Location: Located in central Hebei Province, Baoding is bounded on the north by Beijing and Zhangjiakou, on the east by Langfang and Cangzhou and on the south by Shijiazhuang and Hengshui, as well as on the west by Shanxi Province. Seated in the center of Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, Baoding is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Beijing, 145 kilometers (90 miles) west of Tianjin and 125 northeast of Shijiazhuang considered as the south gate of the Capital Beijing.

History: The city area of Baoding originally came into being during the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it was ascended to be Baozhou, becoming a big city in North China. The city was destroyed by the southward invasion of Genghis Khan and rebuilt in 1227. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the central government set up Baoding Shire here. During the early ages of the establishment of PRC in 1949, Baoding acted as the capital city of Hebei Province.

Physical Features: Lying along the east foot of the northern part of Taihang Mountains, the terrain of Baoding inclines from the northwest to southeast and is mainly comprised of the western mountain area and eastern plain. In the east of the plain, there are many waterfilled depressions and shallow lakes.

Climatic Features: The city belongs to the warm temperate zone semi-humid monsoon climate with most rainfall concentrated in summer. It has clear seasons with relatively great temperature difference. For the sand-dust weather, the spring is dry.