The provincial capital is Shijiazhuang. The Hebei Plain is bound by the Yen Mountains. Along this range is the Great Wall of China. The climate is continental with hot, wet summers and cold, dry winters. The heaviest rainfall is in the months of June, July, and August.
Fruits grown are pears, grapes, peaches, persimmons, dates, and apples.
A reflection of the major coal-mine and railway development, Hebei's heavy industry is centered on steel, cement, and railway repair. Other manufactures are textiles, paper, ceramics, leather goods, and woolens. Serviced by seven major railroads and by sea transport, Hebei is a dominant force in Chinese trade. Evidence indicates that he used tools and fire. The Ch'ing Dynasty ruled Hebei from 1644 to 1911.