Time Zone |
Asia/Shanghai |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+8 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Europe/Riga |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Baoding, a prefecture-level city in Hebei Province, is located in the northern part of the North China Plain, constituting a golden triangle with Beijing and Tianjin, and is known as the "Gateway to the Gorge" and the "Southern Gate of the Capital". The city has a long history, since the Neolithic era, there will be the first people to flourish, the Warring States period for the junction of Yan and Zhao, the Yuan Dynasty, set up Baoding Road, to "defend the metropolis, stabilize the world," the Ming and Qing Dynasty for the capital of the Zhili province, is one of the political and cultural centers of northern China's modern times. There are many scenic spots and monuments in Baoding, including the Governor's Office of Zhili, one of China's top ten museums, the national 5A scenic spot Baiyangdian, and the thousand-year-old temple Mancheng Han Tomb, etc. Baoding has a rich cultural heritage. Cultural heritage, Baoding Military Academy is known as "China's modern military cradle", training a large number of military personnel; food culture is unique, Baoding dishes, locust Mao pickles, white Yunzhang buns and other famous. Nowadays, Baoding, as a regional center city in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei world-class urban agglomeration, is relying on the advantages of its location to vigorously develop new energy, automobile manufacturing and other industries, and is a livable city with both historical heritage and modern vitality.
Valka is an important border city in northeastern Latvia, closely linked to the Estonian city of Valga, which together form a unique "twin city". The city is located about 160 km northeast of Riga and is the central administrative center of the town of Valka.
Valka covers an area of about 14.4 square kilometers and has a population of about 5,000. The city is located in the hinterland of the Baltic Sea region and has historically been an important trading hub. It is unique in that it shares urban space with Varga, Estonia, and the border line runs directly through the city, making it a model for cross-border cooperation within the European Union.
Varka, first documented in 1286, has a medieval architectural heritage, including St. Catherine's Church. The history of Latvia's national awakening movement is vividly presented in the city museum. The annual Border Culture Festival promotes cultural exchange between residents of both countries.
As a special border city within the EU Schengen area, the Varka-Varga region has a unique cross-border commuting pattern. The local economy is dominated by logistics, retail and services, capitalizing on its hub location connecting the Baltic States. the opening of a joint bus system in 2019 further strengthens regional integration.
Visitors can experience the unique border landmark of "one step between two countries" and visit the ruins of Valka Castle Hill. The neighboring Vilcasius National Park offers a wealth of eco-tourism routes, and in winter you can participate in cross-country skiing, a popular activity in the Baltic Sea region.