Shijiazhuang

The city's present name, Shijiazhuang ({{lang-zh|s=石家庄|link=no}}), first appeared during the Ming dynasty. Its literal meaning is "Shi family's village". The word Shijiazhuang was generally used after construction of the Shijiazhuang station of the Zhengtai Railway in 1907.

The origin of the name is heavily disputed. One story claimed that the Wanli Emperor sent 24 officers and their families to the area, after which the group splits into two settlements consisting of 10 and 14 families. The imperial court then named the settlements "village of 10 families" ({{lang-zh|s=十家庄|labels=no}}) and "village of 14 families" (十四家庄), respectively. Since the Chinese characters for ten ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=十 |p=shí}}) and stone ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=石 |p=shí}}) are homophones, it is speculated that the city name gradually evolved into its current spelling. Another explanation is that the settlement was named after the highest-ranking official amongst the groups, who was surnamed Shi.{{cite news |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-02-20/091029516529.shtml |script-title=zh:一大拨有关石家庄地名由来的争论汹涌而来 |script-work=zh:燕赵都市报 |via=Sina News |date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927062545/http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-02-20/091029516529.shtml |url-status=live }} However, a county named Shiyi ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=石邑 |l=stone city}}), in present-day Luquan District, was already present during the Warring States period, suggesting that the name, or its elements, have even older origins.{{cite news|url=https://maps.cga.harvard.edu/tgaz/placename/hvd_44971|title=China Historical GIS|publisher=Harvard University and Fudan University|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111065329/https://maps.cga.harvard.edu/tgaz/placename/hvd_44971|url-status=live}}

At first, the settlement was officially known only as "Shijia", as the "zhuang" was solely used to denote the nature of the settlement being a village, instead of being part of its name. This was further evidenced on June 24, 1925, when the Republican government ordered the village to be established as an autonomous city under the name Shijia. The city ended up being renamed as Shimen ({{lang-zh|s=石门|labels=no}}) when it was officially incorporated on August 29, 1925, after the merger with another village, Xiumen ({{lang-zh|links=no|s=休门 |l=auspicious gate}}).{{cite web|url=http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1493175311966/2017/04/26/1493196438418.html|script-title=zh:休门|publisher=Shijiazhuang People's Government|date=April 26, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124203410/http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1493175311966/2017/04/26/1493196438418.html|url-status=live}} Despite being renamed, however, many documents and war plans from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War still referred to the city as "Shijiazhuang" or "Shizhuang". To avoid confusion and association with the Japanese Army, the Chinese Communist Party ultimately reverted the city's name back to Shijiazhuang on December 26, 1947.{{cite news |url=https://m.sohu.com/n/481209613/?wscrid=95360_6 |script-title=zh:1947年"石门市"为什么改为"石家庄市" |work=Sohu |date=February 20, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316105131/https://m.sohu.com/n/481209613/?wscrid=95360_6 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1492479095620/index.html |script-title=zh:历史沿革 |publisher=Shijiazhuang People's Government |date=July 9, 2019 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209063355/http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1492479095620/index.html |url-status=live }} Since then, many terms regarding the city have been stemmed from the "zhuang" suffix, including its nickname "international village" ({{lang-zh|s=国际庄|labels=no}}),{{cite news |url=https://news.163.com/18/1220/08/E3F36RGF000181BT.html |script-title=zh:石家庄是如何成为"国际庄"的？ |work=163.com news |date=December 20, 2018 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512184036/https://news.163.com/18/1220/08/E3F36RGF000181BT.html |url-status=live }} and the colloquial demonym, "villagers" ({{lang-zh|s=庄里人|labels=no}}). Jokingly, people also call it "Sky Home Town" or "Rocksville" from its Chinese translating into English.{{cite web|url=https://jikipedia.com/definition/122075628|script-title=zh:庄里人|publisher=小鸡词典|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316105147/https://jikipedia.com/|url-status=live}}

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2023}}

This area was occupied by Xianyu people at beginning of Zhou dynasty; it later belonged to the Zhongshan (中山國) and Zhao states during the pre-Qin period.

In pre-Han times (i.e., before 206 BC), the site of the city of Shiyi in the state of Zhao was located in this area. After taking over Zhao, Qin Shi Huang established the Hengshan Commandery in the region. It became part of the Zhao Principality under Western Han. The land was briefly granted to Liu Buyi ({{lang|zh-Hant|劉不疑}}), son of the Emperor Hui, during Empress Dowager Lü's reign. The territory was then passed to Liu Hong, Emperor Houshao of Han, after Buyi's death. It was then granted to Liu Chao ({{lang|zh-Hant|劉朝}}), another son of Emperor Hui. During the defeat of the Lü clan, Liu Chao was killed and the territory became a commandery of Zhao once again. Later, due to a naming taboo of Emperor Wen of Han, whose personal name is Liu Heng, its name was changed to Changshan (常山).{{cite book |last1=Zhou |first1=Zhenhe |author-link1=Zhou Zhenhe |title=Xihan Zhengqu Dili |date=1987 |publisher=People's Press |pages=92–93}} From Han (206 BC–AD 220) to Sui (581–618) times it was the site of a county seat named Shiyi.

With the reorganization of local government in the early period of the Tang dynasty (618–907), Hengshan county was abolished, and it was reestablished as a prefecture. It was renamed as Zhen Prefecture due to a naming taboo with Emperor Muzong of Tang, whose personal name was Li Heng.

Zhending was a giant city in the area, now Zhengding county, where was destination of migration from Yuan dynasty people and central area of preceding Northern Song dynasty people, particularly in Kaifeng and Zhengzhou etc. Marco Polo has glanced the city and noted it in his book.By Colonel Henry Yule, C.B., THE Book Ser Marco Polo, The Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East. Londom: John Murray, Albemarle street, 1875. p.7.

The name "Shijiazhuang" was first mentioned in 1535 on a stele of a local temple. Shijiazhuang was then little more than a local market town, subordinated to the flourishing city of Zhengding a few miles to the north.

File:CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG.jpg

The growth of Shijiazhuang into one of China's major cities began in 1905, when the Beijing–Wuhan (Hankou) railway reached the area, stimulating trade and encouraging local farmers to grow cash crops. Two years later the town became the junction for the new Shitai line, running from Shijiazhuang to Taiyuan, Shanxi. The connection transformed the town from a local collecting center and market into a communications center of national importance on the main route from Beijing and Tianjin to Shanxi, and later, when the railway from Taiyuan was extended to the southwest, to Shaanxi as well. The city also became the center of an extensive road network.

File:日占时期石门市市徽.JPG

Pre-World War II, Shijiazhuang was a large railway town as well as a commercial and collecting center for Shanxi and regions farther west and for agricultural produce of the North China Plain, particularly grain, tobacco, and cotton. By 1935, it had far outstripped Zhengding as an economic center. At the end of World War II the character of the city changed when it took on an administrative role as the preeminent city in western Hebei, and developed into an industrial city. Some industries, such as match manufacturing, tobacco processing, and glassmaking, had already been established before the war. By 1941, Shide railway line was constructed between Shijiazhuang and Dezhou, Shandong in the war occupied period, operated by North China Transportation Company.

On November 12, 1947, the city was captured by Communist forces. Xibaipo, a village about {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}} from downtown Shijiazhuang, in Pingshan County was the location of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army during the decisive stages of the Chinese Civil War between May 26, 1948, and March 23, 1949, at which point they were moved to Beijing. Today, the area is a memorial site.

{{citation

|url=http://www.thechinabeat.org/?p=2384

|title=Musings on a Museum: A Trip to Xibaipo

|date=July 22, 2010

|author=Kenneth Pomeranz

|author-link=Kenneth Pomeranz

|access-date=August 7, 2010

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725061423/http://www.thechinabeat.org/?p=2384

|archive-date=July 25, 2010

|url-status=live}}

Since the city was pivotal to the People's Liberation Army's victory of the Chinese Civil War, many governmental agencies have roots in Shijiazhuang. The creation of the North China People's Government in 1947 affirmed the city's position as a key political center. A year later, as the result of the merger between the Bank of North China, the Bank of Beihai, and the Northwest Agricultural Bank, the People's Bank of China was established here, where it produced and released the first series of the renminbi.{{Cite web|script-title=zh:中国人民银行历史沿革|url=http://www.pbc.gov.cn/rmyh/105226/105433/index.html|access-date=January 9, 2021|script-work=zh:中国人民银行|archive-date=August 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811131357/http://www.pbc.gov.cn/rmyh/105226/105433/index.html|url-status=live}}

Meanwhile, the industrialization of the city also gathered momentum thanks to government initiatives including the First Five-Year Plan. Shijiazhuang was one of the fourteen cities selected as focus cities for development. The population more than tripled in the decade 1948–58 after Communist won the civil war. In the 1950s, the city experienced a major expansion in the textile industry, with large-scale cotton spinning, weaving, printing, and dyeing works. In addition, there are plants processing local farm produce. In the 1960s it was the site of a new chemical industry, with plants producing fertilizer and caustic soda. Shijiazhuang also became an engineering base, with a tractor-accessory plant. There are important coal deposits at Jingxing and Huailu, now named Luquan, a few miles to the west in the foothills of the Taihang Mountains, which provide fuel for a thermal-generating plant supplying power to local industries.

Tianjin was again carved out of Hebei in 1967, remaining a separate entity today. The provincial capital was then moved to Baoding, however, the city was plunged into chaos due to the Cultural Revolution just a year later. Thus, under the direction of Mao Zedong to "prepare for war and natural disasters", Shijiazhuang became the provincial capital in 1968.

Beginning in the 1990s, Shijiazhuang saw another episode of rapid growth and development. Starting from the plains area in the east and south of the city, the focus of the developments later shifted towards the mountainous districts and counties in the west, as well as along the Hutuo River in the north.

In the early hours of March 16, 2001, four apartment buildings were leveled after a series of explosions rocked the city, killing 108 while injuring 38. The perpetrator was a deaf, unemployed man named Jin Ruchao who police arrested weeks later. Jin confessed that he had delivered the bombs via taxi and stated that the bombings were an act of revenge on his relatives, who were among the tenants of the apartments. Jin and his accomplices were later executed.{{cite news|title=Beijing Publishes Detailed Account of Bombings|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/28/world/beijing-publishes-detailed-account-of-bombings.html|work=The New York Times|date=March 28, 2001|last1=Rosenthal|first1=Elisabeth|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202025629/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/28/world/beijing-publishes-detailed-account-of-bombings.html|url-status=live}}

In December 2020, its mayor, Deng Peiran, was charged with corruption, with Ma Yujun currently serving as the acting mayor.{{cite web|script-title=zh:石家庄市长邓沛然落马：一天前登党报头版，曾出书谈反腐倡廉|url=https://www.163.com/dy/article/FUI717RT0514BE2Q.html|publisher=NetEase News|date=December 23, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111044707/https://www.163.com/dy/article/FUI717RT0514BE2Q.html|url-status=live}} A few weeks later, the city became a new COVID-19 hotspot: starting from the village of Xiaoguozhuang in Gaocheng District in the northern portion of the city, cases has been increasing rapidly since January 2, 2021.{{cite web|title=China hits city of 11 million with tight restrictions as more than 100 COVID cases discovered|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-covid-lockdown-hebei-shijiazhuang-city-coronavirus-cases-discovered|work=CBS News|date=January 6, 2021|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109204305/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-covid-lockdown-hebei-shijiazhuang-city-coronavirus-cases-discovered/|url-status=live}} Due to its proximity with Beijing and the severity of the outbreak, harsh measures were put into place, with all 11 million residences undergoing mandatory testing, as well as school closures, banning of gatherings, and residential districts being sealed.{{cite web|title=A year after Wuhan, China locks down another city of 11 million people to contain a coronavirus flare-up|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/asia/china-hebei-covid-lockdown-intl-hnk/index.html|work=CNN|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109030911/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/asia/china-hebei-covid-lockdown-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}} All highways were blocked off, with rail and air links also suspended.{{cite web|title=Coronavirus in China: instant noodles a godsend for residents caught out by Shijiazhuang lockdown|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3116999/coronavirus-china-instant-noodles-godsend-residents-caught-out|work=South China Morning Post|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109034619/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3116999/coronavirus-china-instant-noodles-godsend-residents-caught-out|url-status=live}}

