Hebei - The Mountain Resort of Chengde

    One of China's ten leading scenic spots and the world's extant largest imperial garden where emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911) used to come in summer to escape heat and engaged in political activities, the resort is also known as the "Ligong of Chengde" or temporary palace away from the capital. Built in the years between 1703 and 1790 and located in a hill-encircled basin, it covers an area of 5.64 million square meters and boasts 120 groups of building, including terraces, pavilions and towers characteristics of gardening architecture. 

    Seventy-two scenic spots bear inscriptions by Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong. The gardens are full of natural interest, blending the cream of ancient gardening art of both the north and south of China.

    In December 1994 the Mountain Resort was listed by UNESCO in its World Heritage.

Chengde Summer Resort

    The Chengde Summer Resort is situated in Chengde City, Hebei Province, while the Eight outlying Temples are on the tableland on the slopes of hills to the east and north of it. The construction of the Summer Resort was first started at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, as the emperor's short-stay palace on his way to Mulan Hunting Ground. In the 40th year of the reign of emperor Kangxi (1701 A.D.) the construction of a grandiose stay palace was started, and during the reign of emperor Qianlong large scale extensions were conducted which eventually led to the largest imperial garden complex that survives till the present day. The resort occupies an area of 5.60 million sq.m., of which 4/5 is natural hilly land, while the remaining part is plain and lake. The resort adeptly takes advantage of the terrain to construct the palace area and the Hill and Water Scenery Area. The nine-fold courtyard complex that comprises the Main Palace was the chief location where the emperor led his everyday life and dealt with administrative affairs. For over a hundred years from the reign of Kangxi to that of Xianfeng, the emperors spent nearly a half of their time living here, thus the Main Palace had become the second political center of the Qing Dynasty. To the east of the Main Palace is the "Song He Zhai(Pine and Crane Study)" and the Eastern Palace, where the empress and the concubines live. Many structures and garden-and-woods scenery in the Hill and Water Scenery Area were imitations from the regions south of the Yangtze River. Construction of the Eight Temples outside the Resort started in the year 1713 and was finished in 1780, covering period of 66 years. Of the eight temples built, six survive. They have different plans and architecture styles. They are a collection of the Buddhist Architecture Art in China. 

Eight Outer Temples in Chengde

    Outside the surrounding wall of the Mountain Resort of Chengde in Hebei Province, lies an orderly array of eight brilliant and golden temples. Located east of the Wulie River are the Puren Temple, the Pule Temple and the Anyuan Temple. To their north and at the foot of the cliff is the Puning Temple. North of the Mountain Resort are the Xumifushouzhi Temple, the Putuozongchengzhi Temple and the Shuxiang Temple. These temples are arrayed around the Mountain Resort on the eastern and northern sides just like stars surrounding the moon in a semicircle.

    The formation of the Eight Outer Temples around the Mountain Resort is our miniature motherland. Replicas of the Sanmoye Temple by the bank of the Yalutsangpo River, the Putala Palace in the upper Tibet, the Jashilumbu Monastery in the lower Tibet, and the Guerzha Temple in Yili, representative of China's southwest and northwest border areas, have appeared here. Shuxiang Temple on the Wutai Mountain, and the Hall of Arhats in the Anguo Temple in Haining County, represent Northern and Southern China. These Temples in Tibetan, Mongolian as well as the Han architectural styles, are not just a simple imitation, but a new creation. For example, the Dacheng Tower of the Puning Temple is an imitation of the main hall of the Sanmoye Temple with the upper story in Indian style, middle story in the style of inland China and lower story in Tibetan style. However, the imitated Dacheng Tower here is all in the style of inland China, except the two sides of the lower story which retain a little characteristics of a Tibetan blockhouse, and the five upturned corner roofs of Sanmoye style. The Xumifushouzhi Temple differs greatly from the Jashilumbu Monastery, but its red platform, gilded cupola and the shape are very much in the style of the Monastery.