Hebei means “north of the Yellow River”, which is calledJifor short. Hebei has a long history and it is one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese nation. More than 5,000 years ago, Emperors Huang, Yan and Chi You, three ancestors of the Chinese nation, created a fusion in Hebei crucial to the history of Chinese civilization.

The province is also an important place of revolution. The Boxer Uprising began in Wei county of Hebei in 1900. During the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-45), Hebei was the main battlefield of war against Japan. The famous “Great Campaign with One Hundred Regiments” was also occurred in Hebei.

With the rich cultural resources accumulated over thousands of years, Hebei nurtured a number of politicians, thinkers, strategists, educators, artists and heroes. These famous people include:

King Wu Ling of Zhao, king of the state of Zhao during the Warring States Period (475-221BC), outstanding statesman, military strategist and military reformer.

Lian Po, prominent Zhao general during the Warring States period, and Lin Xiangru, Zhao politician in the same era. He figures prominently in two stories of the period — “Returning the Jade to Zhao”.

Xun Zi, Chinese Confucian philosopher who lived during the Warring States Period and contributed to one of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

Bian Que, the earliest known Chinese physician, who lived during the Spring and Autumn Perod (770-476BC).

Wei Zheng, Chinese politician and the lead editor of the Book of Sui composed in 636. He served as a chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) for about 13 years.

Guan Hanqing, notable Chinese playwright and poet in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Cao Xueqin, writer and the author of Dream of the Red Chamber written in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Li Dazhao, one of the early leaders of the Chinese Communist Party.