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Handan (邯郸市) is associated with the ancient State of Zhao, Chinese idioms, early cities, ceramics, Tai Chi, mythology and revolutionary history.

Major attractions include Guangfu Ancient City (广府古城), the birthplace of Yang- and Wu-style Tai Chi; the Palace of Nüwa (娲皇宫); Xiangtangshan Grottoes (响堂山石窟); Yecheng archaeological sites; Jingniang Lake; East Taihang; the former headquarters of the Eighth Route Army’s 129th Division; and the ancient city of Daming.

The city’s tourism strategy highlights Zhao culture, Cizhou pottery, Tai Chi, Nüwa legends, idiom culture and revolutionary heritage.

Xingtai Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Xingtai (邢台市) extends from the Taihang Mountains to the southern Hebei plain. It combines ancient-city history, geological landscapes, caves, springs and rural heritage.

Major destinations include Xingtai Grand Canyon (邢台大峡谷), Kongshan Baiyun Cave (崆山白云洞), Tianhe Mountain (天河山), Yunmeng Mountain, Jiulong Gorge, Qiannanyu Ecological Area and Bianque Temple (扁鹊庙).

The western counties of Xindu, Lincheng, Neiqiu and Shahe contain most of the mountain and geological tourism resources, while the eastern plain is associated with agriculture, traditional crafts and historic county towns.

Baoding Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Baoding (保定市) surrounds much of Xiong’an and stretches from the central Hebei plain into the northern Taihang Mountains. It is one of the province’s richest areas for mountain, imperial, revolutionary and wetland tourism.

Major attractions include Baishi Mountain (白石山), Yesanpo (野三坡), Western Qing Tombs (清西陵), Langya Mountain (狼牙山), Yishui Lake, the ancient lotus pond and government offices of Baoding, Quyang stone-carving heritage, Anguo traditional Chinese medicine culture and Baiyangdian.

Dingzhou is treated as a province-administered county-level city, while Xiong, Rongcheng and Anxin are managed principally through Xiong’an New Area.

Zhangjiakou Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Zhangjiakou (张家口市) occupies the northwestern gateway of Hebei and includes mountain valleys, the Bashang Plateau and extensive grassland areas.

Major tourism resources include Chongli’s Winter Olympic venues and ski resorts, Grassland Sky Road (草原天路), Zhangbei and Guyuan grasslands, the ancient city of Yuxian, Nuanquan Ancient Town, Jiming Post, the Nihewan archaeological area and the Huangdi City cultural region.

The city is also known for Yuxian paper cutting, traditional tree-flower performances, grassland culture, wine production in Huailai and year-round outdoor sports.

Chengde Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Chengde (承德市) is the centre of Hebei’s Qing imperial, Great Wall, Manchu, Mongolian, forest and grassland tourism.

The Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples (承德避暑山庄及周围寺庙) form a UNESCO World Heritage property combining imperial gardens, palace architecture and religious buildings. Other major destinations include Jinshanling Great Wall, Saihanba National Forest Park, Mulan Paddock, Fengning Bashang Grassland, the National No. 1 Scenic Road and hot-spring areas in Longhua and Luanping.

Chengde’s autonomous counties preserve important Manchu and Mongolian traditions, including festivals, food, music, dress and pastoral customs.

Cangzhou Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Cangzhou (沧州市) lies between the Grand Canal and the Bohai coast. Its cultural identity is strongly associated with martial arts, acrobatics, canal commerce and coastal wetlands.

Major attractions include Wuqiao Acrobatics World and Wuqiao Acrobatics Fantasy City, the Cangzhou Iron Lion, Grand Canal cruises and heritage districts, Hejian Government Office, Nandagang Wetland, Huanghua Port and coastal shell-ridge landscapes.

Cangzhou’s canal culture also supports martial arts, folk performance, traditional crafts and intangible-heritage tourism.

Langfang Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Langfang (廊坊市) lies between Beijing and Tianjin and functions as an important weekend, convention and cultural-tourism destination within the capital region.

Tourism resources include Only Dream of the Red Chamber · Drama Fantasy City (只有红楼梦·戏剧幻城), Shengfang Ancient Town (胜芳古镇), Xianghe’s Grand Canal landscapes, Dachang’s Hui culture, Sanhe’s eastern mountain areas, traditional music associations and modern cultural parks.

Langfang’s proximity to Beijing and Tianjin supports short-break travel, exhibitions, theatrical experiences, family recreation and study tours.

Hengshui Administrative Divisions and Tourism

Hengshui (衡水市) is centred on the Hengshui Lake wetland and the historic cultural region of ancient Jizhou.

Major resources include Hengshui Lake (衡水湖), Jizhou Ancient City archaeological remains, Lüli Ancient Town, Sun Jing Academy, Wuqiang New Year Painting Museum, Zhouwo Music Town, Hou Dian writing-brush culture and Anping’s wire-mesh industry.