Throughout the years, the city's administrative units have been shifted and adjusted multiple times. Initially, Shijiazhuang was administered under the prefecture of the same name, along with the counties of Zhengding, Pingshan, Lingshou, Jingxing, Jianping, Huailu, Jinxian, Gaocheng, Luancheng, Zhaoxian, Shulu, Yuanshi, Zanhuang, Gaoyi, and one town, Xinji. The first new district of the city, Jingxing Mining District, was created on June 27, 1950. On November 7, 1952, Hengshui Prefecture, to the east, was merged into Shijiazhuang, adding six more counties. The prefecture continued to expand after Dingxian Prefecture was split and merged into Baoding and Shijiazhuang on June 18, 1954. Between March 1960 and May 1961, the prefecture and the city merged. Thereafter, however, the prefecture was re-established, with Hengshui Prefecture splitting away the next year. The city and its prefecture merged for good in June 1993. In the 2010s, Shijiazhuang's administrative divisions saw further changes. In 2013, the county-level city of Xinji, although still part of Shijiazhuang prefecture, is now directly administered by Hebei province. Later, the State Council of the People's Republic of China approved more adjustments to the city's divisions. Qiaodong District was dissolved and merged into Chang'an and Qiaoxi districts. Three county-level cities, Gaocheng, Luquan, and Luancheng, became urban districts.{{cite web |script-title=zh:城市概况 |url=http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1492479061391/2019/07/09/1562636058089.html |publisher=Shijiazhuang People's Government |date=July 9, 2019 |access-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922035649/http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1492479061391/2019/07/09/1562636058089.html }}

File:Txu-oclc-10552568-nj50-5.jpg, 1954)]]

Shijiazhuang is located in south-central Hebei, and is part of the Bohai Economic Rim. Its administrative area ranges in latitude from 37° 27' to 38° 47' N, and the longitude 113° 30' to 115° 20' E. The prefecture-level city reaches a {{convert|148|km|0}} north–south extent and a {{convert|175|km|0}} wide from east to west. The prefecture has borders stretching {{convert|760|km|0}} long and covers an area of {{convert|15722|km2|0}}. Bordering prefecture-level cities in Hebei are Hengshui (E), Xingtai (S), and Baoding (N/NE). To the west lies the province of Shanxi.

The city stands at the edge of the North China Plain, which rises to the Taihang Mountains to the west of the city, and lies south of the Hutuo River. From west to east, the topography can be summarised as moderately high mountains, then low-lying mountains, hills, basin, and finally plains. Out of the eight east–west routes across the Taihang Mountains, the fifth, the Niangzi Pass, connects the city directly with Taiyuan, Shanxi.

The mountainous part of the prefecture consists of parts of:

• Jingxing Mining District
• Jingxing County
• Zanhuang County
• Xingtang County
• Lingshou County
• Yuanshi County
• Luquan District

The Hutuo River Basin in the east juts into:

• Xinle City
• Wuji County
• Shenze County
• Jinzhou City
• Gaocheng District
• Gaoyi County
• Zhao County
• Luancheng District
• Zhengding County
• The metropolitan area and its suburbs, in their entirety
• All of the divisions mentioned in the above list, except for Jingxing Mining District

The city has a continental, monsoon-influenced semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk / Dwa), characterised by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and generally cold, windy, very dry winters that reflect the influence of the Siberian anticyclone. Spring can see sandstorms blowing in from the Mongolian steppe, accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn is similar to spring in temperature and lack of rainfall. January averages {{convert|−1.4|°C|1}}, while July averages {{convert|27.7|°C|1}}; the annual mean is {{convert|14.3|°C|1}}. With the monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 38 percent in July to 56 percent in May, the city receives 2,163 hours of sunshine annually. More than half of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August alone. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|-26.5|°C|1}} to {{convert|42.8|°C|1}}.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| metric first = y

| single line = y

| collapsed = Y

| location = Shijiazhuang, elevation {{convert|89|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)

