4-Day Tour in Tangshan | Classic Combination of Qing East Tombs and Tangshan Earthquake Ruins・All-Age Friendly Guide
Tangshan is an industrial city reborn from the ashes, featuring the royal grandeur of the Qing East Tombs, the historical reflection of the Tangshan Earthquake Ruins, and the shimmering waters of Nanhu Lake. Listen to stories with the elderly under the ancient city walls, explore mysteries with children in the science museum—here, every day lets you feel the warmth of history and the power of life.
🗓️Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Tangshan → Tangshan Earthquake Ruins Memorial Park → Tangshan Industrial Museum → Xiaoshan Pedestrian Street
Day 2: Qing East Tombs → Wanfo Park
Day 3: Tangshan Nanhu Tourist Area → Tangshan Science Museum
Day 4: Luanzhou Ancient City → Return
🌆Day 1: City of Rebirth・Industrial Memory
📍Tangshan Earthquake Ruins Memorial Park (4A, free)
Highlights: A site commemorating the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, featuring earthquake ruins, memorial walls, and anti-earthquake sculptures. Elderly visitors can pay respects at the memorial wall, while children can experience simulated tremors at the free "Earthquake Science Museum," feeling the greatness of the "anti-earthquake spirit."
🕙Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00, recommended 9:30-11:30
📸Photo Spot: Earthquake Ruins Plaza (take photos of the "Anti-Earthquake Memorial Pillars" group, with solemn group shots)
💡Tips: The park is solemn and quiet; keep noise down. Explain earthquake safety knowledge to children.
📍Tangshan Industrial Museum (3A, ticket 30 RMB)
Highlights: Showcases Tangshan as the "Cradle of Modern Chinese Industry," with old equipment like steam locomotives and machine tools. Elderly visitors can reminisce at the restored Kailuan Coal Mine scene, while children can try steelmaking simulation in the "Interactive Workshop" (20 RMB per session). The industrial style is great for photos.
🕙Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00, recommended 14:00-16:00
📍Xiaoshan Pedestrian Street (free)
Highlights: A long-established commercial street in Tangshan, home to the "China Time-Honored Brand" Hongyan Restaurant. Must-try foods include chess-piece sesame cakes (1 RMB each) and stewed pork knuckle (68 RMB per serving). Elderly visitors can stroll through the "Old Department Store" to recall childhood memories, children can buy Tangshan shadow puppetry souvenirs (25 RMB each), and neon signs light up the street at night with a lively atmosphere.
🕙Recommended Time: 18:00-20:00
🏨Recommended Accommodation: "Tangshan Jinjiang International Hotel" in the city center (family rooms available, 10 minutes by car from the ruins park), priced 400-600 RMB/night with complete facilities.
🏯Day 2: Explore Qing East Tombs・Peaceful Buddha Park
📍Qing East Tombs (5A, combined ticket 108 RMB including Xiaoling, Jingling, Yuling, etc.)
Highlights: The largest existing imperial mausoleum complex in China. The stone carvings in the underground palace of Emperor Qianlong’s Yuling and the "Phoenix Above, Dragon Below" stone carving commissioned by Empress Dowager Cixi at the East Tomb are masterpieces. Elderly visitors can take the sightseeing bus (30 RMB/person) around the site, while children can wear dragon robes and take photos in the "Qing History Experience Hall" (50 RMB/set), feeling the grandeur of the royal tombs.
🕙Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00, recommended 8:30-14:00
💰Cost: Adults 138 RMB (includes combined ticket + sightseeing bus), seniors 60+ free ticket (bus not free), children under 1.4m free
📸Photo Spot: Yuling Sacred Way (take photos of the stone statue group, stand in the center of the sacred way)
💡Tips: The site is large; bring snacks. The underground palace is cool, bring a light jacket for elderly visitors.
📍Wanfo Park (4A, ticket 50 RMB)
Highlights: Adjacent to Qing East Tombs, featuring Buddhist attractions like the "Golden Pagoda" and "Eighteen Arhats." The park has exquisite stone carvings. Elderly visitors can feed fish by the "Release Pond," children can view the "Twelve Zodiac" sculptures. The tranquil environment is perfect for a stroll.
