Located in Chengde, Hebei Province, this is China's largest surviving imperial palace-garden complex, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. The 10 sq.km site comprises the Mountain Resort and 12 outlying temples, representing the pinnacle of Chinese classical gardening, architecture and religious culture.
Mountain Resort
- Construction: Built between 1703-1792 (89 years) during Kangxi-Qianlong reigns.
- Area: 564 hectares, twice the size of Summer Palace.
- Garden Features: Blends southern elegance with northern grandeur, miniaturizing China's landscapes.
- Zones: Palace Area, Lake District, Plain Section and Mountain Area.
Outlying Temples ("Eight Outer Temples")
- Architecture: Sino-Tibetan style symbolizing ethnic unity.
- Representative Temples:
Putuo Zongcheng Temple (Mini Potala)
Xumi Fushou Temple (Panchen Lama's Palace)
Puning Temple (Thousand-armed Guanyin Statue) - Historical Significance: Material evidence of Qing's ethnic-religious policies.
Main Attractions
- Danbo Jingcheng Hall: Nanmu wood main palace hall.
- Misty Rain Tower: Replica of Jiaxing's tower, featured in "My Fair Princess".
- Putuo Zongcheng Temple: Tibetan-style complex with grand Red Terrace.
- Hammer Peak: Danxia landform, borrowed scenery for the resort.
Cultural Values
- Architecture: Culmination of Chinese imperial garden design.
- History: Qing Dynasty's "Summer Capital" for political activities.
- Religion: Exemplifies Han-Tibetan-Manchu cultural integration.
Visitor Information
- Opening Hours:
Resort: Peak 7:00-18:00; Off-peak 8:00-17:30
Temples: 8:00-17:00 - Ticket Price:
Resort: Peak 130 yuan; Off-peak 90 yuan
Temples: 40-80 yuan/site (Putuo Zongcheng 80 yuan) - Transportation:
From Beijing: 1-hour high-speed rail to Chengde South
City buses: Routes 1, 7, 15
Travel Tips
- Recommended Route: Lizheng Gate→Danbo Hall→Misty Rain Tower→Putuo Temple→Puning Temple (2-day ideal).
- Best Season: June-October for cool weather; July-August for lotuses.
- Experiences: Dragon boat on lakes; Tibetan Buddhist rituals at Puning Temple.