Tian Guang (? - 227 BC), a native of Xiqianjiazhuang, present-day Xinhe County, called himself "Jie Xia" and recommended Jing Ke to Prince Dan to assassinate the King of Qin. Before Jing Ke left, Tian Guangfujian committed suicide to strictly keep the secret and encourage Jing Ke.
Geng Chun (? - 37 years), courtesy name Boshan, was born in Fujiazhuang, Songzi, Julu (now Hujia Village, Xinhe County). In 24 AD, he was appointed as a former general by Liu Xiu and granted the title of Marquis of Gengxiang. He accompanied him on the southern expedition and made great achievements in battle. Later he was appointed as the prefect of Dongjun.
Yan Liang (? - 200 years) was a native of Yanxianzhuang, Tangyang (now Xinhe County). During the Three Kingdoms period, he was a subordinate of Yuan Shao, the Mu of Jizhou. During the Battle of Guandu, Yan Liang led his troops to Baimapo and defeated several generals of Cao Cao. They were later killed by Guan Yu in the battle.
Xinhe County’s ancient celebrities include Kong Yuan, a general in the early Yuan Dynasty, Song Dengchun, a poet and painter in the Ming Dynasty, and Zhao Datian, a great monk in the Qing Dynasty.
Dong Zhentang (1895-1937) was a native of Xilijiazhuang, Xinhe County. A senior general of the Red Army and one of the leaders of the Ningdu riot. In 1934, he led his troops to participate in the Long March and repeatedly fought against Zhang Guotao's attempts to split the party. He died heroically in 1937. In memory of General Dong Zhentang, his hometown Xinhe County was renamed Zhentang County in 1947.
Pang Bingxun (1879-1963), a native of Nanyang Village, Xinhe County, was a senior general of the Kuomintang. After the Anti-Japanese War broke out in an all-round way, he led his troops to resist desperately and hold on to their positions, creating prerequisites for the victory of the Taierzhuang Battle. He surrendered to the Japanese army in May 1943, then worked for Chiang Kai-shek in August 1945, and crossed the sea to Taiwan with his family during the War of Liberation.
The revolutionary patriots in Xinhe County in modern times include Xing Timin, Wu Zilin, Sun Genfu, Sun Yimin, Du Xunguang, He Kun, Zhang Baohua, etc.
Celebrities in modern Xinhe include Fu Zhenlun, a giant of Chinese local chroniclers; Yang Bingyan, former vice minister of culture, deputy director of the National Art Museum, and famous calligrapher; Zhang Yuecheng, the owner of Tonggu Hall in Beijing and a master engraver famous for his stylus pens.