Handan (邯郸)

1. Introduction

Handan, abbreviated as Han, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province, People's Republic of China. It is a major city granted local legislative power by the State Council. Located at the southernmost tip of Hebei Province, it derives its name from the Han Mountain ending here and is known as the "Southern Gateway of Hebei." The city borders Xingtai to the north, Liaocheng City of Shandong Province to the east, Anyang and Puyang of Henan Province to the south, and Jinzhong and Changzhi of Shanxi Province to the west. Situated at the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, in the central part of the North China Plain, and at the intersection of Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces, Handan holds a strategically important geographical position. The terrain is higher in the west and lower in the east, with the western part being a mountainous and hilly belt and the eastern part an alluvial plain. Rivers such as the Fuyang River, Zhang River, and Ming River flow from west to east through the city. The municipal government is located in Congtai District.

Handan has a long history and is one of the important cradles of Central Plains civilization. It is a nationally recognized historical and cultural city. As early as 8,000 years ago, the Cishan Culture of the early Neolithic period existed here. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Handan served as the capital of the State of Zhao for over a century, under eight successive rulers, and was the political, cultural, economic, and transportation center of northern China at the time. After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, Handan was ravaged by war and demoted from the capital of Zhao to a prefecture. During the Western Han Dynasty, it shared the reputation of being one of the "Five Great Capitals" alongside Chang'an in Guanzhong, Luoyang in the Central Plains, Linzi in Shandong, and Chengdu in the southwest. From the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, Ye City (present-day Linzhang County) in the southern part of Handan gradually rose to prominence, with forces such as Yuan Shao and Cao Wei occupying it to dominate the realm. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it served as the capital for the Later Zhao, Ran Wei, Former Yan, Eastern Wei, and Northern Qi dynasties. In the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang ordered Ye City to be burned, leading to its destruction. By the Northern Song Dynasty, Daming County in the eastern part of Handan became the "auxiliary capital" of the Northern Song, known as Beijing Daming Prefecture. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Handan was part of Guangping Prefecture and Zhangde Prefecture. In the early years of the Republic of China, Handan was under the Jidao Circuit of Zhili Province. In 1993, with the approval of the State Council, the city and prefecture were merged, and the surrounding counties under the jurisdiction of Handan Prefecture were incorporated into Handan City, forming the present-day Handan City.

Handan is known as the "City of Chinese Idioms." The idiom "Learning to Walk in Handan" (邯郸学步), in a sense, represents the elegance and refinement of the capital of the State of Zhao.

2. Name

The term "Handan" first appeared in the Guliang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, which records: "In the 27th year of Duke Xiang: Therefore, he fled to Jin, weaving silk in Handan, and never spoke of Wei again." However, it does not explain the origin of the name Handan. A commonly accepted theory comes from Yan Shigu's annotation of the Book of Han, which cites Zhang Yan's explanation: the character "Han" derives from the name of a mountain, namely the ancient Han Mountain; "Dan" means the end of a mountain range. Since it was used as the name of a city, the radical "邑" (often appearing as 阝) was added to form "Dan." The general idea is that the Han Mountain ends here, hence the name Handan. The annotation in the Book of Later Han: Annals of Emperor Guangwu similarly states: "Han is the name of a mountain. Dan means end. The Han Mountain ends here. Characters for city names all include the radical '邑,' hence the name." In ancient times, it was called Han.

However, in 1965, the Houma Covenant Texts were unearthed in Houma City, Shanxi Province. These texts are oath documents from the late Spring and Autumn period, recording covenants between Zhao Jianzi, the ruler of the State of Zhao, and his ministers. The texts repeatedly mention Handan, but the written form is actually "Handan" (written as 邯丹). Additionally, other artifacts from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods also demonstrate varied ways of writing Handan: sometimes as "Han公式"; sometimes as "Gandan," because the moment the sun rises above the horizon is called "gan," and the moment it sets below the horizon is called "dan," so Handan is the land of sunrise and sunset, i.e., Gandan; or sometimes as "Handan" (written as 邯单). Therefore, Zhang Yan's annotation in the Book of Han, which explains "dan" as the end of a mountain range, does not clarify the original meaning of "Han公式." Based on historical records, documents, and annotations, the ancient Han Mountain mentioned in texts is likely Zijin Mountain, located northwest of present-day Handan City. This mountain is covered with purplish-red stones. If "Han" or "Gan" refers to the Han Mountain of that time, then the meaning of "dan" likely refers to the color red. Thus, the original meaning of "Han公式" or "Gandan" might have been derived from the purplish-red color of Han Mountain. It was not until the Qin Dynasty that the characters "Handan" (邯郸) appeared and became standardized. This unique Chinese place name, Handan, has remained unchanged for over 2,000 years.

Some scholars also believe that the place name Handan may have originated from the surname Handan. However, it is also possible that the surname derived from the place name.

3. History

3.1 Pre-Qin Period

Legend holds that in ancient times, the goddess Nüwa refined stones to mend the sky and molded clay to create humans at the ancient Zhonghuang Mountain (now the site of the Nüwa Palace) in She County, west of Handan. Consequently, She County is known as the "Hometown of Nüwa Culture" in China.