| Jan high C = 3.6

| Feb high C = 7.8

| Mar high C = 14.8

| Apr high C = 21.9

| May high C = 27.7

| Jun high C = 32.2

| Jul high C = 32.5

| Aug high C = 30.7

| Sep high C = 27.0

| Oct high C = 20.6

| Nov high C = 11.7

| Dec high C = 5.1

| Jan mean C = -1.4

| Feb mean C = 2.3

| Mar mean C = 9.0

| Apr mean C = 16.0

| May mean C = 22.1

| Jun mean C = 26.4

| Jul mean C = 27.7

| Aug mean C = 26.2

| Sep mean C = 21.6

| Oct mean C = 14.9

| Nov mean C = 6.5

| Dec mean C = 0.4

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = -5.2

| Feb low C = -2.0

| Mar low C = 4.0

| Apr low C = 10.5

| May low C = 16.5

| Jun low C = 21.1

| Jul low C = 23.5

| Aug low C = 22.4

| Sep low C = 17.4

| Oct low C = 10.4

| Nov low C = 2.4

| Dec low C = -3.1

| Jan record high C = 18.0

| Feb record high C = 25.8

| Mar record high C = 30.7

| Apr record high C = 35.0

| May record high C = 42.8

| Jun record high C = 42.7

| Jul record high C = 42.9

| Aug record high C = 38.6

| Sep record high C = 39.7

| Oct record high C = 34.1

| Nov record high C = 26.8

| Dec record high C = 25.5

| Jan record low C = −26.5

| Feb record low C = −19.8

| Mar record low C = −17.3

| Apr record low C = −5.3

| May record low C = 3.8

| Jun record low C = 10.6

| Jul record low C = 16.2

| Aug record low C = 11.1

| Sep record low C = 3.7

| Oct record low C = −2.4

| Nov record low C = −14.1

| Dec record low C = −18.7

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 3.8

| Feb precipitation mm = 6.0

| Mar precipitation mm = 10.3

| Apr precipitation mm = 25.5

| May precipitation mm = 37.3

| Jun precipitation mm = 58.4

| Jul precipitation mm = 141.4

| Aug precipitation mm = 139.4

| Sep precipitation mm = 59.0

| Oct precipitation mm = 28.4

| Nov precipitation mm = 16.8

| Dec precipitation mm = 4.2

| Jan humidity = 53

| Feb humidity = 49

| Mar humidity = 45

| Apr humidity = 50

| May humidity = 53

| Jun humidity = 56

| Jul humidity = 70

| Aug humidity = 73

| Sep humidity = 67

| Oct humidity = 63

| Nov humidity = 61

| Dec humidity = 56

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 1.9

| Feb precipitation days = 2.6

| Mar precipitation days = 2.8

| Apr precipitation days = 5.1

| May precipitation days = 5.8

| Jun precipitation days = 8.5

| Jul precipitation days = 11.8

| Aug precipitation days = 11.1

| Sep precipitation days = 7.0

| Oct precipitation days = 5.5

| Nov precipitation days = 3.7

| Dec precipitation days = 2.3

| year precipitation days =

| Jan sun = 136.1

| Feb sun = 152.4

| Mar sun = 194.8

| Apr sun = 222.7

| May sun = 246.7

| Jun sun = 209.1

| Jul sun = 169.6

| Aug sun = 180.9

| Sep sun = 183.5

| Oct sun = 176.3

| Nov sun = 151.9

| Dec sun = 138.8

| year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 44

| Feb percentsun = 50

| Mar percentsun = 52

| Apr percentsun = 56

| May percentsun = 56

| Jun percentsun = 47

| Jul percentsun = 38

| Aug percentsun = 43

| Sep percentsun = 50

| Oct percentsun = 51

| Nov percentsun = 51

| Dec percentsun = 47

| year percentsun =

| Jan snow days = 3.2

| Feb snow days = 2.7

| Mar snow days = 1.3

| Apr snow days = 0.2

| May snow days = 0

| Jun snow days = 0

| Jul snow days = 0

| Aug snow days = 0

| Sep snow days = 0

| Oct snow days = 0

| Nov snow days = 1.6

| Dec snow days = 2.6

| year snow days =

| source 1 = China Meteorological Administration{{cite web|url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-cn |access-date=April 15, 2020}}{{cite web

|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps

|script-title = zh:CMA台站气候标准值(1991-2020)

|publisher = China Meteorological Administration

| language = zh | access-date = 2023-04-11

|title = Experience Template

}}

{{cite web

|url = http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger

|script-title = zh:中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1971－2000年）

|publisher = China Meteorological Administration

|language = zh

|access-date = January 15, 2015

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger

|archive-date = March 18, 2013

}} all-time extreme temperature{{cite web

|url= https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404203050792315805

|title= 中国各地城市的历史最低气温

|access-date= 14 September 2024

}}

| date = August 2010

| source =

}}

File:公园 - panoramio (7).jpg

{{See also|2013 Eastern China smog}}

According to the National Environmental Analysis released by Tsinghua University and The Asian Development Bank in January 2013, Shijiazhuang was one of ten most air-polluted cities in the world. Also according to this report, 7 of 10 most air-polluted cities are in China, including Taiyuan, Beijing, Urumqi, Lanzhou, Chongqing, Jinan and Shijiazhuang.{{cite web |title=Weather & Extreme Events: 7 of 10 Most Air-Polluted Cities Are in China|url=http://news.discovery.com/earth/weather-extreme-events/7-of-10-most-air-polluted-cities-china-130116.htm|access-date=September 1, 2014|date=January 16, 2013|website=Discovery |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908214144/http://news.discovery.com/earth/weather-extreme-events/7-of-10-most-air-polluted-cities-china-130116.htm|archive-date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live}} As air pollution in China is at an all-time high, several northern cities are among the most polluted cities and have some of the worst air quality in China. Reporting on China's air quality has been accompanied by what seems like a monochromatic slideshow of the country's several cities smothered in thick smog. According to a survey made by "Global voices China" in February 2013, Shijiazhuang is among China's 10 most polluted cities along with other cities including major Chinese cities like Beijing and Zhengzhou, and 6 other prefectural cities all in Hebei.{{cite news|last1=Bildner |first1=Eli |title=Interactive Maps of China's Most–and Least–Polluted Places |url=http://newsmotion.org/feed-story/interactive-maps-china%E2%80%99s-most%E2%80%93and-least%E2%80%93polluted-places |access-date=September 1, 2014 |website=newsmotion.org |date=February 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903071400/http://newsmotion.org/feed-story/interactive-maps-china%E2%80%99s-most%E2%80%93and-least%E2%80%93polluted-places |archive-date= September 3, 2014 }} These cities are all situated in traditional geographic subdivision of "Huabei (North China) Region".

In 2020, annual average [https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=PM2.5&redirect=no PM2.5] Air Pollution in Shijiazhuang stood at 56 μg/m³, which is 11.2 times the World Health Organization PM2.5 Guideline (5 μg/m³: set in September 2021).{{Cite web |title=The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) |url=https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/the-index/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=AQLI |language=en |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820013309/https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/the-index/ |url-status=live }} These pollution levels are estimated to reduce the Life Expectancy of an average person living in Shijiazhuang by almost 5 years.

