A city that borders Beijing, the national capital of the People’s Republic of China. Baoding is located in the west-central portion of the Hebei province. The city lies on the North China Plain, east of the Taihang Mountains.

The history of Baoding dates back to the Western Han Dynasty. In the 13th century, the city was destroyed and eventually rebuilt by the Mongols. The city’s name came to fruition during the Yuan Dynasty. Roughly interpreted, Baoding means “protecting the capital”. Baoding became part of the newly-formed Hebei province in 1928.

As of 2009, the urban area of Baoding had a population of approximately 1,006,000 people. The administrative area has a population of approximately 10,890,000 people. Most inhabitants are Han Chinese and speak the Baoding dialect of Ji-Lu Mandarin.

Baoding is part of the Bohai Rim economic area, which includes Beijing, Shijiazhuang and Tianjin. It is home to Yingli Group, one of the top 10 solar panel manufacturers. One of the most well-known items that supposedly originates from the Baoding region is the Baoding Ball, which is used to relax your keyboard hand and strengthen your wrist.

Baoding is home to a number of historic sites, including an ancient lotus garden and the Mancheng Han Tombs.