It was formerly known as Zhili {Chihli, meaning 'direct rule'), and was directly controlled by the Central Government, but was renamed after the fall in 1911 of the [[Qing]] dynasty. Following the [[Communist]] takeover of China in 1949, the cities of [[Beijing]] and [[Tianjin]], which lie within the outer boundaries of Hebei, were removed from its jurisdiction and designated seperate metropolitan areas. Therefore the capital of Hebei is the undistinguished railway town of [[Shijiazhuang]]. Other urban centres include Tangshan, which was very badly damaged by an earthquake in 1976, and the resort area of Qinhuangdao/Shahaiguan. | It was formerly known as Zhili {Chihli, meaning 'direct rule'), and was directly controlled by the Central Government, but was renamed after the fall in 1911 of the [[Qing]] dynasty. Following the [[Communist]] takeover of China in 1949, the cities of [[Beijing]] and [[Tianjin]], which lie within the outer boundaries of Hebei, were removed from its jurisdiction and designated seperate metropolitan areas. Therefore the capital of Hebei is the undistinguished railway town of [[Shijiazhuang]]. Other urban centres include Tangshan, which was very badly damaged by an earthquake in 1976, and the resort area of Qinhuangdao/Shahaiguan. |