A dense wave of smog began in the Central and Eastern part of China on December 2, 2013, across a distance of around {{convert|1200|km}},{{cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82535 |title=Smog Shrouds Eastern China |publisher=Earth Observatory |date=December 10, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324172215/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82535 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |url-status=live }} including Shijiazhuang and surrounding areas. A lack of cold air flow, combined with slow-moving air masses carrying industrial emissions, collected airborne pollutants to form a thick layer of smog over the region.{{cite news|title=Smog and fog hit east, north China|url=http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2013-12/06/content_30814209.htm|access-date=May 15, 2014|website=Xinhua News Agency|date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206153436/http://china.org.cn/environment/2013-12/06/content_30814209.htm|archive-date=December 6, 2013|url-status=live}} Officials blamed the dense pollution on lack of wind, automobile exhaust emissions under low air pressure, and coal-powered district heating system in North China region.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-12/07/c_118458506.htm|script-title=zh:三问今冬十面"霾"伏|work=People's Daily overseas edition |via=Xinhua |author=综合本报和新华社电|access-date=September 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222103923/http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-12/07/c_118458506.htm|archive-date=December 22, 2013}} Prevailing winds blew low-hanging air masses of factory emissions (mostly SO₂) towards China's east coast.{{cite web |url=http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/data/map-shanghais-charts-air-pollution |title=Map: Shanghai's off the charts air pollution |publisher=Greenpeace |date=December 6, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307155938/http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/data/map-shanghais-charts-air-pollution |archive-date=March 7, 2014 }}

Shijiazhuang has direct administrative jurisdiction over:

Migrants flowing in from all across China largely contributed to the population growth of Shijiazhuang in recent times. With a population of 120,000 in 1947, Shijiazhuang became the first medium-large city captured by the Chinese Communist Party from the Kuomintang. By the time of the People's Republic of China's founding in 1949, the total urban population increased to more than 270,000 people, more than doubling in a span of two years. In 1953, when China rolled out its first five-year plan, the total population of Shijiazhuang's urban area increased to 320,000. In 1960, the total population of the Shijiazhuang urban area had reached 650,000. In 1968, the city experienced a substantial increase due to it being designated the capital of Hebei to avoid chaos in Baoding amidst the Cultural Revolution. By 1980, the urban population had surpassed the one million mark, joining the ranks of a large city. As of the end of 2017, the urban population of Shijiazhuang exceeded 4.5 million.

In just six decades, the city's population has increased by more than 20 fold.{{Cite web |url=http://city.finance.sina.com.cn/city/2007-11-12/92959.html |title=燕赵晚报：石家庄-60年人口巨变与一座城市的崛起 |access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724184115/http://city.finance.sina.com.cn/city/2007-11-12/92959.html}} At the end of 2009, the city's total non-migrant population was 9,774,100, an increase of 109,300 over the previous year. The birth rate of the city's population is 14.65%, the death rate is 6.25%, and the natural growth rate is 8.4%.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/col17321/index.html |title=石家庄市政府：石家庄市人口状况 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202052730/http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/col17321/index.html}}

According to the sixth national census in 2010, the city's total non-migrant population stands at 10,163,788.{{cite book |author=石家庄市统计局|title=《石家庄市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报》}} Compared with the fifth national census a decade prior, there was an increase of 818,365 people, or an increase of 8.76%, and an average annual growth rate of 0.84%. Among them, the male population stood at 5,087,913, accounting for 50.06% of the total population; the female population is 5,075,875, accounting for 49.94% of the total population. The gender ratio of the total population is 100 women per 100.24 men. The population aged between 0 and 14 is 1,548,125, accounting for 15.23% of the total population; the population aged between 15 and 64 is 7,789,753, accounting for 76.64% of the total population; the population aged 65 and over is 825,910, accounting for 8.13% of the total population.

The top 10 surnames of Shijiazhuang are: Zhang (10.27%), Wang (9.25%), Li (9.17%), Liu (6.73%), Zhao (4.28%), Yang (2.82%), Gao (2.08%), Chen (1.92%), Ma (1.77%), and Guo (1.55%).{{Cite web |url=http://news.people.com.cn/BIG5/37454/37461/4909190.html |title=燕赵都市报：一個石家庄有3406個"李娜" |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313155034/http://news.people.com.cn/BIG5/37454/37461/4909190.html}}

On May 6, 2011, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences published the "2011 China Urban Competitiveness Blue Book: China Urban Competitiveness Report". In it, the happiness survey sampled 294 cities across China, arriving at the conclusion that the residents of Shijiazhuang were the happiest. This result caused strong doubts from netizens.{{cite news|url=http://news.qq.com/a/20110507/000060.htm|title=社科院城市幸福感排名榜单遭质疑 被指不符常识|date=May 7, 2012|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510103517/http://news.qq.com/a/20110507/000060.htm}}

In 2014, the GDP of Shijiazhuang reached CN¥510.02 billion (about $80.45 billion in USD), an increase of 12 percent over the previous year, and placing the city 20th in provincial capitals by GDP.{{Cite web |url=http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2012/0823/c153180-18811017.html |title=26省会城市平均工资广州居首 11城超全国水平 |access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=November 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112220656/http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2012/0823/c153180-18811017.html }}{{cite web|language=zh-hans|script-title=zh:河北：石家庄市2011年GDP同比增长12.0%|url=http://www.chinaacc.com/new/184_900_201203/28li1439071054.shtml|website=www.chinacc.com|access-date=June 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100748/http://www.chinaacc.com/new/184_900_201203/28li1439071054.shtml|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}

Shijiazhuang has become a major industrial city in North China and is considered to be the economic center of Hebei province, along with Tangshan. The city also located in Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang Hi-Tech Industrial Belt, which is one of the main Hi-Tech Belts in China. Nicknamed the "medicine hub of China", it is home to major pharmaceutical companies and factories like the North China Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, Shijiazhuang Pharma Group, and Shineway Pharma. The textile industry is also one of the backbones of the city's commerce.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} Other sectors include machinery and chemicals such as Shijiazhuang Donghua Jinlong, building materials, light industry, and electronics. With abundant agricultural resources, Shijiazhuang has 590,000 hectares {{citation needed|date=February 2017}} of cultivated land and is the main source of cotton, pears, dates and walnuts in Hebei province.

