[2025 Anxin Attraction] Travel Guide for Lotus Grand View Garden (Updated Jul)

🌟Hebei Province Baiyangdian Scenic Area Travel Guide🌟 📍Location and Transportation • Location: Baiyangdian Scenic Area is located on Tourism West Road, Anxin County, Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province. • Transportation: • 🚂High-speed Rail: Arrive first at Baoding East Station or Xiong'an Station, then transfer by bus or taxi. • 🚌Bus: Direct buses to Anxin are available from Beijing Liuliqiao and Tianjin West Station; transfer to a shuttle bus after arriving in the county. • 🚗Self-driving: Navigate to "Baiyangdian Scenic Area," take the Jinggang'ao Expressway or Daguang Expressway for a smooth drive. 🎫Tickets and Opening Hours • Tickets: All-in-one ticket 185 RMB (includes boat ticket + 5 major attractions), Eco-tour 80 RMB (boat ticket + entry fee), discounts for students and seniors. • Opening Hours: Open year-round from 08:00 to 18:00, with slight adjustments in summer and winter. 🗺️Recommended Itineraries • One-day Tour: • Morning: Visit Lotus Grand View Garden to admire 666 varieties of lotus flowers, climb the Lotus Viewing Tower for panoramic views, perfect for photos. • Afternoon: Go to Baiyangdian Cultural Park, visit the Yanling Team Memorial Hall to learn about the Anti-Japanese War history. • Two-day Tour: • Day 1: Morning lotus viewing, afternoon stay at a fisherman's homestay to experience water town life, fall asleep to the sound of frogs. • Day 2: Morning visit Gazi Village to trace red revolutionary memories, afternoon enjoy Leisure Island, and watch the stunning sunset at Mandarin Duck Island in the evening. 🏖️Must-Visit Attractions • Lotus Grand View Garden: Lotus blooms in July and August, truly spectacular; also features a Wetland Culture Museum and Anti-Japanese War themed exhibits, great for family and educational trips. • Baiyangdian Cultural Park: Includes the Yanling Team Memorial Hall and Kangxi Water Enclosure Palace, offering a deep sense of historical and cultural heritage. • Mandarin Duck Island: Features cormorant fishing performances, water town wedding customs shows, and beautiful views of the lake area. • Happy Island: Offers crocodile shows and stunt driving; thrill-seekers should not miss it. 🍲Food Recommendations • Whole Fish Feast: A variety of fresh fish dishes including stewed mixed fish, crispy fish, and fish scale jelly, each bite bursting with freshness. • Red-Yolk Salted Duck Eggs: Eggs from free-range ducks in Baiyangdian, cured to be oily and sandy, very fragrant. • Lotus Leaf Fried Eggs: A limited summer delicacy full of fresh aroma and delicious taste. 🛒Shopping Recommendations • Reed Handicrafts: Baiyangdian is rich in reeds; local handicrafts are exquisite and meaningful souvenirs. • Specialty Local Products: Fresh lotus seed pods, lotus leaf tea, and other local specialties are available for purchase. 🛎️Accommodation Recommendations • Homestays: Recommended to stay at fisherman's homestays built by the water, with windows overlooking lotus ponds and beautiful scenery. • Hotels: For more comfortable accommodations, consider Meiquan World Hot Spring Holiday Hotel, Kaisheng Guobin Hot Spring Resort, and others. 📝Tips • Clothing: In summer, bring sun-protective clothing and light shirts for sun protection; if planning to watch sunrise or sunset, bring a light jacket. • Essentials: Sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellent, and power banks are must-haves; also bring common medicines like stomach medicine and band-aids. • Precautions: • Check the weather in advance; boat experiences are greatly affected by rain. • Life jackets must be worn when on boats; pay attention to safety. • Be cautious with spending inside the scenic area to avoid being overcharged. 🎉Baiyangdian, known as the "Pearl of North China," hides the unique poetry and romance of the northern water town. Come and start your summer fairy tale journey!🎉

