Waves roll along the bottom of an elegant inkstone at Yishui Inkstone Company in Hebei province. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
Cradling Beijing within its folds, Hebei province's Yi County is a mere hop, skip, and a jump away, providing a variety of sights and experiences to help people escape urbanity.
Best known for its Western Qing Tombs, Yi County also has its lesser known places of interest. Hebei has a large amount of minerals, which has created a culture of artisans who have taken centuries to develop their crafts with these materials.
