#hebei

The kang (炕) is a traditional heated platform, 2 metres or more long, used for general living, working, entertaining and sleeping in the northern part of China, where the winter climate is cold. It is made of bricks or other forms of fired clay and more recently of concrete in some locations.

Sites in Shenyang, Liaoning in Northeast China show humans using heated bed floors as early as 7,200 years ago. Other examples include an unearthed 1st-century building remains in Heilongjiang Province, and another one in a 4th-century palace building in Jilin Province, both also in the Northeast region. Literary evidence from Li Daoyuan's “Commentary on the Water Classic” also gives evidence of heated floors during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD).

The Eye Stone Spring bathhouse, Hebei, China,

Peasants studying together their copies of Quotations from Chairman Mao in the countryside of Shashiyu village, in Hebei province, 1967.

From People's Pictorial, issue of july 1967.

After spending a comfortable day at home, we were ready for the next part of our trip.

The following day, YangYang and I drove my mom and sisters to Hebei to visit an ancient street called Hetou Old Street.

The area was lively and full of atmosphere. There were light and sound shows, reenactments of ancient battles, and various activities and games where visitors could collect replica ancient banknotes and exchange them for small gifts.

It turned out to be another destination well worth the visit, full of fun, history, and cheerful energy, and a lovely way to spend the day together.

The street was also lined with many shops and restaurants, making it easy to wander, eat, and explore at a relaxed pace.

replica ancient banknotes

A small glimpse of the pedestrian street at night.

Marble painted relief with a scene of musicians playing. Unearthed from the Tomb of Wang Chuzhi, Xiyanchuan, Hebei, China; dated in the Five Dynasties period, 10th c., 923 CE ca [Later Liang / Later Tang].

Famer with buffalo in Hankow, modern-day Wuhan city, Hebei, China