As early as 8,000 years ago, the ancestors in the Handan region fostered the early Neolithic Cishan Culture in the Wu'an area. The people of the Cishan Culture began cultivating grains, raising poultry, and making production and daily life tools, entering a "civilized society" ahead of their time. The Cishan Culture predates the Yangshao Culture by a thousand years. Moreover, excavations at the Cishan site have uncovered the world's earliest remains of cultivated millet, broomcorn millet, walnuts, and domesticated chickens. This discovery pushes the record of millet cultivation in the Yellow River basin back to 10,000 years ago, filling the historical gap before the Yangshao Culture and providing clues to the origins of China's earliest agriculture, animal husbandry, and pottery-making civilizations. It also prompted a global reassessment of the timeline for millet cultivation in agricultural history.

In the late primitive society, tribes led by the Yellow Emperor, the Yan Emperor, and Chi You engaged in large-scale wars in the Handan region over water resources. In 2080 BC, Yu, the founding ruler of the Xia dynasty, managed flood control in the Jizhou area within the Handan region.

The city of Handan had already emerged by the late Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty initially established its capital at Xing, later moving it to Yin. For centuries, Handan served as a vital territory near the Shang capital. According to the Bamboo Annals, towards the end of the Shang dynasty, the Shang king built detached palaces and lodges in the Handan area. The city's construction dates back over 3,100 years, specifically between 3,050 and 3,100 years ago. The location referred to as "Gan" in oracle bone inscriptions can be further verified and confirmed to be Handan, pushing Handan's urban history back to the reign of King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty (around 3,250 years ago). "Location" here refers to the geographical position.

Strategically located in a contested area, Handan was an important fortress fought over by various states as early as the Spring and Autumn period. During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, Handan belonged to the State of Bei, where Wu Geng, the son of King Zhou of Shang, resided; it later came under the State of Wei. In 661 BC, the Di people captured Handan, destroyed the State of Wei, and ruled Handan for over forty years. In 588 BC, the State of Jin defeated the Di people, and Handan was incorporated into Jin. In 546 BC, after the successful restoration of the State of Wei, a rebellion occurred, and members of the Wei royal family fled to Handan for refuge. This event is recorded in the Guliang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, marking the first mention of the name "Handan" in Chinese historical texts.

In 430 BC, Marquis Wen of Wei moved the Wei capital from Anyi to the Huan River (present-day Jiuxian Village in Wei County) and established Ye City (present-day Linzhang County) as the secondary capital of Wei.

In 387 BC, Marquess Jing of Zhao governed Handan, transforming it into the most prosperous major city north of the Yellow River and a nationally renowned center for iron smelting. In 386 BC, Marquess Jing of Zhao formally moved the capital to Handan and undertook large-scale construction of the Zhao Royal City, which contemporaries called the "Zhao Capital." Handan served as the capital of Zhao for 158 years until the Qin conquest of Zhao. During this period, it was the political, economic, and cultural center of northern China, holding a significant position among the various civilizations of the Yellow River basin. After moving the capital to Handan, successive Zhao rulers worked diligently to strengthen the state. Notably, King Wuling of Zhao built military training grounds such as the Congtai Platform and Chajian Ridge in Handan, enhanced military training, and vigorously implemented reforms promoting the adoption of nomadic clothing and cavalry archery. These efforts propelled Zhao to become one of the seven powerful states during the Warring States period and the only major eastern state capable of rivaling Qin.

In 260 BC, the Battle of Changping erupted between Qin and Zhao, resulting in a devastating defeat for Zhao and marking its decline from prosperity. In 259 BC, Qin attacked Handan, initiating the Battle of Handan. With help from Chu and Wei, Zhao achieved victory but was severely weakened and financially exhausted. In 228 BC, the decisive battle between Qin and Zhao occurred; the Qin general Wang Jian captured Handan, and King Qian of Zhao surrendered. Prince Jia fled to Dai Commandery, established a state there, proclaimed himself King of Dai, and continued leading remnant forces against Qin. Later, Wang Ben (Wang Jian's son) destroyed the State of Dai, captured Prince Jia, leading to the complete fall of Zhao.

3.2 Qin and Han Periods

After Qin unified the realm, it established Handan Commandery, with the former Zhao capital Handan remaining as the commandery seat. All wealthy households within Handan city were relocated to the Qin capital, Xianyang. In 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled against Qin. Wu Chen came to Handan and proclaimed himself King of Zhao. Later, Zhao Xie, a descendant of the Zhao royal family, successfully restored the Zhao state. However, the Qin general Zhang Han captured Handan and razed the Zhao Royal City to ruins.

After the establishment of the Western Han dynasty, the Zhao state was re-established, with Zhang Er enfeoffed as King of Zhao, making Handan his capital. Until the end of the Western Han, Handan remained one of the five major capitals of the empire, with an urban area of 13.6 square kilometers and a population of 150,000. Its handicrafts, commerce, and iron smelting/casting industries were highly developed, earning it the title "Capital of Iron Smelting." It was renowned as "Wealthiest within the Seas, a Famous Metropolis under Heaven." In the late Western Han, peasant uprisings erupted. Wang Lang initiated an uprising in the Handan region in response to the peasant armies. After Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han, raised troops in Hebei, he captured Handan and changed it to Handan County. This marked the first time Handan was downgraded from a royal capital to a county seat, beginning its decline. By the late Eastern Han, Yuan Shao occupied Hebei and established Ye City, which replaced Handan. Ye City gradually prospered.

