You are right to make this post. I lived in Shijiazhuang, Hebei which is one of the "better" cities in the province. But I use the word "better" very loosely as it is a very dirty, polluted, ugly, drab, soulless city (and even province). As one Chinese women from Guangxi (correctly) put it, when I asked her if she had ever been to Hebei, she said "Oh THAT place, it is just dirt and mud!" She is basically correct! I think living in any city in Hebei, a very under developed province, is putting your health at risk, but that is just my opinion. I know other foreigners often got sick living in Shijiazhuang.

Shijiazhuang IS the capital of Hebei, and is likely the most diverse city in Hebei, not that it is saying much. Handan is even worse, in every way, and more boring, dirtier, soulless and drab. Vibrant is the last word I would use to describe this place and after I took an invite from a student for five days to visit the city, I never wanted to go back again.