In 2008, total imports reached US$1.393 billion, an increase of 42.1 percent over the previous year. Exports increased by 34.9 percent to US$5.596 billion. {{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

2006 World Bank reported that Shijiazhuang was spending less than RMB400 per capita on education, as opposed to Beijing (RMB1,044) and Weihai (RMB1,631).{{cite web|title=China Expat city Guide|url=http://www.chinaexpat.com/list/102|publisher=China Expat|year=2009|access-date=February 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205165241/http://chinaexpat.com/list/102|archive-date=February 5, 2009|url-status=live}}

• Shijiazhuang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone

The zone was established in March 1991 as a state-level development zone and is divided into three districts. National highways 107, 207, 307, 308 pass through the zone. It is {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} away from Shijiazhuang railway station, {{convert|105|km|abbr=on}} away from Tianjin Port. Industries include pharmaceuticals, electronic information, mechanical production, automobile manufacturing, chemicals production and logistics.{{cite web|url=http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/shijiazhuang-hi-tech-industrial-development-zone/|title=RightSite.asia – Shijiazhuang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone|website=rightsite.asia|access-date=May 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511002104/http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/shijiazhuang-hi-tech-industrial-development-zone|archive-date=May 11, 2010|url-status=live}}

The Eastern District, located in the eastern part of Shijiazhuang, covers an area of {{convert|5.8|km2|abbr=on}}, and serves as the primary section of the New High-tech Industrial Development Zone. The district focuses on the establishment of new high-tech enterprises. There are plans to expand the district into an area of {{convert|9.8|km2|abbr=on}}. {{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} A railway line operated by Shijiazhuang Oil Refinery runs through the zone from north to south, so enterprises in the zone can build lines of their own.

The Western District, located in the southwest of Shijiazhuang, covers an area of {{convert|8.2|km2|abbr=on}}. It focuses on small- and medium-sized technology enterprises and technology incubation. Liangcun District, which borders the Western District, covers {{convert|4|km2|abbr=on}}, and focuses on the pharmaceutical industry and the petrochemical industry. {{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

By 2009, some 2,600 enterprises had settled in the zone, of which 185 were foreign-funded enterprises. Firms from Japan, the US, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan had established themselves in the zone.

The city is a center for the dairy trade, being the headquarters of the Sanlu Group. Sanlu became Shijiazhuang's largest taxpayer since it had become the largest formula seller in China for a continuous 15-year period. Richard McGregor, author of The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers, said that Sanlu became "an invaluable asset for a city otherwise struggling to attract industry and investment on a par with China's premier metropolises."{{Cite book|author=McGregor, Richard|author-link=Richard McGregor|title=The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers|publisher=Harper Perennial|location=New York|year=2012|isbn=978-0-06-170876-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TxchbfKHfhsC&q=Shijiazhuang&pg=PA204|page=182|access-date=November 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427175951/https://books.google.com/books?id=TxchbfKHfhsC&pg=PA204&lpg=PA204&dq=%22perhaps+China's+most+globally+successful+company%22&source=bl&ots=9OoF_wL16E&sig=_np2k1Shh8C80SBEEGC4jodiRpE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7ap4UIOWOIrE9gSG7IHoDg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Shijiazhuang&f=false|archive-date=April 27, 2016|url-status=live}}

Both the dairy trade and Sanlu were affected by the 2008 Chinese milk scandal. The chairman and general manager of Sanlu, and several party officials, including the vice-mayor in charge of food and agriculture, Zhang Fawang, were reportedly removed from office.Klaudia Lee, "Tests find tainted baby milk at 21 more firms", Page A1, South China Morning Post (September 17, 2008)Xinhua, [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/17/content_10046973.htm "Officials, company manager sacked following baby milk powder scandal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103172922/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/17/content_10046973.htm |date=January 3, 2009 }}, chinaview.cn (September 16, 2008)Lee Spears, [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a1rfKvOp3xwc&refer=asia China Revokes `Inspection-Free' Right as Milk Scandal Spreads] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316105154/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics?pid=20601080&refer=asia&sid=a1rfKvOp3xwc |date=March 16, 2023 }}, Bloomberg, (September 17, 2008) Mayor Ji Chuntang reportedly resigned on September 17, 2008.[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/18/content_10075004.htm Death toll rises to four in tainted baby formula scandal in China] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105025600/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/18/content_10075004.htm |date=January 5, 2009 }}, Xinhua (September 18, 2008)

The city is served by many expressways, including the Shitai, Beijing–Shenzhen and Taiyuan–Cangzhou Expressways.

File:Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway Station (20160615145320).jpg.]]

Shijiazhuang is a transportation hub at the intersection point of the Beijing–Guangzhou, Taiyuan–Dezhou, and Shuozhou–Huanghua railways. The new Shijiazhuang railway station (opened December 2012) has a rare distinction of being served by both the "conventional" Beijing–Guangzhou Railway and the new Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway. Such an arrangement is fairly uncommon on China's high-speed rail network, as typically high-speed lines are constructed to bypass city cores, where the older "conventional" train stations are.{{citation|url=http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/Engineering/research/CenterSustainableUrbanInfrastructure/LowCarbonCities/Documents/Wing-tat_Hung/WTHung_high_speed_rail.pdf|title=Critical Issues of High Speed Rail Development in China|first1=Wing-tat|last1=Hung|first2=Lara|last2=Brunello|first3=Jonathan|last3=Bunker|page=4}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In Shijiazhuang's case, to make it possible to bring the new high-speed railway into the central city, a {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} long railway tunnel was constructed under the city. This is the first time a high-speed railway has been run under a Chinese city.{{citation|url=http://en.structurae.de/refs/items/index.cfm?id=r0066266|journal=Geotechnik|year=2011|issue=4|volume=34|pages=285–290|doi=10.1002/gete.201100014|title=Inner-city construction of a new high-speed railway line in China - Shijiazhuang City Tunnel and new Terminal as part of the Beijing-Shijiazhuang-Wuhan PDL|first1=Anna-Maria|last1=Meyer|first2=Johannes|last2=Frühauf|first3=Jinfa|last3=Gao|s2cid=110414802|access-date=December 30, 2012|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316105203/https://structurae.net/en/literature/journal-article/innerstadtischer-neubau-einer-hochgeschwindigkeitsstrecke-fur-die-eisenbahn-in-china-der-shijiazhuang-city-tunnel-und-das-neue-terminal-als-teil-der-beijing-shijiazhuang-wuhan-pdl|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}[http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/chinese-high-speed-in-the-wake-of-wenzhou.html Chinese high speed: in the wake of Wenzhou] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019001103/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/chinese-high-speed-in-the-wake-of-wenzhou.html |date=October 19, 2015 }}, by Han Qiao, July 1, 2012

There is also the smaller Shijiazhuang North railway station, used by trains going west toward Taiyuan without the need for passing though downtown.