3.3 Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao based himself in Ye (present-day Linzhang County), initiating Ye City's rise. After the establishment of Cao Wei, Ye was designated as the northern capital, making it the political center of northern China. The construction of the Wei capital was historically famous for its axial symmetry principle, featuring structures like the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, Golden Phoenix Terrace, and Ice Well Terrace. In the late Western Jin, the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians plunged northern China into warfare. Handan was occupied by Xianbei, Jie, and other minority groups, leaving it severely damaged. During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, the former Wei capital at Linzhang (Ye City) subsequently served as the capital for Later Zhao, Ran Wei, Former Yan, and during the Northern Dynasties, Eastern Wei and Northern Qi. This period lasted 364 years and had a profound impact on later eras.

3.4 Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties

In 580 AD, Yuchi Jiong, a Northern Zhou general stationed in Ye, rebelled against Yang Jian but failed. The ancient city of Ye was burned down, completely destroying the city that had been developed since the Cao Wei period. During the late Sui dynasty, Handan became the activity center for the Hebei rebel leader Dou Jiande, who made Guangfu the capital of his Xia state. This was one of only two capitals established by peasant rebel regimes in Chinese history. After the Tang dynasty was founded, Handan belonged to Mingzhou and Cizhou. Weizhou within the region gradually rose to prominence, was renamed Daming Prefecture, and became the "Key Garrison of Hebei" and "Foremost of the Eight Prefectures around the Capital." By 621 AD, Daming, the seat of Weizhou, had become the central city north of the Yellow River.

In 923 AD, Li Cunxu ascended the throne as emperor in Daming, historically known as Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, establishing the Later Tang regime.

3.5 Song and Yuan Periods

In 960 AD, with the establishment of the Song dynasty, which also emphasized agricultural development, Handan experienced rapid growth, leading the north in grain production. The History of Song records: "In the unified geography of the realm, Feixiang stands alone as the prime example." Daming Prefecture served as the administrative seat of Hebei Circuit. To resist Liao invasions, the Song promoted Daming Prefecture to a secondary capital supporting the eastern capital Bianliang (present-day Kaifeng), calling it "Beijing Daming Prefecture." At that time, Daming Prefecture's population reached one million, with merchants from the Western Regions coming and going in an endless stream. In the late Northern Song, the Jin invaded the Central Plains. People in the present-day Handan area joined Wang Yan's "Eight Character Army" in the Taihang Mountains to resist the Jin, a struggle lasting decades until Wanyan Liang's southern invasion. Due to prolonged warfare, the Handan region gradually declined and was later submerged by floods. The ruins of the Song-era Handan city, now preserved intact under four meters of Yellow River silt, remain.

After the Jin dynasty was destroyed by the Mongol Empire, Handan was incorporated into Mongol territory. In the early Yuan dynasty, Handan was placed under the jurisdiction of the Central Secretariat, belonging to the capital region of Dadu. In the late Yuan, the Handan area suffered from river floods and locust plagues, causing immense hardship for the people.

3.6 Ming and Qing Periods

In 1368, with the establishment of the Ming dynasty, the present-day Handan area belonged to Guangping Prefecture and Daming Prefecture under the Beiping Provincial Administration Commission (renamed Beizhili after the Yongle Emperor moved the capital). Zhu Yuanzhang implemented a migration policy, relocating "poor people from Shanxi to Daming and Guangping," beginning to change Handan's decline since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

In the late Ming, people in the present-day Handan area launched uprisings influenced by Liu Qi and Li Zicheng. In 1644, after the Qing army entered the Shanhai Pass and moved into the Central Plains, people in this area, led by Zhang Zhibang, engaged in resistance, which was met with massacres by Qing forces. The Qing dynasty followed the Ming system, still calling the area Zhili, with Daming Prefecture as the location of the Zhili Governor-General. Handan County remained under the jurisdiction of Guangping Prefecture. During the Ming and Qing periods, Guangping Prefecture city was the political and economic center of southern Hebei and northern Henan.

3.7 Modern Era

In 1912, with the establishment of the Republic of China, Handan belonged to the Jinnan Circuit of Zhili Province. In 1928, Zhili Province was renamed Hebei Province, and Handan came directly under provincial jurisdiction. During the Beiyang warlord period, Handan became a focal point of contention between the Zhili and Anhui cliques. In 1927, the Communist Party branch of the Seventh Normal School was established in Handan. In the same year, the Central Plains War broke out, plunging Handan into warfare once again. By the mid-1940s, it had declined to a commercial town with a built-up area of just over 1 square kilometer and a population of about 28,000. In 1945, after victory in the eight-year War of Resistance Against Japan, Handan was established as a city, serving as the seat of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region Government. In 1949, it was downgraded to a town but remained the seat of the Handan Special District administration.

