1Baodi Guangji Temple
宝坻广济寺
Baodi Guangji Temple is one of the most significant Buddhist sites in the Tianjin region, with a history stretching back over a thousand years to the Liao Dynasty (907–1125). The temple complex showcases classic Northern Chinese Buddhist architecture, featuring towering wooden halls, intricately carved stone pillars, and serene courtyard gardens. As a nationally protected cultural heritage site, it stands as a living testament to the religious devotion and artistic achievement of medieval northern China.
The main hall houses a magnificent gilded statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, flanked by Bodhisattva figures and vivid murals depicting scenes from Buddhist scripture. Visitors are often struck by the temple's tranquil atmosphere — the scent of incense, the sound of chanting monks, and the ancient trees that shade the courtyards create a deeply meditative environment. The bell tower and drum tower at the entrance are particularly photogenic, especially during early morning mist.
Beyond its religious significance, Guangji Temple serves as an important cultural landmark for the Baodi area. Seasonal festivals bring locals and tourists together for traditional performances, temple fairs, and lantern displays. The temple's preservation efforts have made it an educational destination where visitors can learn about ancient construction techniques, Buddhist iconography, and the rich tapestry of Tianjin's cultural history.
🎫 Admission
Free (donations welcome)
🕐 Hours
8:00 – 17:00 daily
⏱ Suggested Visit
1.5 – 2 hours
2Baodi Stone Sutra Pillar
宝坻石经幢
The Baodi Stone Sutra Pillar (Shijingchuang) is an extraordinary octagonal stone column dating back to the Liao Dynasty, standing as one of the finest examples of Buddhist stone carving in northern China. Rising over eight meters tall, the pillar is engraved with Buddhist sutras in both Chinese and Sanskrit scripts, meticulously carved by master craftsmen of the era. Each of its eight faces tells a different chapter of Buddhist lore, with vivid relief sculptures of celestial beings, lotus flowers, and mythical creatures adorning the capital and base.
What makes this pillar particularly remarkable is its historical significance as a geographical and cultural anchor for Baodi County. Inscriptions on the pillar record key events, donor names, and religious dedications from the Liao and Jin dynasties, providing scholars with invaluable primary source material. The pillar has survived earthquakes, wars, and the passage of nearly a millennium — a testament to both the quality of its construction and the reverence with which local communities have treated it over the centuries.
Today, the Stone Sutra Pillar sits within a small protected park area, easily accessible to visitors. Information plaques in both Chinese and English provide context for the carvings, and a small museum nearby displays fragments and rubbings from related archaeological finds in the area. It is an essential stop for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the spread of Buddhism across northern China during the medieval period.
🕐 Hours
9:00 – 17:00 daily
⏱ Suggested Visit
30 – 45 minutes
3Beijing-Tianjin New City
京津新城
The Beijing-Tianjin New City (Jingjin Xincheng) represents one of China's most ambitious urban development projects, positioned strategically between Beijing and Tianjin as a showcase of modern planned city living. Spanning a vast area of Baodi District, the new city features wide boulevards, contemporary residential complexes, commercial centers, educational institutions, and recreational facilities. It was conceived as part of the broader Jingjin-Ji (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) integration strategy to create a cohesive mega-region.
Visitors to the New City will find a striking contrast to Baodi's ancient heritage sites. The area boasts expansive parks with jogging paths and cycling lanes, modern shopping malls, international-standard golf courses, and cultural venues including theaters and exhibition halls. Yujiabao Lake, at the heart of the development, offers scenic waterfront walks, boat rentals, and a popular night-time light show that illuminates the surrounding architecture.
The New City is also home to several universities and research institutions, giving it a youthful energy and intellectual vibrancy. Food lovers will appreciate the diverse dining scene, from traditional Tianjin street food stalls to upscale restaurants serving regional and international cuisine. For photographers and architecture enthusiasts, the juxtaposition of modern skyscrapers against Baodi's rural landscape creates compelling visual contrasts, especially during golden hour.