Hengshui Lake is particularly important for birdwatching, wetland ecology and environmental study tours, while Wuqiang provides hands-on woodblock New Year print experiences.

Dingzhou Tourism Resources

Dingzhou (定州市) is a province-administered county-level city between Shijiazhuang and Baoding. It was an important regional city in several historical periods.

Major resources include Dingzhou Pagoda, Dingzhou Museum, the former provincial examination hall, the Confucian Temple, Han-period tomb and artefact collections, and traditional Dingzhou Yangge opera.

Dingzhou works well as an extension of a Shijiazhuang–Zhengding–Baoding cultural itinerary.

Xinji Tourism Resources

Xinji (辛集市) is a province-administered county-level city east of Shijiazhuang. It is historically associated with leather production, trade, agriculture and regional folk culture.

Tourism programmes may include industrial visits, leather-design and manufacturing experiences, rural tourism, traditional markets and local food culture. Industrial visits require prior approval and are more suitable for business, vocational and study groups than ordinary sightseeing.

Xiong’an New Area Tourism Resources

Xiong’an New Area (雄安新区) combines contemporary urban planning with the cultural and ecological landscape of Baiyangdian.

Important visitor themes include Baiyangdian wetland ecology, the Xiong’an Citizen Service Center, Millennium Forest, green transport, sponge-city systems, digital urban management and the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

The area is particularly suitable for architecture, urban-planning, sustainability, environmental science and public-policy study tours.

Complete County-Level Administrative Divisions of Hebei

The following table contains all 167 statutory county-level administrative divisions. Xinji and Dingzhou are marked as province-administered cities, while the three core Xiong’an counties are identified within the Baoding group.

County-Level Totals by Prefecture

The totals include the province-administered cities of Dingzhou and Xinji and the three Xiong’an counties.

Township-Level Administrative Divisions

Hebei’s 2,254 township-level units consist of:

The 37 ethnic townships are mainly associated with Manchu, Hui, Mongolian and other ethnic communities in Chengde, Qinhuangdao, Langfang, Cangzhou and several northern or eastern counties.

A literal table containing the names and codes of all 2,254 subdistricts, towns, townships and ethnic townships would run to several thousand rows and is unsuitable for the body of a tourism article. For website publication, the most practical structure is:

• Use the complete 167-unit county-level table in the main article.
• Store the full township-name and administrative-code directory in a separate spreadsheet or searchable database.
• Update the township appendix from the annual administrative-code release of the Hebei Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.

Recommended Administrative Geography and Tourism Routes

Central Hebei Heritage Route

Shijiazhuang–Zhengding–Pingshan–Dingzhou–Baoding

This route connects the provincial capital, ancient Buddhist architecture, Xibaipo revolutionary heritage, Dingzhou’s historic monuments and Baoding’s traditional urban culture.

Great Wall and Imperial Heritage Route

Qinhuangdao–Shanhaiguan–Tangshan–Eastern Qing Tombs–Chengde–Jinshanling

The itinerary combines the Great Wall’s coastal beginning, imperial mausoleums, mountain fortifications and the Chengde imperial summer complex.

Taihang Mountain Route

Zhangjiakou–Baoding–Shijiazhuang–Xingtai–Handan

This longer route follows Hebei’s western mountain corridor through geological parks, ancient roads, revolutionary sites, traditional villages and outdoor destinations.

Bohai Coastal Route

Qinhuangdao–Tangshan–Caofeidian–Huanghua–Cangzhou

The route combines beaches, ports, fishing culture, islands, wetlands, industrial tourism and coastal cuisine.

Grassland and Winter-Sports Route

Zhangjiakou–Chongli–Zhangbei–Guyuan–Fengning–Weichang–Saihanba

Summer programmes focus on grassland, self-driving and outdoor recreation, while winter itineraries emphasise skiing, Winter Olympic venues, snow landscapes and hot springs.

Grand Canal Cultural Route

Langfang–Cangzhou–Hengshui–Handan

This route explores canal towns, commercial history, martial arts, acrobatics, folk art, traditional food and the relationship between waterways and settlement.

Xiong’an and Wetland Route

Baoding–Xiong’an–Baiyangdian–Hengshui Lake

The programme combines historic Baoding, modern urban planning, wetland ecology, water management and sustainable-city development.

Travel Planning Notes

Hebei is geographically large, and many of its leading attractions are outside city centres. Private transport is useful for the Taihang Mountains, grasslands, Great Wall sections, imperial tombs and county-level heritage sites.

High-speed rail is efficient for travel between Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Xiong’an, Zhengding Airport, Zhangjiakou, Chengde, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan, Cangzhou, Xingtai and Handan. A mixed plan using rail between cities and private vehicles for county-level excursions is normally the most practical arrangement.

Spring and autumn are the best general seasons for cultural and mountain travel. Summer is suitable for Beidaihe, Bashang grasslands, Chengde and mountain retreats, while winter is ideal for Chongli skiing, Chengde ice-and-snow activities and hot-spring programmes.