On December 22, 1952, it was reinstated as a city. In 1954, it became a province-administered city. In 1956, Fengfeng City was merged into Handan City. In 1983, Handan County was merged into Handan City. In 1984, it was reclassified as a province-administered city. In 1986, Wu'an County (later Wu'an City) was placed under Handan City's jurisdiction. In 1993, with State Council approval, the Handan Prefecture was abolished, implementing a merger of prefecture and city. The counties under the former Handan Prefecture were placed under the jurisdiction of Handan City, which was then called Handan City. In 2016, according to the State Council Reply on Approving the Adjustment of Some Administrative Divisions of Handan City, Hebei Province, Feixiang County, Yongnian County, and Handan County were abolished, and Feixiang District and Yongnian District were established. The former Handan County territory was divided into Hanshan District.After the 1980s, it developed rapidly and has now surpassed Tangshan in the production of daily-use ceramics, becoming the largest porcelain capital in northern China. The mural in the waiting hall of Handan Railway Station depicts historical idiom stories related to Handan, including: "Adopting Hu Clothing and Mounted Archery," "Carrying Thorny Twigs to Ask for Punishment," "Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao," "Learning to Walk in Handan," and "Golden Millet Dream." Hence, Handan is also known as the "Hometown of Idioms and Allusions." Due to the presence of the Golden Millet Dream Town (the location where the idiom "Golden Millet Dream" originated), it is also referred to as the "Dream City."

4. Geography

4.1 Location

Handan is situated at the junction of the four provinces of Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan. As the only megacity in this region, it holds a significant locational advantage.

4.2 Topography

The terrain of Handan descends stepwise from west to east, with a considerable elevation difference and complex, diverse landforms. Bounded by the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, the western part features mid- and low-mountain hilly topography, while the eastern part lies within the North China Plain. The highest elevation is 1,898.7 meters, and the lowest is 32.7 meters. The city borders the Taihang Mountains to the west and is traversed by the Fuyang River, whose tributaries—the Mangniu River, Qin River, Zhu River, and Shuyuan River—all flow through the urban area.

4.3 Climate

Handan has a temperate semi-humid monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 13.8°C, with average precipitation around 550 mm and a frost-free period of 180–200 days. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record high °C | 19.7 | 25.3 | 31.7 | 37.9 | 40.0 | 43.6 | 42.0 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 33.5 | 28.6 | 28.4 | 43.6 | | Record high °F | 67.5 | 77.5 | 89.1 | 100.2 | 104.0 | 110.5 | 107.6 | 99.0 | 104.2 | 92.3 | 83.5 | 83.1 | 110.5 | | Average high °C | 4.1 | 8.2 | 14.3 | 22.0 | 27.3 | 32.1 | 32.1 | 30.6 | 27.0 | 21.4 | 12.8 | 6.0 | 19.8 | | Average high °F | 39.4 | 46.8 | 57.7 | 71.6 | 81.1 | 89.8 | 89.8 | 87.1 | 80.6 | 70.5 | 55.0 | 42.8 | 67.7 | | Daily mean °C | -0.9 | 2.7 | 8.5 | 15.8 | 21.4 | 26.2 | 27.3 | 26.0 | 21.5 | 15.3 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 14.3 | | Daily mean °F | 30.4 | 36.9 | 47.3 | 60.4 | 70.5 | 79.2 | 81.1 | 78.8 | 70.7 | 59.5 | 44.6 | 33.8 | 57.8 | | Average low °C | -4.8 | -1.7 | 3.5 | 10.3 | 15.7 | 20.7 | 23.2 | 22.1 | 17.0 | 10.5 | 2.6 | -2.8 | 9.7 | | Average low °F | 23.4 | 28.9 | 38.3 | 50.5 | 60.3 | 69.3 | 73.8 | 71.8 | 62.6 | 50.9 | 36.7 | 27.0 | 49.5 | | Record low °C | -15.0 | -14.4 | -6.1 | 0.0 | 7.7 | 11.5 | 16.5 | 13.7 | 5.4 | -1.0 | -11.4 | -12.7 | -15.0 | | Record low °F | 5.0 | 6.1 | 21.0 | 32.0 | 45.9 | 52.7 | 61.7 | 56.7 | 41.7 | 30.2 | 11.5 | 9.1 | 5.0 | | Average precipitation mm | 3.1 | 6.3 | 13.4 | 19.2 | 44.2 | 49.1 | 133.8 | 138.1 | 50.0 | 29.7 | 11.8 | 3.1 | 501.8 | | Average precipitation inches | 0.12 | 0.25 | 0.53 | 0.76 | 1.74 | 1.93 | 5.27 | 5.44 | 1.97 | 1.17 | 0.46 | 0.12 | 19.76 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 57 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 59 | 58 | 74 | 76 | 71 | 65 | 64 | 61 | 62 |

4.4 Hydrology

Handan City is home to numerous rivers and lakes, with over 20 major rivers and tributaries. The main rivers include the Fuyang River, Zhang River, Ming River, and Wei River, all of which belong to the Haihe River Basin.

