The city of Hebi, formerly known as Chaoge, is a prefecture-level city in Henan Province. It is between the northern foot of the Taihang Mountains to the North China Plain. Hebi is a rather small city by Chinese standards, and it gets fewer visitors than the surrounding cities with their ancient histories and large tourism budgets. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful place to visit, with beautiful views from Dapi Mountain on a clear day and delicious food any day.
Hebi City has a warm temperate semi-humid monsoon climate, with distinct four seasons, abundant sunshine, and significant temperature differences. In spring, it is windy with little rainfall; summer is hot and humid; autumn is cool and refreshing; winter is cold and often foggy. The average annual temperature ranges from 14.2 to 15.5 degrees Celsius.
Hebi's history can be traced back to over 3,000 years ago during the reign of Emperor Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty (1238 BC to 1180 BC). Emperor Wu Ding was the founder of the capital city of Chaoge during the Shang Dynasty. During the Zhou Dynasty, the capital of the largest vassal state, the State of Wei, remained in Chaoge. The 18th ruler of the State of Wei, Duke Yi of Wei, had a fondness for cranes and raised them in various locations including the northwest of the Chaoge palace. Hebi was named after the phrase "cranes perch on the steep cliffs of the southern mountain."
Hebi City is the setting for the story of the "Investiture of the Gods." The ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty, Chaoge, and the capital city of the State of Zhao, Zhongmu, during the Warring States period, were both located in the area of Hebi City. The surnames Lin, Shi, Wei, Kang, and Yin, as well as Korean surnames such as Kang and Qin, originated here. Hebi is an important birthplace of surnames for East Asian ethnic groups.
Hebi is well-connected to the surrounding area by bus, train, and highway. While there is no airport, you can fly into the airport in Zhengzhou and complete your travel by bus or train.
Hebi has a good bus transportation system for a city of its size. There is also an extensive fleet of taxis and smaller vehicles for point-to-point transportation.
Hebidong Railway StationHebidong Railway Station (鹤壁东站), At the intersection of Chaoge Road and Taishan Road in the southern part of the New District of Hebi City, Henan Province. (updated Apr 2024)
Hebi Railway Station (鹤壁站), The western section of Liyang Road in Qibin District, Hebi City, Henan Province. (updated Apr 2024)
You can take a coach from Hebi New District Long-Distance Bus Station to Zhengzhou Airport. The ticket price is 70 yuan. There are two buses available, departing at 07:00 and 13:30 respectively. To get from the airport to Hebi, according to the airport signs, you can take the airport shuttle bus to Hebi at Gate GTC on the 2nd floor. The ticket price is also 70 yuan, and there are two buses available, departing at 10:40 and 16:40 respectively.
Hebi City has a total of 4 long-distance bus stations. The Hebi Qibin Bus Station(鹤壁市淇滨汽车站), located in Hebi's New District, operates buses to destinations within the province as well as neighboring suburban counties. Additionally, it offers provincial-level services to Beijing, Qingdao, Handan, and Tianjin. The Hebi Changfeng Bus Station(鹤壁市长风汽车站), situated in Hebi's old urban area, operates buses to destinations within the province. It also offers long-distance services to Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, and Tianjin. The Xunxian Bus Station(浚县汽车站), located in Xunxian County, Hebi, operates buses to suburban areas within the province as well as cities in Shanxi and Shandong provinces. The Qixian Bus Station(淇县汽车站), situated in Qixian County, Hebi, operates buses to destinations within the province as well as to Tianjin and Handan.
The initial fare is 6 yuan for the first 2 kilometers. After the initial 2 kilometers, the daytime fare is 1.6 yuan per kilometer, and the nighttime fare (from 22:00 to 6:00 the next day) is 2 yuan per kilometer. After traveling more than 8 kilometers, the fare for the distance beyond 8 kilometers is 2.4 yuan per kilometer.
No trip to Hebi is complete without trying a zimo (子馍). With egg and meat packed into a pita-like bread and roasted over coals until you buy it, a zimo is the perfect addition to any meal, or buy a few and it can be your whole meal. You can find many street vendors or small restaurants that specialize in zimo or offer them along with other fare.
Hebi Dashaxuan Restaurant (鹤壁大厦轩食府): Located in the downtown area of Hebi, Dashaxuan Restaurant may offer a diverse range of culinary options, including Chinese and Western cuisine.
