Zhangjiakou is a city in the northwest part of Hebei Province. Located at the boundary where Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia intersect, Zhangjiakou is the transportation hub of these four provinces, and covers an area of 36,800 square kilometers. It is about 180 kilometers north of Beijing.
Over 2 million years ago, ancient human had already live here. 5000 years ago, the ancestors of Chinese people -- Emperor Yan, Emperor Huang, and Chi You started Chinese culture here. Zhangjiakou was historically a vital north gate of Beijing with strategical importance. The name literally means “Family Zhang’s mouth” which refers to the ancient fortress by the Great Wall built by the commander named Zhang Wen. In 1529, his successor, Zhang Zhen, also with the same surname of “Zhang” , opened a small door in the northern wall of the fortress, hence the name of Zhangjiakou for the fortress.
Zhangjiakou is currently the city with most Great Walls in China, therefore has been called “Great Wall Museum.” Dated back from The Warring States Period to Ming Dynasty, the Great Walls in Zhangjiakou have a total length of over 1,800 kilometers. It is also abundant with snow resources. Chongli and Chicheng have the largest natural ski resort in North China. People praise it as “Davos in the East.” Aside with the Great Wall, Zhangjiakou has a diverse topography of high mountains, deep valleys, and rocky pathways, creating many astonishing natural landscapes.
In 2015, International Olympic Committee voted Beijing and Zhangjiakou to be the host of 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Co-host with Beijing, Zhangjiakou will host some of the snow events, while Beijing hosts ice events. With such an international-level event, Zhangjiakou would be more prosperous in the next few years.