4.5 Resources

Handan City is rich in resources, boasting abundant coal and iron reserves. The coal and iron ore reserves amount to 4 billion tons and 480 million tons, respectively, earning it the reputation as a modern "Steel City" and "Coal Capital." Over 40 types of mineral resources have been identified. Handan is not only an important production base for coking coal and steel in Hebei Province but also a significant production hub for electricity, textiles, coal, building materials, and other industries in mainland China. Its grain output ranks among the highest in Hebei Province, and it is often referred to as the "Granary of the North" and the "Cotton Sea of Southern Hebei."

5. Administrative Divisions

Handan City currently administers 6 municipal districts, 11 counties, and manages 1 county-level city on behalf of the provincial government. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 1, Liantong North Road, Handan City.

• Municipal Districts: Hanshan District, Congtai District, Fuxing District, Fengfeng Mining District, Feixiang District, Yongnian District
• County-level City: Wu'an City
• Counties: Linzhang County, Cheng'an County, Daming County, She County, Ci County, Qiu County, Jize County, Guangping County, Guantao County, Wei County, Quzhou County

Additionally, Handan City has established the following economic management zones: National-level Handan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jinan New Area, Hebei Zhanghe Economic Development Zone.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Permanent Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------------|----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 130400 | Handan City | Hándān Shì | 12,065.47 | 9,413,890 | Congtai District | 056000 | 30 | 120 | 92 | 2 | | 130402 | Hanshan District | Hánshān Qū | 429.66 | 837,419 | Huomo Subdistrict | 056000 | 11 | 5 | 5 | | | 130403 | Congtai District | Cóngtái Qū | 401.67 | 866,611 | Congtaixi Subdistrict | 056000 | 10 | 3 | 6 | | | 130404 | Fuxing District | Fùxīng Qū | 249.83 | 367,961 | Shengliqiao Subdistrict | 056000 | 7 | 2 | 3 | | | 130406 | Fengfeng Mining District | Fēngfēng Kuàng Qū | 320.78 | 429,245 | Fuyangdonglu Subdistrict | 056200 | 1 | 9 | | | | 130407 | Feixiang District | Féixiāng Qū | 502.55 | 372,265 | Feixiang Town | 057500 | | 5 | 4 | | | 130408 | Yongnian District | Yǒngnián Qū | 760.61 | 881,227 | Linmingguan Town | 057100 | | 9 | 8 | | | 130423 | Linzhang County | Línzhāng Xiàn | 741.79 | 588,003 | Linzhang Town | 056600 | | 7 | 7 | | | 130424 | Cheng'an County | Chéng'ān Xiàn | 480.70 | 401,052 | Cheng'an Town | 056700 | | 5 | 4 | | | 130425 | Daming County | Dàmíng Xiàn | 1,053.39 | 726,396 | Daming Town | 056900 | | 10 | 10 | 1 | | 130426 | She County | Shè Xiàn | 1,499.43 | 379,559 | Ping'an Subdistrict | 056400 | 1 | 8 | 8 | | | 130427 | Ci County | Cí Xiàn | 715.51 | 440,728 | Cizhou Town | 056500 | | 6 | 6 | | | 130430 | Qiu County | Qiū Xiàn | 448.63 | 210,998 | Xinmatou Town | 057400 | | 5 | 2 | 1 | | 130431 | Jize County | Jīzé Xiàn | 336.19 | 297,425 | Jize Town | 057300 | 4 | 3 | | | | 130432 | Guangping County | Guǎngpíng Xiàn | 313.54 | 264,025 | Guangping Town | 057500 | 7 | | | | | 130433 | Guantao County | Guǎntáo Xiàn | 452.74 | 307,912 | Guantao Town | 057700 | 4 | 4 | | | | 130434 | Wei County | Wèi Xiàn | 863.75 | 796,806 | Weicheng Town | 056800 | 12 | 9 | | | | 130435 | Quzhou County | Qǔzhōu Xiàn | 676.68 | 468,727 | Quzhou Town | 057200 | 6 | 4 | | | | 130481 | Wu'an City | Wǔ'ān Shì | 1,818.05 | 811,631 | Wu'an Town | 056300 | 13 | 9 | | |

6. Economy

The region boasts abundant reserves of coal and iron ore, making it one of China's renowned production areas for coking coal, thermal coal, and iron ore. These resources are primarily distributed in Wu'an City, Fengfeng Mining District, Ci County, Handan County, She County, and Yongnian District, all located in the western mountainous areas. Handan also enjoys a highly developed commercial sector. While the municipal government vigorously promotes strategic emerging industries and modern service industries, it has also accelerated the development of other projects. In 2015, the Handan Economic Development Zone was upgraded to a national-level economic and technological development zone.

7. Transportation

7.1 Railway

The main railways within the area include the Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, Handan–Changzhi Railway, Handan–Jinan Railway, Handan–Huanghua Railway, Shahe–Wujin Railway, Maji–Cishan Railway, and Yangquan–Shexian Railway.