Authentic Travel Experience at Baiyangdian: The Liveliness and Poetry of the Northern Water Town To me, Baiyangdian is a hidden gem in the North China Plain. Last summer, I drove there with my parents. During our two-day, one-night trip, we enjoyed the leisurely boating among lotus clusters, the warmth of the fishermen’s daily life, and moments deeply touched by local details. Pre-trip Tips: Practical Guide to Avoid Crowds - Tickets: During peak season, a ticket costs 185 RMB and includes boat rides and access to core attractions. Booking through the “One Ticket Tour” mini-program offers a 10% discount. Students and seniors over 60 should bring ID for half-price tickets at the venue. - Transportation: Self-driving is highly recommended. From Beijing, take the Jinggang’ao Expressway to Jinbao Expressway, about 2.5 hours to Anxin Pier. Parking is capped at 20 RMB/day. If arriving by high-speed train at Baiyangdian Station, you can share a ride (about 20 RMB/person) or take bus No.16 to the pier. - Gear: In summer, bring a wide-brimmed hat, arm sleeves, and mosquito repellent (mosquitoes near the water are fierce!). Wear non-slip shoes as the reed boardwalk can be slippery. In-depth Activities: Local Secrets to Explore - Early Morning at the Lotus Grand View Garden: Enter before 7 AM to avoid tour groups. Rent a small wooden boat (100 RMB/hour) to row deep into the lotus. I saw locals picking lotus leaves as hats and followed suit, unexpectedly capturing the poetic scene of “lotus leaf skirts of one color.” I recommend visiting the Nine-Bend Bridge to photograph dewdrops; a telephoto lens can capture dragonflies perched on flower buds. - Hidden Stories in the Reed Marshes: Find a boatman in Guolikou Village (recommended “Dianpan Fisherman” Master Wang, 138xxxx5678). He will take you through the reed maze, lowering his voice to say, “Look, those are wild duck eggs!” and point to a distant mound telling the legend of the Yanling Team planting landmines. Ask him to go slow—you might encounter a flying egret flock. - Overnight Surprise in the Water Village: We stayed at “Yidian Garden Farmhouse” in Wangjiazai Folk Village, with reeds right outside the window. In the evening, Uncle Li, the owner, took us net fishing, catching three crucian carps that night cooked in a wood-fired pot stew—so fresh it was unforgettable. Sitting in the yard at night, listening to insects and counting stars, I suddenly understood the meaning of “talking about a good harvest amid the fragrance of rice flowers.” Pitfalls to Avoid: Honest Tips Locals Won’t Tell You - Eating in the Village: Restaurants inside the scenic area charge 78 RMB per jin for a single crucian carp, while the village’s “Wangyuedao No.15” farmhouse offers a full fish feast for 60 RMB per person, with crispy fried shrimp and cold lotus root strips highly recommended. Don’t buy salted duck eggs at the attractions; go to Anxin Specialty Market where red-yolked eggs cost 5 RMB each and can be taken home. - Playing in the Wild Lakes: Don’t buy combo tickets at the attractions. Rent a boat directly from a farmhouse (100 RMB/2 hours) and have the boatman take you to undeveloped wild lakes. We rowed to a deserted lotus lake, picked lotus seed pods to eat and photograph, and the boatman taught us how to weave little rabbits from reed leaves. - Avoid Consumer Traps: At the pier, boatmen often recommend jet skis (100 RMB/3 laps), but rowing in the wild lakes is more fun. Also, the “Exotic Style Park” hosts a lowbrow ladyboy show; it’s better to watch the free cormorant fishing performance. Hidden Extras: New Experiences in 2025 - Sunset at Yannan Dike: The newly built viewing platform this year offers stunning shots of the “long river and round sunset.” Visit around 5 PM when the reeds glow golden in the sunset—every photo is wallpaper-worthy. - AR Guided Tour Surprise: At Baiyangdian Cultural Park, scan the QR code on the floor tiles to see a virtual scene of Emperor Kangxi’s boat inspection. Kids especially love this time-travel experience. - Dragon Boat Festival Festivities: On May 24 at Yannan Dike, there’s a dragon boat race with water jet performances and traditional Dragon Boat Festival activities. We happened to be there, shouting chants with locals—the atmosphere was electrifying. Final Thoughts The beauty of Baiyangdian isn’t in any single popular spot but in every interaction with locals—it’s the lotus pods handed by boatmen, the lotus leaf tea served by the guesthouse auntie, the fishermen’s songs drifting over the lake at dawn. If you have the chance, spend a night in a water village, taste freshly caught river delicacies, and listen to the stories hidden in the reed marshes. This is the truest face of Baiyangdian.

