Baoding, Hebei Province 6

Famous Baoding Iron Balls

The Baoding ball is thought to originate in Baoding, China, a small city in Hebei province. In that town, they are referred to as "Iron Balls" because they were originally made from solid iron.

Baoding's history spans over 2,300 years and it has played many different roles under it's rulers. It was destroyed by the Mongolian Army early in the 13th century and rebuilt later that same century under the Yuan Dynasty. It served as an important cultural center through the Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the early 1940's it served as a headquarters for the Japanese occupational armies.