{{main|Shijiazhuang Metro}}

Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3 of the Shijiazhuang Metro are currently operational.{{cite news|url=http://hebei.hebnews.cn/2021-04/06/content_8449554.htm|date=April 6, 2021|title=3号线一期东段及二期工程今日开通运营！石家庄地铁首期建设顺利收官|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=April 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406052203/http://hebei.hebnews.cn/2021-04/06/content_8449554.htm|url-status=live}} The system is {{convert|76.5|km|abbr=on}} in length. The latest metro plan of Shijiazhuang includes 6 lines in total.{{cite web|url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OTTT6eoRGq5rycfrJSUeEA|title=石家庄同时启动4条线路可研总承包招标 招标公告全文（1号线三期和5号线一期、4号线和6号线一期）|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725140958/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OTTT6eoRGq5rycfrJSUeEA|url-status=live}}

The Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport is the province's center of air transportation. It is about 30 kilometers northeast of the city. There are 32 domestic routes arriving at and departing from Shijiazhuang, including destinations such as Shanghai, Shenzhen and Dalian. The airport serves 12 international destinations including four routes to Russia. The airport is being expanded and will be capable of being an alternate airport to Beijing Capital International Airport.

With the opening of the Beijing–Guangzhou High-Speed Railway at the end of 2012, the airport got its own train station, making available fast, although infrequent, train service between the airport and Shijiazhuang railway station, as well as other stations in the region.{{cite web |url=http://www.guancha.cn/local/2012_12_28_117003.shtml |script-title=zh:坐飞机报销火车票 航空业死磕高铁 |trans-title=Air passengers can have their train tickets reimbursed: Air transportation industry's fight for survival |website=guancha.cn |date=December 28, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231153220/http://www.guancha.cn/local/2012_12_28_117003.shtml |archive-date=December 31, 2012 }}

Most large roads in the city feature a separate cycle lane and, combined with the city being flat, make it ideal for cycling. Thousands of cyclists use the city each day and often there are more cyclists waiting at a crossroad than cars.

Shijiazhuang is headquarters of the 27th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, one of the three group armies that comprise the Beijing Military Region responsible for defending China's capital.

File:石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio.jpg

The city of Shijiazhuang is similar to Beijing in that all roads run from north to south and east to west, making the city easy to navigate. Many roads have cycle paths making it cyclist friendly. In the heart of the city is the Hebei Museum which was refurbished in 2013 and 2014. It holds regular events, mostly showing traditional Chinese art and artifacts. The Yutong International Sports Centre hosts the Shijiazhuang Ever Bright football matches as well as holding pop concerts.

Shijiazhuang Zoo is located on the west side of the city. The zoo has 3,000 animals of 250 species including flamingos, golden monkeys, manchurian tigers, Indian elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees, kangaroos, seals, white tigers, springboks and pandas. Near the Shijiazhuang Zoo are the Botanical Gardens ({{lang-zh|s=石家庄植物园|link=no}}), offering a range of exotic and native plants both to view and purchase. The Martyrs Memorial ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=烈士纪念馆}}) can be found in the centre of the city, commemorating the soldiers lost in war.

File:Nantianmen, Baodu Zhai.jpg]]

Baodu Zhai ({{lang-zh|s=抱犊寨 |p=Bàodúzhài}}), or Baodu Village, is an ancient fortified hilltop settlement located on the west side of the city, the mountain contains walks and buddhist statues.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinahotel.com.cn/chinahotels_scenic_detail.php?scenic_no=936 |title=ChinaHotel article |access-date=July 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731065520/http://www.chinahotel.com.cn/chinahotels_scenic_detail.php?scenic_no=936 |archive-date=July 31, 2010 |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=April 2020}} Close to Baodu Zhai is Fenglong Mountain ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=封龙山}}) is situated {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} outside of Shijiazhuang to the west, the mountain features walks and a large stone Buddha statue situated on top of the mountain. Mount Cangyan ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=苍岩山 |p=Cāngyán Shān |l=Green Cliff Mountain}}) is a scenic area in Jingxing County, famous for its combination of natural mountain scenery with historical man-made structures. It was featured in a scene of the Chinese movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Image:Mount cangyan 2007.jpg

The Longxing Temple ({{lang-zh|t=隆興寺 |p=Lóngxīng Sì}}) is an ancient Buddhist monastery located just outside the city. It has been referred to as the "First Temple south of Beijing". The Anji Bridge (also known as Zhaozhou Bridge) ({{lang-zh|labels=no |t=安濟橋 |p=Ānjì Qiáo |l=Safe crossing bridge}}) is the world's oldest open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge. Credited to the design of a craftsman named Li Chun, the bridge was constructed in the years 595–605 during the Sui dynasty (581–618). It is the oldest standing bridge in China. The Pagoda of Bailin Temple ({{lang-zh|labels=no |t=從諗禪師舍利塔 |p=Cóngshěn Chánshī Shělìtǎ}} or {{lang-zh|t=趙州塔 |p=Zhàozhōu Tǎ |labels=no}}) is an octagonal-based brick Chinese pagoda built in 1330 during the reign of Emperor Wenzong, ruler of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).

The downtown area of the city contains a range of parks. The largest park is found in the centre of the city known as Chang'an Park ({{lang-zh|s=长安公园|link=no}}), the park includes an underground shopping mall, a theatre, a museum, a lake, bars and restaurants. Another park is found on the south east side of the city: Century Park ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=世纪公园}}), Century Park contains a lake in the centre with an amusement park to the north side. On the northwest side of the city is Water Park ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=水上公园}}) which features a large lake, amusement rides, short walks and various restaurants. As well as these three large parks there are smaller parks scattered across the city.

The largest mall in the city is the Wanda shopping mall, located in the southeast side of the city, along with the Lerthai Shopping Complex at the downtown, and Wondermall on the southwest side. The Wanda mall includes an IMAX theatre.

During the summer barbecue restaurants ({{lang-zh|s=烧烤|link=no}}) open, selling a whole range of foods, the most popular of which are lamb kebabs ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=羊肉串}}). Thousands of restaurants can be found across the city offering a range of Chinese as well as western cuisine open around the clock.

