Hebei, officially abbreviated to "Ji" in Chinese, is a province situated on the North China Plains. The name Hebei literally means "north of the river", referring to its location in relation to the Yellow River. The province is bordered by Bohai Bay to the east, the Taihang Mountains to the west, the Yellow River to the south and the Yanshan Mountains to the north, and surrounds Beijing and Tianjin. It is the only province in China that has plateaus, mountains, hills, basins, plains, lakes and seashores. Another common name for Hebei in Chinese is the "Land of Yanzhao", after the States of Yan and Zhao which existed here during the Warring States Period in early Chinese history.
Hebei Province is one of the cradles of the Chinese nation. Over 5,000 years ago, the Yellow Emperor, the Yan Emperor and Chiyou, the three legendary founding fathers of China, reconciled here after numerous battles to usher in the brilliant history of Chinese civilization.