🎫 Admission
Free (activities priced separately)
🕐 Hours
Open 24 hours (venues vary)
⏱ Suggested Visit
2 – 3 hours
4Baodi Hot Spring City
宝坻温泉城
Baodi Hot Spring City is a sprawling wellness and leisure complex built around one of northern China's most prolific natural geothermal resources. Sitting atop a deep geothermal reservoir, the complex draws mineral-rich hot water from depths exceeding 1,000 meters, with temperatures reaching 90°C at the source. The water is naturally infused with beneficial minerals including sodium, calcium, bicarbonate, and trace elements believed to promote circulation, relieve joint pain, and improve skin conditions.
The facility offers an impressive variety of bathing experiences, including outdoor pools surrounded by landscaped gardens, indoor therapeutic pools with different mineral compositions, private family hot spring rooms, and even fish-spa pools where small Garra rufa fish gently exfoliate feet. For younger visitors, there are children's play pools with water slides and splash areas. The overall design blends Japanese onsen aesthetics with Chinese garden landscaping, creating a serene yet vibrant atmosphere.
Beyond the pools, Hot Spring City provides comprehensive wellness services including professional massage therapy, traditional Chinese medicine consultations, and beauty treatment spas. Several on-site restaurants serve health-focused cuisine, and comfortable guest rooms and suites allow visitors to extend their stay into a full weekend retreat. It has become one of the most popular weekend getaway destinations for residents of Beijing and Tianjin seeking relaxation without traveling far from home.
🎫 Admission
¥128 – ¥198 per person
🕐 Hours
10:00 – 22:00 daily
⏱ Suggested Visit
3 – 4 hours (full day recommended)
5Chaobai River Wetland Park
潮白河国家湿地公园
The Chaobai River National Wetland Park is a stunning ecological treasure spanning thousands of hectares along the Chaobai River in Baodi District. Designated as a national-level wetland park, it protects a rich mosaic of habitats including river channels, marshes, reed beds, floodplain meadows, and riparian forests. The park is a crucial stopover on the East Asian-Australasian flyway, hosting over 200 species of birds throughout the year, including endangered species such as the oriental white stork and the reed parrotbill.
A well-maintained network of boardwalks, walking trails, and cycling paths winds through the wetland, offering visitors intimate access to the natural environment. Interpretive signage along the routes provides information about local flora and fauna, wetland ecology, and conservation efforts. Observation hides and bird-watching towers are strategically placed at key locations, allowing visitors to observe wildlife without disturbing their natural behaviors. Spring and autumn are particularly spectacular, when thousands of migratory birds pass through the area.
The park also features recreational facilities including picnic areas, children's nature education centers, and boat tour services that navigate the quieter water channels. Photography enthusiasts will find endless inspiration — from misty sunrise scenes over the reed beds to dramatic sunsets reflected in the still water. The park's management actively promotes environmental education, hosting regular workshops, guided nature walks, and volunteer conservation activities that engage both local communities and visiting tourists.
🕐 Hours
8:00 – 18:00 (Apr–Oct) / 8:30 – 17:00 (Nov–Mar)
⏱ Suggested Visit
2 – 4 hours
6Baodi Ancient Town
宝坻古城
Baodi Ancient Town carries over a thousand years of history as the administrative and cultural heart of what was historically Baodi County. Founded during the Liao Dynasty and expanded through successive Chinese dynasties, the town preserves a remarkable collection of traditional northern Chinese architecture, including courtyard residences (siheyuan), ancestral halls, and remnants of the old city walls. Walking its weathered stone streets feels like stepping back in time to a bygone era of merchant prosperity and scholarly tradition.
The ancient town's layout follows classical Chinese urban planning principles, with a grid pattern of streets oriented to the cardinal directions and key civic buildings positioned along the central axis. Several restored buildings now house museums and cultural exhibition halls showcasing local history, traditional crafts such as dough figurine sculpting and paper cutting, and the literary legacy of Baodi — the area produced several notable scholars and officials during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The town's main street features traditional shops selling local specialties, antiques, and handicrafts.
In recent years, Baodi Ancient Town has undergone careful restoration and revitalization, balancing heritage preservation with modern tourism infrastructure. New cafes, boutique guesthouses, and cultural performance spaces have been thoughtfully integrated into the historic fabric. Evening visits are especially atmospheric, when traditional lanterns illuminate the old streets and local performers present folk music and storytelling. The town serves as an excellent base for exploring the wider Baodi area, with several other attractions within easy reach.