🕙Recommended Time: 15:00-16:30
🌳Day 3: Beauty at Nanhu・Science Exploration
📍Tangshan Nanhu Tourist Area (5A, free, some activities charge fees)
Highlights: An ecological park transformed from a coal mining subsidence area, with a thousand-acre lake, Peach Blossom Pool, and the Phoenix Facing the Sun sculpture. Visitors can take boat rides (60 RMB/person) or ride multi-person bicycles (40 RMB/hour). Elderly visitors can sunbathe on "Yunfeng Island," children can play bumper cars in the "Children’s Playground" (20 RMB/session). The peach blossoms in spring are stunning.
🕙Recommended Time: 9:00-13:00
📸Photo Spot: Phoenix Facing the Sun Plaza (capture the sculpture and its reflection on the lake, best at sunrise)
📍Tangshan Science Museum (free, reservation required)
Highlights: A highly interactive science museum with exhibits like "Earthquake Simulation" and "Space Exploration." The dome theater (15 RMB/person) and robot dance show (10:30, free) are must-sees. Elderly visitors can try "Health Check" equipment, children can play water gun fire-fighting games in the "Science Playground." Fun for the whole family.
🕙Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays), recommended 14:30-16:30
🍜Recommended Dining: "Tangshan Banquet" near Nanhu (Food Culture Museum), must-try sesame candy (10 RMB/portion) and shrimp oil side dishes (8 RMB/portion), about 50 RMB per person, enjoy folk performances while dining.
🏮Day 4: Luanzhou Ancient City Nostalgia・Return
📍Luanzhou Ancient City (4A, free, some attractions charge fees)
Highlights: A reconstructed Ming and Qing dynasty ancient city with the Luan River flowing through. Attractions include the Bell and Drum Tower, Purple Gold Pagoda, and Shadow Puppet Museum (20 RMB). Elderly visitors can take a rowboat (50 RMB/person) to see lanterns on both banks, children can learn shadow puppetry (30 RMB/session), and buy "Luanzhou Paper Cuttings" (25 RMB/piece) as souvenirs. The ancient city is quiet and peaceful in the early morning, perfect for vintage-style photos.
🕙Recommended Time: 9:00-14:00
📸Photo Spot: Under the Purple Gold Pagoda (capture the pagoda and lanterns on the ancient street, wearing Hanfu makes photos even better)
💡Tips: Try the "Hao Family Fire Cake" (5 RMB each) inside the ancient city, especially delicious with meat filling.
✨Tangshan Survival Guide
1️⃣Transportation: City subway under construction; bus lines 2 and 10 cover main attractions (2 RMB). To Qing East Tombs, take the tourist shuttle (25 RMB/person, 1.5 hours), taxi about 150 RMB. To Luanzhou Ancient City, take the train (12 RMB/person, 30 minutes) plus bus—convenient and cheap.
2️⃣Clothing: Wear windproof jackets in spring and autumn (windy by Nanhu and Luan River), short sleeves plus sun protection in summer (many outdoor sites), down jackets and non-slip shoes in winter (snow at Qing East Tombs). Bring sports shoes for walking.
3️⃣Taboos: No loud play in Earthquake Ruins Park; do not touch relics or climb statues at Qing East Tombs; do not damage interactive exhibits in the Science Museum.
4️⃣Accommodation: Stay in Tangshan city center (Lunan District preferred) for the first three days; day trips to Luanzhou are possible. Choose hotels with children’s play areas for kids and elevator rooms for elderly.
🛍️Must-Buy Souvenirs
① Tangshan Sesame Candy (gift box 30 RMB/box, crispy and not greasy, loved by elderly and children)
② Chess-Piece Sesame Cakes (vacuum pack 20 RMB/bag, savory and delicious, perfect with porridge)
③ Tangshan Shadow Puppets (decorative pieces 50 RMB each, intangible cultural heritage handmade, exquisite patterns)
④ Qianxi Chestnuts (gift box 60 RMB/box, sweet and soft, direct from the origin)
The story of Tangshan is one of rebirth in the earthquake ruins, history in the Qing East Tombs, and tranquility on the Nanhu waters. Whether you take your parents to find a piece of old times in the ancient city, explore the unknown with children in the science museum, or reminisce about glory with friends in the industrial museum, here you will find resilience and warmth that move you. If you come to Tangshan, would you first want to pay tribute at the earthquake ruins or explore the mysteries of the Qing East Tombs?