Zhangjiakou Voyage Tips and guide

Zhangjiakou (张家口; Zhāngjiākǒu) is a city in Hebei.

Zhangjiakou is a major city in northwestern Hebei Province, about 180 km from Beijing. It has long been an important gateway between northern China and Inner Mongolia, earning the nickname “The Northern Gate of the Capital.” The city’s strategic location made it a vital military and trading center along the Great Wall for centuries.

In recent years, Zhangjiakou gained international fame as one of the host cities of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The Chongli District, in particular, was the venue for many skiing and snowboarding events. Since the Olympics, it was developed into a modern year-round resort area with world-class ski resorts, hotels, and infrastructure.

Beyond its winter attractions, Zhangjiakou is also known for its refreshing summer climate, rolling grasslands, and wind farms, making it a popular destination for road trippers and outdoor enthusiasts. The nearby Grassland Sky Road offers breathtaking scenery, while the Great Wall at Dajingmen showcases the city’s long history. Visitors can enjoy both the natural beauty of the mountains and the cultural heritage of northern China in one trip.

• 40.739167114.9308331 Zhangjiakou Ningyuan Airport (ZQZ  ^IATA) (is 9 km from the city). Served by a few domestic destinations, mainly Shijiazhuang as well as Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xiamen.  

It is connected to Beijing, the rest of Hebei and Shanxi by the Xuanda and Jingzhang expressways, and Inner Mongolia by National Highway 207.

There is a high speed rail link from Beijing North Station to Zhangjiako. It continues on to Hohhot and Botou in Inner Mongolia. The high-speed line has cut travel times from Beijing North Station to Zhangjiakou from approximately 4 hours to just 47 minutes. Tickets cost approximately ¥80 (May 2020).

There are also still the slow trains which come from the Beijing Main Railway station, via the Beijing-Baotou conventional railway.

• 40.911749115.4415152 Taizicheng Railway Station (太子城站), Taizicheng Village, Chongli District (崇礼区太子城村) (take Chongli Bus 10 to get here from Chongli District's urban area; free shuttle buses are available for passengers travelling between the station and any of the major ski resorts). This is the closest station to the ski resorts and the Olympic Village. (updated Apr 2021)
• 40.750675114.8769693 Zhangjiakou Railway Station (张家口站), 11 Zhanqian West Street, Qiaodong District (桥东区站前西大街11号) (bus nos. 1, 10, 11, 33, 39, 106, 108, 109, 902, k1 and k3). Zhangjiakou's main central railway station. The station serves both high-speed trains and regular-speed trains. (updated Apr 2021)

40°46′12″N 114°53′24″E

Map of Zhangjiakou

The urban area of ​​Zhangjiakou is relatively large, and the main attractions are located in Chongli District and the city center. Traveling within the city mainly relies on buses and taxis. The starting price of a taxi is 5 yuan (for the first 2 kilometers), and you can also use ride-hailing apps such as Didi. If you go to Chongli Ski Area, you can take a long-distance bus or ski resort shuttle bus from Zhangjiakou Station or Zhangjiakou South Station to major ski resorts such as Yunding, Taiwu, and Wanlong. In winter, mountain roads tend to freeze easily, so you need to reserve more time if you drive by yourself; in summer, it is very suitable for self-driving tours along the "Grassland Sky Road".

• 40.843126114.8872571 Dajing Gate (大境门), Intersection of Mingde North Road and Zhenggou Street, Qiaoxi District (桥西区明德北路与正沟街交叉口) (bus nos. 16, 32 (Nantianmen route), 32 (Shaodaogou route), 32 (Zhenggou route); the visitor center and ticket office are on the north side of the gate), ☏ +86 313 8020199. As of April 2021, the site is temporarily closed. Normal opening hours are 08:00-18:00. A gate in the Great Wall, famous for its dangerous terrain. In ancient China, Zhangjiakou was a ghetto of several ethnic groups near the Mongolia Grassland, a place of military importance. It also plays an important part in the transportation and trade between Han and Mongolia people. The unique geographical location turns to beautiful landscape. Man of letters in ancient times were attracted to the gate. ¥10.  
• 40.808087114.8958982 Zhangjiakou Museum (张家口市博物馆), 14 Dongxing Street, Qiaodong District (桥东区东兴街14号) (bus nos. 5, 9 and 12), ☏ +86 313 2017059. 09:00-11:00, 14:30-16:30, closed on Mondays. A comprehensive museum about the city of Zhangjiakou. In the courtyard stands a monument dedicated to Chinese and allied soldiers who died during World War II. Free. (updated Apr 2021)
• 40.61115.063 Xuanhua Museum (宣化博物馆), No. 64, Xuanfu Street, Xuanhua District. 09：00-16：30. Established on 18 October 2006, it is a state-owned museum affiliated to the Xuanhua District Cultural and Tourism Bureau.Tickets are free of charge. (updated Dec 2022)

• 40.996448115.3052821 Cuiyunshan International Resort (翠云山国际旅游度假区), Chema Road, Xiwanzi Town, Chongli District (崇礼区西湾子镇东马线) (take the free shuttle bus from Taizicheng Railway Station or take Chongli Bus 3 from Chongli Bus Station), toll-free: +86 400 0687788. Open November 7th to March 14th; 08:30-16:30. (updated Apr 2021)
• 40.947421115.416132 Genting Resort Secret Garden (密苑云顶乐园), Wutong Avenue, Taizicheng, Chongli District (崇礼区太子城梧桐大道) (take the free shuttle bus from Taizicheng Railway Station; alternatively take Chongli Bus 10 from Chongli Bus Station), ☏ +86 313 4788888, +86 313 5691880, toll-free: +86 400 1681234. 08:45-16:30. Includes Genting Snow Park (云顶滑雪公园), which is one of the venues for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (updated Apr 2021)
• 40.961835115.3924743 Wanlong Paradise Resort (万龙度假天堂), Chongli District (崇礼区) (adjacent to the northwest side of Genting Resort Secret Garden; take the free shuttle bus from Taizicheng Railway Station), ☏ +86 313 4785111, +86 313 4618888, +86 313 4785448, toll-free: +86 400 6822999. Open November 8th to April 30th; 08:00-16:30 (Sunday to Friday), 08:00-17:00 (Saturday). (updated Apr 2021)

• Roast Lamb (烤全羊). A signature dish of northern Hebei, often served with cumin and chili. 
• Youmian Wowo (莜面窝窝). A signature dish of Zhangjiakou made from oat flour. The dough is hand-rolled into small cone shapes and steamed until soft. It is usually eaten with a dipping sauce, minced meat, or pickled vegetables. The dish has a light nutty flavor and chewy texture, representing the hearty northern cuisine of Hebei’s mountain region. 
• Pot-stewed Lamb (羊杂汤). A hearty local soup made with lamb offal, ginger, and spices — especially popular in winter.