Chengde, Imperial summer resort in Hebei, China
Chengde is a prefecture-level city in Hebei that centers on an imperial mountain resort from the Qing Dynasty. The resort spans more than 5 square kilometers with palatial buildings, lakes, gardens, pagodas, and temples set against mountains.
Emperor Kangxi founded the resort in 1703 as a secondary capital and made it a hub for diplomatic ties with neighboring regions. The city held this role until around 1820, when its political importance declined.
The Putuo Zongcheng Temple blends Tibetan and Chinese architectural styles, showing how the Qing court engaged with multiple cultures through its buildings. Walking through it, you notice how the design speaks to the mix of peoples within the empire.
The Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway passes through the city with several stations, connecting it to major centers within a few hours of travel. The resort grounds are navigable on foot, making it suitable for day visits or longer stays.
The resort contains around 72 distinct locations that recreate famous landscapes from southern China, including miniature versions of temples and gardens. These scaled-down replicas allowed the emperor to see distant regions of his realm without traveling far.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
