Baoding is a prefecture-level city in central Hebei province, approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) southwest of Beijing. As of the 2010 census, Baoding City had 11,194,382 inhabitants, of which 2,176,857 lived in the metropolitan area made of 4 out of 5 urban districts: Lianchi, Jingxiu, Qingyuan, and Mancheng all of which are largely conurbated. Baoding is among 13 Chinese cities with a population of over 10 million, ranking seventh.
Zhuozhou City in the northern part has now grown into part of the Beijing metro area.
Baoding is famous for Donkey Burgers (驴肉火烧), which are made with donkey meat.
Baoding Balls are famous for helping people to relax their hands.
Baoding doesn't have a metro system.
Administratively, Baoding is vast with the prefecture's land area encompassing 11 million inhabitants. The metro area has a population of 2 million. There are several outerlying counties far from the center. In the north is Yi County with a multi-site tourist complex centered on the Western Qing Tombs that includes a Yishui Lake and a historic town. In the northwest of Baoding Prefecture is Laiyuan County which includes Baishi Mountain, one of north China's most picturesque mountains.
The city was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century, but then rebuilt under the Yuan dynasty soon after when it acquired its modern name. Later it became a significant cultural centre through the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