🎫 Admission
Free (museums ¥20–¥30)
🕐 Hours
Open all day (shops 9:00 – 21:00)
⏱ Suggested Visit
2 – 3 hours
7Dijing Hot Spring Resort
帝景温泉度假村
Dijing Hot Spring Resort is a premium leisure destination that combines natural geothermal hot springs with resort-level accommodation and hospitality. Set within expansive landscaped grounds, the resort taps into the same deep geothermal aquifer that feeds Baodi's famous hot spring tradition, delivering naturally heated mineral water to over 50 different pools and bathing areas. The resort's design draws inspiration from Southeast Asian tropical resorts, creating an exotic getaway atmosphere that feels far removed from the surrounding North China plain.
The resort's hot spring offerings are remarkably diverse, ranging from Japanese-style rotenburo (open-air baths) surrounded by bamboo groves, to Turkish hammam-inspired steam rooms, to themed pools infused with local herbs and flowers such as rose, chrysanthemum, and mugwort. Private VIP pool suites offer secluded bathing experiences for couples and families, complete with personal attendants and refreshment services. The water park section features thrilling water slides, a lazy river, and wave pools that make the resort popular with families during summer months.
Accommodation at Dijing ranges from comfortable standard rooms to luxury villas with private hot spring tubs, catering to different budgets and preferences. The resort's restaurants serve an eclectic mix of cuisines, including Tianjin local dishes, Cantonese dim sum, and Western fare. Conference facilities and team-building activity areas also make it a popular corporate retreat venue. With year-round appeal — steaming outdoor pools in winter and water park fun in summer — Dijing has established itself as one of the Beijing-Tianjin region's most comprehensive leisure destinations.
🎫 Admission
¥168 – ¥288 per person
🕐 Hours
9:00 – 23:00 daily
⏱ Suggested Visit
4 – 6 hours (overnight stay recommended)
🚄 How to Get to Baodi District
- By Train: Baodi Station (宝坻站) on the Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railway Extension — direct trains from Beijing South (约40 min) and Tianjin Station (约30 min). High-frequency service throughout the day.
- By Highway (Jinji Expressway 津蓟高速): Drive from Tianjin city center via S1 Jinji Expressway (津蓟高速), exit at Baodi. Approximate driving time: 50–60 minutes from downtown Tianjin, 80 minutes from Beijing.
- By Bus: Long-distance buses run from Tianjin Tianhuan Bus Station to Baodi Bus Terminal every 15–20 minutes. Journey takes about 70 minutes.
- By Taxi/Ride-hail: DiDi or taxi from Tianjin costs approximately ¥150–¥200 one-way. From Beijing, expect ¥300–¥400.
- Local Transport: Once in Baodi, taxis are affordable (flag fall ~¥8). Local buses connect major attractions. Ride-hailing via DiDi works well for inter-attraction travel.
💡 8 Essential Tips for Visiting Baodi
- Best time to visit: Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most pleasant weather. The wetland park is especially beautiful during autumn migration season (October–November).
- Combine hot springs with nature: Plan a day at the Chaobai River Wetland Park in the morning, then relax at one of the hot spring resorts in the afternoon — it's the classic Baodi combination.
- Book hot springs in advance: Both Baodi Hot Spring City and Dijing Resort can get crowded on weekends and holidays. Booking 1–2 days ahead ensures better rates and guaranteed entry.
- Bring a swimsuit: If you plan to visit either hot spring facility, pack your own swimsuit. While rentals may be available, the selection and hygiene standards vary.
- Try local cuisine: Don't miss Baodi's famous garlic (宝坻大蒜), huanghuatiao (宝坻黄庄洼大米 — local rice), and traditional Tianjin-style breakfast items available in the Ancient Town.
- Wear comfortable shoes: The Ancient Town, Guangji Temple, and the Wetland Park all involve considerable walking. Comfortable footwear is essential.
- Charge your phone/camera: Between the ancient architecture, wetland birdlife, and modern cityscapes, you'll take more photos than you expect. A portable power bank is a good idea.
- Stay overnight for the full experience: Baodi makes an excellent overnight trip. A Saturday exploring cultural sites followed by a Sunday at the hot springs is the ideal itinerary, especially if you stay at Dijing Resort.