In the heart of the North China Plain lies a breathing water town—Baiyangdian. Though not Jiangnan, it possesses elegance that rivals it; though not an ancient water town, it turns every visitor into a poet. If you're tired of crowded tourist attractions, follow my footsteps to explore this northern pearl cradled by lotus leaves. --- I. Geographic Background: The "Water Maze" of North China Plain Located in central Hebei Province, about 160 kilometers from Beijing, Baiyangdian is the largest freshwater wetland in North China, consisting of 143 lakes and over 3,700 waterways. Standing at the edge and gazing into the distance, the reed marshes appear like a massive jade, with waterways winding through like capillaries. When boats glide by, startled water birds flutter across the sky, as if you've stepped into Monet's "Water Lilies." This area is also the "backyard garden" of the Xiong'an New Area. Once an obscure fishing village, it has been revitalized through ecological protection and urban planning. Every summer, over a million acres of lotus flowers bloom in succession, with lotus leaves spreading like green carpets dotted with pink and white flowers, while a subtle fragrance permeates the air. --- II. Travel Highlights: Capturing Poetry Among the Ripples 1. Lotus Panorama Garden: A Visual Feast of a Million Lotus Flowers If Baiyangdian is a poem, the Lotus Panorama Garden is its most brilliant chapter. The garden cultivates over 200 varieties of lotus flowers, from fingernail-sized "bowl lotuses" to "king lotuses" large enough to support a baby. Morning visits are recommended when lotus leaves are covered with dewdrops in the mist, and occasional boats emerge from the depths of lotus roots, startling fish to leap above the water, creating splashes. 2. Yanling Team Memorial Hall: Red Memories in the Reed Marshes At the Yanling Team Memorial Hall in Anxin County, you'll hear a story more thrilling than any movie. In the 1940s, over 30 fishermen formed an anti-Japanese armed force, navigating small boats marked with goose feathers, appearing and disappearing mysteriously in the reed marshes to attack Japanese invaders. The earthen cannons, fishing spears, and old photographs displayed in the hall give glimpses of the "water flying generals" who once darted through gunfire. 3. Quantou Village Folk Customs: The Warmth of Fishing Life For an authentic Baiyangdian experience, Quantou Village is a must-visit. At 5 a.m., fishermen cast nets while humming "Fishing Songs," with cormorants lined up on boat bows like soldiers awaiting inspection. In the evening, sit under a century-old locust tree watching the sunset turn the water golden-red, listen to elders tell legends of the "Lotus Fairy" in dialect, and taste freshly caught silver fish stewed with tofu—a flavor so fresh it'll make your eyebrows raise! --- III. Local Culture: Unique Imprints Nurtured by Water 1. Baiyangdian on the Tip of Your Tongue The dining tables of Baiyangdian people are water-fresh: salted duck eggs oozing red oil, smoked fish gleaming with amber luster, and water caltrop flour steamed cake with subtle sweetness. Don't miss the "Complete Fish Feast"—crucian carp soup milky and fragrant, bighead carp head stewed with tofu thick and rich, and even fish scales fried into crispy "dragon whisker crisps." 2. The Many Uses of Reeds Local reed stalks can be woven into mats, made into cricket cages, and transformed into art pieces. In reed weaving workshops, master craftsmen teach you to fold dragonflies and boats from reed leaves. Take a reed lantern back to your hotel; when lit at night, the glow through the reed gaps resembles fishing lights on the lake. 3. Floating River Lanterns: A Romantic Dialogue with the Stars On the night of the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, tens of thousands of lotus lanterns float on the water. Locals believe that the farther the lantern floats, the more likely your wish will come true. You can buy a lotus lantern and watch it carry your wishes away until it becomes a blurry star in the night sky. --- IV. Travel Tips: Being a Smart "Water Visitor" 1. Best Season: June-August for lotus viewing, September-October for reed flowers like flying snow. To avoid crowds, weekdays are recommended. 2. Transportation Tips: A 2.5-hour drive from Beijing is most convenient; alternatively, take a high-speed train to Baoding and transfer to a bus. Don't arrive in the evening as public transportation becomes scarce after sunset! 3. Accommodation Recommendations: Stay at lakeside fishermen's homes where lotus ponds are visible from your window, and the host can take you to "secret reed marshes" for photos. 4. Pitfall Guide: Wear non-slip shoes! The lakeside bluestone slabs become slippery as ice when wet; don't disturb water birds while taking photos—they are the true residents here. 5. Environmental Reminder: Don't throw trash into the lake; protect this "kidney of North China." --- Epilogue: What Baiyangdian Taught Me Here, time seems softened by the lake water. When you get lost in the maze-like waterways, boatmen will point to the distance and say, "Row toward where lotus flowers are abundant, and you'll find your way out." Perhaps Baiyangdian's charm lies precisely in this—it doesn't follow conventions yet always surprises you. Upon leaving, I took half a jar of dried lotus leaves; as tea fragrance mingles with moisture, I seem to hear again the sound of oars parting the water.