Currently, the railway stations handling passenger services within Handan City are:

• Hanshan District: Handan Station
• Congtai District: Handan East Station
• Wu'an City: Wu'an Station, Kangcheng Station, Wuji Station, Cishan Station, Paihuaibei Station, Xinguzhen Station, Shilidian Station, Yangyi Station
• Shexian County: Shexian Station, Douzhuang Station, Piandian Station, Jingdian Station, Xuanzhong Station
• Guangping County: Guangping Station

7.2 Highway

National Expressways G4 Beijing–Hong Kong–Macau Expressway, G22 Qingdao–Lanzhou Expressway, G45 Daqing–Guangzhou Expressway

Provincial Expressways S75 Taihang Mountain Expressway, S82 Handan–Guan Expressway, Handan Ring Expressway

National Highways National Highway 106, National Highway 107, National Highway 230, National Highway 234, National Highway 309, National Highway 514, National Highway 515

7.3 Aviation

The area is served by the civil Handan Airport, located southwest of Handan City, covering an area of 133.33 hectares. Currently classified as a 4C-level regional airport, it features a runway 2,600 meters long and 45 meters wide, capable of accommodating medium-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A319/A320. Handan Airport has currently opened routes to multiple cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Harbin, Hangzhou, Zhangjiakou, Chengdu, Dalian, Xiamen, Shenyang, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Haikou, Chongqing, and Hohhot.

7.4 Public Transportation

By the end of 2023, the main urban area had a total of 1,640 public buses and 4,261 taxis in operation. Throughout the year, public transportation served a total of 747.8 billion passenger trips.

8. Education

8.1 Higher Education

• Undergraduate Hebei University of Engineering, Handan University, Kexin College of Hebei University of Engineering

• Vocational College Handan Polytechnic College, Hebei Vocational College of Judicial Police Officers, Handan Preschool Teachers College, Handan Vocational College of Science and Technology, Handan Vocational College of Applied Technology

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 9,413,990. Compared with the 9,174,683 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total increase over the ten years was 239,307 people, a growth of 2.61%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.26%. Among them, the male population was 4,706,427, accounting for 49.99% of the total population; the female population was 4,707,563, accounting for 50.01% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 99.98. The population aged 0–14 was 2,416,185, accounting for 25.67% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 5,382,849, accounting for 57.18% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,614,956, accounting for 17.15% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 1,124,913, accounting for 11.95% of the total population. The urban population was 5,485,163, accounting for 58.27% of the total population; the rural population was 3,928,827, accounting for 41.73% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 9,362,057, accounting for 99.45%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 51,933, accounting for 0.55%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic group population increased by 234,239 people, a growth of 2.57%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.04 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 5,068 people, a growth of 10.81%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points.

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10. Culture

10.1 Dialects

Most dialects in the areas surrounding the urban district and in the central and western counties belong to the Jin dialect area. The dialects of Qiuxian County, Guantao County, and Guangping County (east of the county seat) in the eastern part belong to the Jilu Mandarin. The dialects of Daming County and Weixian County (east of the county seat) belong to the Zhongyuan Mandarin area.

10.2 Cuisine

Yongnian: Donkey meat sausage, Guangfu crispy fish, Whole donkey banquet.

Shexian: Dried persimmon cakes, Pepper sprout vegetables, Millet rice, Black steamed buns, Amber walnuts, Bupleurum chicken, Eight big steamed bowls, Wild boar feast, Sturgeon feast, Pickled wild vegetables, Jujube cake, Mixed gravy noodles, Iron-skinned dried tofu, Sour and spicy sweet potato noodles, Hu-style beef.

Wu'an: Donkey meat pancake roll, Starch dough lumps, Tofu skin tied vegetables, Braised noodles, Hand-pulled noodles.

Cixian: Arrowroot starch skin.

Weixian: Big pot stew.

Daming: Crispy baked cake, Fried dough twists, Sesame oil, Ermao roast chicken, Wubaiju sausage, Mutton soup, Lamb offal.

Guangping: Zeng-style pork elbow.

Fengfeng: Fried pig blood cake.

10.3 Idioms

• Pipe Dream
• Learning to Walk in Handan
• Of Gigantic Stature
• Relieving the State of Zhao by Besieging the State of Wei
• Adopting the Hu Clothing and Mounted Archery
• Adversity Reveals True Integrity
• Cannot Be Mentioned in the Same Breath
• Law-Abiding
• A Bird Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bowstring
• When the Snipe and the Clam Grapple, the Fisherman Profits
• Long-Drawn-Out
• Returning the Jade Intact to the State of Zhao
• Worth Several Cities
• Bristling with Anger
• Offering a Humble Apology
• Friendship to the Death
• Two Rats Fighting in a Hole
• Overbearing
• It's Hard to Know a Person
• Profit Blinds One's Better Judgment
• Failing to See the Larger Picture
• Spare No Effort
• Changing One's Old Ways
• Armchair Strategy
• Sticking Rigidly to Rules
• Easier to Defend Than to Attack
• Recommending Oneself
• Friendship Based on Profit
• Hoarding as a Rare Commodity
• The Winter Sun
• The Summer Sun
• Hesitant and Indecisive
• Refusing to Acknowledge Qin as Emperor on Moral Grounds
• Mediating a Dispute
• Stealing the Tiger Tally to Save Zhao
• Fighting with One's Back to the River
• Pulling Up Enemy Flags and Replacing Them with One's Own
• The Point of an Awl Sticking Out Through a Bag
• Relying on Others for Success
• A Silver Tongue
• Holding One's Troops Where They Are
• The Pupil Outdoes the Master
• Attending to Trifles and Neglecting the Essentials
• Throwing an Egg Against a Stone
• Thin Lu Wine Leads to the Siege of Handan
• No One Picks Up Lost Articles on the Road
• Vanish Without a Trace
• Limited View and Shallow Understanding
• Offering a Pig's Trotter for a Good Harvest
• Even the Wise Are Not Always Free from Error
• Restless Yet Settling Oneself
• Dong Hu's Impartial Pen
• The Skin of a Thousand Sheep Is Not Worth the Armpit of One Fox
• Shifting Misfortune to Zhao
• Safe and Sound as Before
• As Solid as a Rock
• A White Horse Is Not a Horse
• Arrogant and Aggressive
• Flaunting One's Abilities
• Draining the Pond to Catch the Fish
• Golden Branches and Jade Leaves
• Smearing the Lips with Blood in Taking an Oath
• Three Thousand Pearl-Adorned Shoes
• Dare-to-Die Warriors
• A Tiny Area
• Helping Qin Attack Oneself
• Sitting Idly While the City Falls
• All Previous Efforts Wasted
• As Famous as Mount Tai
• Sighing with Emotion and Singing Sadly
• Split and Disintegrated
• Talking Vaguely
• The Bright Moon Pearl and the Heshi Jade
• Swallowing Charcoal and Lacquering the Body
• Feeling as If Stabbed in the Heart
• The Water That Bears the Boat Is the Same That Swallows It Up

