Weekend Trip to Hebei: The Right Way to Explore Tangshan Hetou Old Street

During November, the entire scenic area's main gate tickets are free, but advance reservation is required. You can usually book tickets for the next day the night before, and during the day you can book tickets for the same day (it’s harder to get tickets on weekends due to high visitor volume). Seniors over 70 can enter without a reservation by showing their ID card. The scenic area is much less crowded from Monday to Friday, so try to travel during off-peak times. The scenic area is easily accessible by car or taxi. If you enter through the North Gate around 3 PM, you can tour all the way to the south end and catch the 6:00 PM session of the Tang King’s Eastern Expedition waiting show (of course, you can start from any direction you like)～ There are many commercial shops inside the scenic area, with various food and drink stalls and small restaurants, so there’s no need to bring your own food (carrying it around is inconvenient and not conducive to enjoying the visit). The facilities in the scenic area are well-equipped, with clean and tidy restrooms that have no unpleasant odors, so you can use them with confidence. Additionally, there are several warm-hearted rest stations not far away, offering free hot fruit tea for visitors (with paper cups provided, or you can use your own cup). The cultural care here is quite thoughtful. The entire scenic area isn’t very large, but the attractions and sights are densely packed, with a scenic spot every three steps and a shop every five steps. It’s crowded, so keep an eye on your personal belongings and wear flat shoes. The Tang King’s Eastern Expedition and other large-scale performances require separate tickets. You need to purchase tickets separately to watch. For example, the "Eastern Expedition" ticket costs 38 yuan from Monday to Friday (cheaper than on weekends). The "Eastern Expedition" show has two sessions at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. For the 6:00 PM show, most people enter by 5:15 PM, and by 5:30 PM it’s already packed. So if you want to sit in the front row, you need to queue early. The audience watches this show standing, and it lasts about 30 minutes. Before the show officially starts, the host organizes some warm-up games. Standing for the whole time can be tiring, and it might be a bit cold in winter. It’s recommended to wear flat shoes and dress warmly.