The Huayan Temple complex in Xuanhua, the historic district south of Zhangjiakou city centre, is one of the less-visited Buddhist sites in Hebei and one of the most rewarding. It dates back to the Liao dynasty and preserves, remarkably, an intact library pavilion whose carved wooden bookshelves are among the finest examples of their kind remaining in northern China. Most visitors to the area head straight for the ski slopes of Chongli and miss this entirely.
Xuanhua itself is worth the short detour: it retains sections of its Ming-dynasty city wall, a drum tower at the centre of the old street grid, and a general atmosphere of a market town that has been living on its past without urgency. The Liao-dynasty tombs scattered across the area hold well-preserved mural paintings, though access varies. From Xuanhua you can reach Zhangjiakou city centre by local bus or taxi in about thirty minutes.