10.4 Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level

• Xiangtangshan Grottoes
• Ancient City of Handan, Capital of Zhao
• Cishan Site
• Yecheng Site
• Northern Dynasties Tombs in Cixian County
• Cizhou Kiln Site
• Wa Huang Gong (Empress Wa Palace) and Stone Carvings
• Site of the Eighth Route Army 129th Division Headquarters
• Mausoleums of the Kings of Zhao
• Shibeikou Site
• Jiangwucheng Site
• Ancient City of Damingfu
• Mountain Gate of Chengtang Temple
• Hongji Bridge
• Yongnian City
• Zhifang Jade Emperor Pavilion
• Five Rites Stele
• Site of the Central Bureau of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region and Military Area Command of the Communist Party of China
• Nancheng Village Site
• Jiangou Site
• Ancient City Site of Guzhen
• Changuo Temple Site
• Lincun Tomb Cluster
• Main Hall of Yuquan Temple
• Main Hall of Changle Dragon King Temple
• Jiujiang Holy Mother Temple
• Eight West Sluice Gates on the Fuyang River
• Main Hall of Tianqing Temple
• Huangliangmeng Lüxian Temple
• Zhushan Stone Carvings
• Shuiyusi Grottoes
• Fahua Cave Grottoes
• Daming Catholic Church
• Site of the Border Region Government of Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan

10.5 Tourism

Handan is a National Historical and Cultural City, the Capital of Chinese Idioms and Allusions, the Hometown of Chinese Tai Chi, and an Excellent Tourist City of China, boasting rich cultural tourism resources.

10.5.1 Tourist Attractions

As of April 26, 2023, Handan City has 33 A-level tourist attractions. Among them:

• 2 are 5A-level attractions: Shexian Wa Huang Gong, Guangfu Ancient City in Yongnian District.
• 17 are 4A-level attractions: Congtai Park in Congtai District, Site of the Eighth Route Army 129th Division Headquarters in Shexian County, Chaoyanggou in Wu'an City, Jingniang Lake Scenic Area in Wu'an City, Dongshan Cultural and Artistic Garden in Wu'an City, Xiangtangshan Scenic Area in Fengfeng Mining District, Zhaoyuan Park in Congtai District, Longevity Village in Wu'an City, Taihang Mountain Wuzhi Mountain Tourism Area in Shexian County, Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Revolutionary Memorial Park in Hanshan District, Qibugou in Wu'an City, Hanwang Jiuzhai Tourist Attraction in Shexian County, Grain Painting Town Tourist Attraction in Guantao County, East Taihang Tourist Attraction in Wu'an City, Congtai Jiuyuan Scenic Area in Feixiang District, Ancient Wudang Mountain Tourist Attraction in Wu'an City, Zhao Wang Impression City Scenic Area in Guangping County, Tianbao Village Scenic Area in Cixian County.
• 10 are 3A-level attractions: Huangliangmeng Lüxian Temple in Congtai District, Yuanbaoshan Scenic Area in Fengfeng Mining District, Cizhou Kiln Museum in Cixian County, Tongque Three Terraces Site Park in Linzhang County, Yeling Park in Linzhang County, Julongshan Lotus Cave in Wu'an City, Tiancifenglin in Wu'an City, Mao Sui Cultural Park in Jize County, Fengjishannan Anti-Japanese Tunnel Scenic Area in Fengkuang District, Daming County Stone Carving Museum.
• 4 are 2A-level attractions: Cizhou Kiln Futian Site in Fengfeng Mining District, Shengjinggang in Fuxing District, Zhanghe River Tourist Resort in Cixian County, Shiliugou in Wu'an City.
• There are also a number of high-quality tourist attractions not rated as A-level, such as Fantawild Oriental Heritage.