🙋🏻‍♀️About the Scenic Area Baiyangdian is the largest lake on the Haihe Plain in China, located in the heart of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It is known as the "Pearl of North China" and the "Kidney of North China." It is the largest wetland ecosystem on the North China Plain, with vast waters and rich biodiversity, making it a habitat for many rare birds. Baiyangdian is famous not only for its beautiful natural scenery but also for its important position in China's trade history. With its vast waters and misty waves, it is a kingdom of birds, a paradise for fish, and a natural museum of aquatic plants! The scenery is extremely beautiful, famous for its vast lotus ponds and reed marshes. Every August, the lotus flowers bloom, red and white, standing gracefully, layer upon layer of lotus flowers stretching as far as the eye can see, a poetic and picturesque scene, making it a summer destination for family trips, sightseeing, and recreation. 🧏‍♀️Main Attractions * Lotus Grand View Garden One of the most famous attractions in the scenic area, with over 300 species of lotus flowers. Stroll along the winding boardwalks, admire the colorful and diverse lotus flowers, and experience the magnificent scene of "endless green lotus leaves reaching the sky, lotus flowers reflecting the sun in a different red." * Mandarin Duck Island The island boasts beautiful scenery, rare bird watching, and the charm of nature, with attractions such as the Temple of the Matchmaker and the Folk Museum. * Baiyangdian Cultural Park Learn about the history and culture of Baiyangdian, with attractions such as the Yanling Team Memorial Hall and the Kangxi Water Palace. * Gazi Village Based on the story of the Little Soldier Zhang Ga, the village features attractions such as the Gazi Sculpture and Gazi's Home. 🤹🏻‍♀️Activities * Boat Tour Take a boat ride through the reed marshes and enjoy the water town scenery along the way. * Fishing Experience Join the fishermen to experience the fisherman's life and participate in the fun of fishing and rowing. * Lotus Pod Picking Pick fresh lotus pods in designated areas and taste the sweet lotus seeds. 👣Transportation Guide * Self-driving Exit at the Rongcheng exit of the Baoding-Tianjin Expressway, turn right and go straight to the tourist pier, with plenty of parking spaces. * Public Transportation Take a train or bus to Baoding or Xiong'an New Area, then transfer to a shuttle bus to Baiyangdian.

Baiyangdian is located in Anxin, Xiong'an and Rongxian counties in Hebei Province. The area is 366 square kilometers. It is the filming location of the movie "Little Soldier Zhang Ga". After getting off the high-speed rail at Baiyangdian, I took a taxi to the tourist center. The ticket price is RMB 185. You can take a pleasure boat to visit four scenic spots including the Lotus Garden. Under the blue sky and clear water, among the hundreds of miles of reeds, the cruise ship is floating on the rippling waves, as if you are in a painting. The recommended must-see attractions are as follows: 1: Lotus Garden. There are 366 famous lotus species from China and abroad in the country. When the flowers bloom, hundreds of them compete to be in full bloom. It forms a beautiful scene among the hundreds of miles of reeds. 2: Baiyangdian Cultural Park. It is divided into 8 scenic spots including the Baiyangdian Yanling Team Memorial Hall and Gazi Village. The memorial hall uses text and pictures to provide a detailed account of the historical picture of the Yanling Team's heroic resistance against the Japanese aggression. There are many performances that introduce the vivid image of Gazi, who is clever, wild and funny. 3: Happy Island. It is a leisure and entertainment resort. There are water parks, children's playgrounds, zoos, etc. 4: Exotic Garden. It is an entertainment venue that combines high-altitude dazi performances and Thai folk song and dance performances. After finishing the tour of Baiyangdian. Then we took a taxi to the Ranzhuang Tunnel War Site and Memorial Hall. The attraction is located in Ranzhuang Town, Qingyuan District, Baoding City. 1: The ruins of the Ranzhuang tunnel warfare and underground combat facilities. The total length is about 16 kilometers. The movie "Tunnel Warfare" was filmed here. Entering the tunnel feels like going back to that war-torn era. When I walked to the big tree where the big clock was hung. A big tree with lush branches and leaves in the past. Only a few bare tree branches remain. 2: The memorial hall houses a large number of pictures, texts, and physical materials. It fully displays the magnificent picture of the Ranzhuang people's heroic resistance and heroic deeds during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Attraction Introduction: 1. Lotus Garden One of the most famous attractions in the scenic area, the garden has more than 300 varieties of lotus flowers. Stroll along the winding path and enjoy the colorful and diverse lotus flowers. Feel the magnificent scene of "the lotus leaves are infinitely green, and the lotus flowers are red in the sun". 2. Mandarin Duck Island The island has beautiful scenery, rare birds to watch, and the charm of nature. There are attractions such as the Yue Lao Temple and the Folk Museum. 3. Baiyangdian Cultural Garden Learn about the history and culture of Baiyangdian. There are attractions such as the Yanling Team Memorial Hall and the Kangxi Shuiwei Palace. 4. Gazi Village With the story of Little Soldier Zhang Ga as the background, there are attractions such as Ga's sculpture and Ga's home in the village. Best time to visit: June to October The scenery is the most beautiful and suitable for play from July to September. At this time, the lotus flowers are in full bloom and the sea of flowers is spectacular. Especially from July 23 to September 23 every year, all kinds of lotus flowers are in full bloom.