Hebei is a northern province of China. Its one-character abbreviation is "冀" (pinyin: jì), named after Ji Province (冀州 Jì Zhōu), a Han Dynasty province (zhou) that included southern Hebei. The name Hebei means "north of the (Yellow) River". In 1928 Hebei was formed after the central government dissolved the province of Zhili (直隶), which means "Directly Ruled (by the Imperial Court)". A common alternate name for Hebei is Yānzhào (燕趙), after the state of Yan and state of Zhao that existed here during the Warring States Period of early Chinese history. [Source: Wikipedia]
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