10.5.2 National-Level Designations

• 5 National Water Conservancy Scenic Areas: Jingniang Lake Scenic Area in Wu'an City, Dongwushi Reservoir in Cixian County, Pear Town Water City in Weixian County, Yecheng Park in Linzhang County, Guangfu Ancient City in Yongnian District.
• 3 National Wetland Parks: Yongnian Wa in Yongnian District, Qingzhang River in Shexian County, Fuyang River in Fengfeng.
• 2 National Scenic Areas: Xiangtangshan Scenic Area in Fengfeng Mining District, Shexian Wa Huang Gong.
• 2 National Forest Parks: Wu'an National Forest Park in Wu'an City, Xiangtangshan National Forest Park in Fengfeng Mining District.
• 1 National Geological Park: Wu'an Geological Park in Wu'an City.

10.5.3 Cultural Relics Protection Units

The city currently has 40 Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level, 108 provincial-level key protected sites, and 321 municipal-level protected sites. There are 13 state-owned museums (memorial halls), housing 60,675 movable cultural relics/sets (including 139 Grade I, 294 Grade II, and 2,906 Grade III items/sets), making it a major city for cultural relics ranking among the top in Hebei Province.

10.5.4 Intangible Cultural Heritage

1 World Intangible Cultural Heritage item: [The Grand Canal]; Yang-style Tai Chi and Wu-style Tai Chi are inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; the city has 27 items on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List [with 2 more having completed public notice, pending announcement by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism], and 116 items on the Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.

10.5.5 Famous Historical and Cultural Towns and Villages

5 Chinese Famous Historical and Cultural Towns: [Guangfu Town in Yongnian District, Dashe Town in Fengfeng Mining District, Guxin Town in Shexian County, Yetao Town in Wu'an City, Boyan Town in Wu'an City]. 7 Chinese Famous Historical and Cultural Villages: [Piancheng Village in Piancheng Town, Shexian County; Huatuo Village in Taoquan Township, Cixian County; Dahezhuang Village in Wuji Town, Wu'an City; Shilidian Village in Shidong Township, Wu'an City; Yuanqu Village in Guxin Town, Shexian County; Nanwangzhuang Village in Taoquan Township, Cixian County; Beichakou Village in Taoquan Township, Cixian County]. 44 Traditional Chinese Villages. 3 Hebei Province Famous Historical and Cultural Towns: [Yangyi Town in Wu'an City, Tiantaishan Town in Feixiang District, Jintan Town in Daming County]. 11 Hebei Province Famous Historical and Cultural Villages. 2 National-Level Historical and Cultural Blocks: [Chuancheng Street in Congtai District, Xinhua Street in Fengfeng Mining District]. 4 Provincial-Level Historical and Cultural Blocks: [East Street in Daming County, South Street in Daming County, South Gate Aijiakou in Daming County, Qinglong Street in Jintan Town, Daming County].

10.5.6 All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zones

2 National All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zones: [Shexian County, Wu'an City]. Fengfeng Mining District is a Hebei Province All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zone.

10.5.7 Key Rural Tourism Villages

The city currently has 5 National Key Rural Tourism Villages: [Shoudong Village in Guantao County, Liujia Village in Jingdian Town, Shexian County, Houchi Village in Guanfang Township, Shexian County, Xiaodi Village in Heshazhen, Hanshan District, Donghe Village in Hecun Town, Fengfeng Mining District]. 16 Hebei Province Key Rural Tourism Villages.

10.5.8 Star-Rated Hotels

The city currently has 23 star-rated hotels, including 1 five-star [Wu'an Fortune Building], 10 four-star, 7 three-star, and 5 two-star hotels, with a total of 4,538 beds.

10.5.9 Travel Agencies

The city currently has 78 travel head offices, 50 branches, and 344 retail outlets.

10.5.10 Entertainment Venues

The city currently has 252 internet service venues and 144 KTVs.

10.5.11 Cultural Venues

The city has built 19 public libraries, including 5 National First-Class Libraries; 19 public cultural centers, including 9 National First-Class Cultural Centers. There are 242 township (street) comprehensive cultural stations and 5,396 village (community) comprehensive cultural service centers.

10.5.12 Art Performances

The city has a total of 84 art performance troupes, including 17 publicly-owned ones; 11 art performance venues, including 10 publicly-owned ones.

10.5.13 Industrial Demonstration Parks and Bases

The city currently has 4 provincial-level cultural industry demonstration parks and 14 provincial-level cultural industry demonstration bases.

11. Sister Cities

Domestic

• Xiamen City, Fujian Province (established December 1984)
• Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province
• Foshan City, Guangdong Province
• Zhengzhou City, Henan Province
• Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
• Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
• Tianshui City, Gansu Province
• Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
• Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (established January 2, 2008)
• Chaoyang District, Beijing (established March 12, 2009)

International

• Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
• Miryang City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
• Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine
• Padua, Veneto, Italy (established May 18, 1988)
• Haute-Vienne Department, Limousin Region, France (established September 17, 1991)
• Saiki City, Ōita Prefecture, Japan (established April 3, 1994)
• Dubuque, Iowa, United States (established November 8, 1995)
• Inari, Lapland Region, Finland

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Named because the Han Mountain ends here.

Congtai District

Congtai District

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Plane tree, Chinese scholar tree

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