File:石家庄国际会展中心（正定）.jpg

The 2018 arthouse film An Elephant Sitting Still by Hu Bo was shot and set in Shijiazhuang.

• Li Deyu, a Chinese poet, politician, and writer of Tang dynasty.
• Zhou Dongyu, actress considered one of the Four Dan actresses of the post 90's generation.
• Kang Hui, news anchor for China Central Television.
• Li Jiang, an official of Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong.
• Deng Lun, actor.
• Omnipotent Youth Society, Chinese alternative rock band that was formed in the late 1990s.
• Han Shantong, one of leaders of the early Red Turban rebellion.
• Zhao Tuo, Qin dynasty Chinese general. Founder of Triệu dynasty.
• Linji Yixuan, the founder of Linji school since Tang dynasty.
• Han Xu, WNBA center for the New York Liberty.
• Sun Yingsha, table tennis player.{{cite web |title=Table Tennis: SUN Yingsha |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/table-tennis/athlete-profile-n1322049-sun-yingsha.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730140045/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/table-tennis/athlete-profile-n1322049-sun-yingsha.htm |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |access-date=July 30, 2021 |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games}}
• Zheng Yuanjie, Chinese fairy tale author, and founder and sole writer of a children's literature magazine known as the King of Fairy Tales.
• Zhao Yun, military general who lived during the late Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period.
• Feng Zhang, Chinese-American biochemist. Known for his role in the development of CRISPR technologies.

Shijiazhuang Gongfu F.C. ({{lang-zh|s=石家庄功夫 |p=Shíjiāzhuāng Gōngfu}}) is a Chinese football club based in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, which competes in the China League One. It plays in the 37,000-seat Yutong International Sports Centre.

Yutong International Sports Center ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=裕彤国际体育中心}}) is a multi-use stadium, used mostly for football matches. The capacity is 38,500.

Fumei Shijiazhuang FC is a Chinese futsal club, which competes in Futsal Premier league. Current coach is Dejan Dedovic

File:NormanBethune.jpg

• Hebei General Hospital{{cite web|title=Hebei General Hospital|url=http://www.hbpphosp.cn/|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817144943/http://www.hbpphosp.cn/|archive-date=August 17, 2018|url-status=live}}
• The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City{{cite web|title=China Expat city Guide|url=http://www.chinaexpat.com/first-hospital-shijiazhuang-city.htm|publisher=China Expat|year=2009|access-date=February 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207021235/http://chinaexpat.com/first-hospital-shijiazhuang-city.htm|archive-date=February 7, 2009|url-status=live}}
• The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University{{cite web|title=the third hospital of hebei medical university|url=http://www.dnbconnect.com/en/search/company_3812190536732.htm|website=dun&bradstreet|access-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723091640/http://www.dnbconnect.com/en/search/company_3812190536732.htm|archive-date=July 23, 2015}}
• Bethune International Peace Hospital{{cite web|title=Bethune International Peace Hospital|url=https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/92046/Bethune-International-Peace-Hospital.htm|access-date=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004073715/https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/92046/Bethune-International-Peace-Hospital.htm|url-status=live}} {{lang-zh|c=白求恩国际和平医院|p=Báiqiú'ēn'Hépíng'Yīyuàn}}, namesake after Norman Bethune a Canadian thoracic surgeon who is honored for his humanitarian service in bringing modern medicine to rural China.

{{Further|List of universities in China#Hebei|Hebei#Colleges and universities}}

• Shijiazhuang University
• Hebei GEO University
• Shijiazhuang Tiedao University
• Hebei Normal University
• Hebei Medical University

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in China}}

Shijiazhuang's twin towns and sister cities{{cite web|script-title=zh:89．对外、对内缔结友好城市|url=http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1492567442548/2004/09/17/1502356154031.html|publisher=Shijiazhuang People's Government|language=zh-cn|date=September 17, 2004|access-date=January 11, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111222315/http://www.sjz.gov.cn/col/1492567442548/2004/09/17/1502356154031.html|url-status=live}} are:

{{colbegin|colwidth=32em}}

: {{flagdeco|JPN}} Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (April 19, 1981)

: {{flagdeco|CAN}} Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (May 31, 1985)

: {{flagdeco|US}} Des Moines, Iowa, United States (August 8, 1986)

: {{flagdeco|US}} Edison, New Jersey, United States (Date unknown)[http://www.accci.com.au/sister.htm "Position Paper on Sister State and Sister City Relations Between Australia and China"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325024212/http://www.accci.com.au/sister.htm |date=March 25, 2018 }}, Australia-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New South Wales, dated November 14, 2001. Accessed August 30, 2015.

: {{flagdeco|ITA}} Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (September 22, 1987)

: {{flagdeco|UK}} Corby, England, United Kingdom (October 5, 1994)

: {{flagdeco|JPN}} Ayagawa, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan (May 23, 1995)

: {{flagdeco|ITA}} Solofra, Avellino, Italy (August 17, 1997)

: {{flagdeco|ROK}} Cheonan, South Chungcheong, South Korea (August 26, 1997)

: {{flagdeco|MEX}} Querétaro City, Querétaro, Mexico (September 2, 1997)

: {{flagdeco|CAN}} Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (July 9, 1998)

: {{flagdeco|SWE}} Falkenberg, Halland County, Sweden (August 6, 2002)

: {{flagdeco|VNM}} Nam Định, Nam Định Province, Vietnam (December 27, 2004)

: {{flagdeco|HUN}} Nagykanizsa, Zala County, Hungary (2007)

{{colend}}

{{portal|China}}

• List of twin towns and sister cities in China
• Yanzhao Evening News
• Chinese destroyer Shijiazhuang

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons|Shijiazhuang}}

{{Wiktionary|Shijiazhuang|Shih-chia-chuang|Shihchiachuang}}

{{wikivoyage|Shijiazhuang}}

• [http://www.sjz.gov.cn/ Shijiazhuang Government official website]

{{Hebei topics}}

{{Hebei}}

{{Metropolitan cities of the People's Republic of China}}

{{Provincial capitals of China}}

{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1925 establishments in China

Category:Cities in Hebei

Category:Provincial capitals in China

Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Hebei

Category:National Civilized City