Chengde Mountain Resort


Chengde Mountain Resort ,also called Rehe Temporary Palace, is situated north of Chengde and 230 kilometers from Beijing. It covers an area of 564 sq meters (218 sq miles) and was originally built for the royal families to spend the hot summer months.  Chengde Mountain Resort was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and it took 89 years (1703-1792) to complete. It was not only the meeting place of the Qing Dynasty government with foreign envoys and frontier ethnic minorities but also the second political center of the Qing dynasty except Beijing. Nowadays, it is  a key national cultural protection unit in Hebei Province, and it was listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory in 1994.

What to see?
When compared with the grand and solemn Forbidden City, the mountain resort is characterized by its simplicity and elegance. It is a grand architectural complex that consists of numerous palaces, the largest royal garden in China and wonderful scenery, combined with a pleasant climate. Chengde Mountain Resort is divided into four areas such as the palace area and the lake area in the south, and the mountain and plain areas in the north. The palace area and the lake area are the essence of the resort.

The Palace Area
As soon as you enter the main gate of the mountain resort (located on Lizhengmen Street), you can see the palace area, so you usually visit the palace area first. Because the mountain resort is the place where the Qing government met with foreigners, the villa was built with the etiquette of receiving foreign guests, so the specifications are very high, which is equivalent to the specifications of the Forbidden City. At the same time, in order to show the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation to foreign guests, the overall layout of the palace area It is simple and elegant, but it is also very expensive in terms of building materials. The main hall, Danbo Jingcheng Hall, is entirely made of nanmu trees, which can be described as "a painstaking effort" in design.
After entering from the door with the "Summer Resort Museum" plaque, you can visit the Sheyue Gate which has the four-character " Mountain Resort" plaques written by the Emperor Kangxi, the Danbo Jingcheng Hall, and the Yanbo Zhishuang Palace where the two emperors of Jiaqing and Xianfeng, etc. It will take you  about 2 hours visiting at most. 
 
The Mountain Area
It is  located in the northwest of the resort, accounts for 80% of the total area. The mountain area is formed by four valleys: Filbert Valley, Pine Valley, Pear Valley and Pine-cloud Valley, which run south to north. The mountain peaks surrounding the area form a natural curtain which impedes the cold winds blowing in from Northwest China. Various pavilions, temples and other structures dot the mountain slopes and valleys.

The Lake Area
The Lake Area lies in north of the Palace Area. Eight islets dotted in the lake, dividing the Lake Area into several fields of different sizes. In total there are eight lakes in the Lake Area, respectively called Cheng Lake, Mirror Lake, Ruyi Lake, Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Silver Lake, Half-moon Lake and Inner Lake. Cheng Lake is the deepest while Rehe Spring is famous for its crystal-clear waters.

The Plain Area
The Plain Area is located at the foot of the mountain, north of the Lake Area. The plain is a vast area, and is covered with thick grass and trees. The plain area is broken into three areas: a garden populated by various trees in the east, a vast grassland for riding horses in the west and a group of temples in the north. Riding a horse over this broad plain leaves visitors feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Travel Tips
Address: No. 20, Lizhengmen Road, Shuangqiao District, Chengde City
Phone: 0314-2161132
Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
Entrance Fees: CNY 220 including the electric automobiles 



Ask Questions ?