Welcome to Chengde

Where is Chengde?	Chengde Local History	Chengde Attractions
Chengde Shopping	Chengde Restaurants	Chengde Bars and Clubs

Where is Chengde?

Chengde is located in the northeast of the Hebei Province, the hinterland of Yanshan Mountain Chain; 435 kilometres away from its provincial capital, Shijiazhuang and 256 kilometres from Beijing. It consists of two type of landforms: plateau and hilly area; with the specified three-dimensional land resource; being surrounded by mountains. Chengde is 40,000 sq km and the population is about 3.5 million.

It has a temperate continental monsoon and hilly area climate with four distinct seasons.

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Chengde Local History

Chengde is a famous cultural city. It used to be the second political centre in the Qing dynasty, with the largest extant royal garden in China. It is often called "Rehe" (warm river) after its constantly flowing spring. Formerly this was the provincial capital of Rehe.

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Chengde Attractions

Places to visit:

•  The Chengde Mountain Resort: Situated in the northern part of Chengde, the Mountain Resort, also called the Temporary Imperial Dwelling Palace in Rehe, was built by the Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D-1911 A.D) for the sake of stabilising the frontier region and maintaining the unity of multi - nationalities. This large resort is considered as the most remarkable imperial garden still existing today in China. The Chengde Mountain Resort was the former out palace of Emperor Kang Xi and other Qing rulers of the time. The palace structures along with the temple built in the place show the different styles of architecture by various Chinese nationalities. The mountain resort possesses scenery featuring those of both north and south China.

•  Mulan Hunting Site (Mulan Weichang): Mulan Hunting Site is famous for its natural hunting. It used to be royal hunting site in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1901 A.D.) and now it is a nice place for cooling off in summer and skiing and hunting in winter. It is located in Weichang County, Chengde city, with an area of 2324 sq kilometres in which Saihanba Spot counts 1685 square kilometres and the Saihanba National Forest Park is in the spot. Since ancient time it has been a fertile place, a natural imperial garden. "Pine Trees for One-thousand-li" has ever been the hunting place for the Emperor in Liao Dynasty. "Mulan Weichang" is also the place for Emperor in the Qing Dynasty to hold the Mulan hunting in autumn. Nowadays, it still keeps the feature of nature and simplicity, keeps the primitive beauty.

•  Wooden Club Peak: A very famous with its unique peak shaped like a wooden club pointing to the sky. The hill is about 600 metres high and the distinctive peak accounts for another 60 metres. Climb to the top for a wonderful bird's-eye-view of Chengde city.

Temples:

•  Pule Temple: Located in the east of Chengde city, the Pule Temple was built in 1766 A.D, by Qianlong Emperor. After the rebellions in Xinjiang area was suppressed by central government of the Qing Dynasty, more and more ethnic minorities groups leaders came to Chengde Mountain Resort to present themselves to the Emperors and spend their summer holidays together. The temple was constructed to show the respect of central government to the Minorities. It consists two parts: the front parts are traditional Chinese architectures while the back parts are Tibetan Buddhism style buildings as well as Buddhist rites.

•  Putuo Zongcheng Temple (Lesser Potala Palace): Built in 1771, the Putuo Zongcheng Temple is a most resplendent and sweeping one. It covers an area of 220,000 square meters. And this temple was built in great similarity to Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet in architectural style. That is why it is also called the lesser Potala Palace.

•  Puning Temple: The Puning Temple (with its popular name Big Buddha Temple) is located in the northeast of Chengde city. The main attractions inside the temple are Bell and Drum Towers, Pavilions, Heaven King Palace (Tian Wang Dian) and the Daxiong Baodian. Built in 1755 A.D (QING Dynasty), the temple shows the Qing Dynasty's respect to the Minorities. It is a most grandiose palace group. It is an architectural masterpiece of BAROQUE style. It has been placed on "a catalogue of world culture heritage" by UN in 1981.

•  Xumifushou Temple (Temple of Sumeru Happiness and Longevity): Copied from the Tashilunpo Monastery in Xigaze Tibet where the Sixth Panchen Lama lived. This temple was built in the 45th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1780) as a temporary residence and study for the Sixth Panchen Lama when he made a 20,000-li journey to the resort to offer congratulations to Emperor Qianlong on his 70th birthday.

•  The Eight Outer Temples: Outside the Chengde Mountain Resort, there are eleven temples built during the Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D~1911 A.D). It took 67 years to build these temples. Standing for the different architectural style of various Minorities in China, the Eight Outer Temples is the symbol of the country unity and minorities solidification. As they were under eight different administrations, they were usually referred to as the eight Outer Temples. Eleven splendid temples were built more than two hundred years ago east and north of the resort. Only seven temples remain intact today, reflecting the traditional art and culture of the Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan nationalities.

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Chengde Shopping

Landao Plaza: Selling mostly name-brand products made in China and souvenirs of Chengde.

Department Store: Name-brand shoes and local specialities of Chengde.

Shopping City of Chengde: The largest shopping centre in Chengde, selling all kinds of goods made in China and Chengde.

Shopping Plaza of Chengde: Comprehensive department store, selling mainly food.

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Chengde Restaurants

There are a few good budget restaurants on Lizhengmen Lu, opposite the main entrance to the mountain resort, which are lively on summer evenings, when rickety tables are put on the pavement outside. Plenty of diners stay on drinking well into the evening.

Taoyuan Restaurant: The decor of this large modern hall isn't inspiring, but the food is simple and inexpensive.

Xinhua Restaurant: The restaurant of the Xinhua hotel has a good reputation for Shandong cooking, particularly pheasant and hare dishes.

Dadi Restaurant: Braised steak, Roast hare, Roast leg of mutton, Dadi Chafing dish.

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Chengde Bars & Clubs

Chengde is at its liveliest on Friday and Saturday summer nights, when the weekenders are here, though the Yiyuan Nightclub, just west of the Shanzhuan Hotel, caters strictly for wealthy tourists.

The main shopping drag, Nanyingzi Dajie, is a good place to come in the evening when a night market stretches all the way down it. Many of the vendors sell antiques and knick-knacks, which are generally cheaper than in either Beijing or Tianjin.

Archers Direct for China Holidays, China Tours, China Cruises, China River Cruises & China Escorted Touring Holidays.

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