Chengde
(Hebei Online)
Updated: 2004-07-16 13:54

Chengde, only over 200 kms from Beijing, is situated in the mountainous area in north Hebei, sharing boarders with Zhangjiakou on/to the west, Liaoning to the east, Inner Mongolia to the north, Qinhuangdao and Tangshan to the south.
There are 8 counties and 3 districts in Chengde city, covering an area of 40,000 sq. kms, with a population of 3.5 million, 1.3 million of which are minority nationalities such as Mongol, Chaoxian(Korean), Manzu and Huizu. The four railway lines, ie, Beijing-Chengde, Beijing-Tongliao, Chengde-Shijiazhuang, Chengde-Shenyang railways, and three national roads G101, G111, G112 pass through Chengde Prefecture, providing very good transportation. In particular, Beijing-Chengde tourist highway greatly shortened the travel time between the two cities.

Chengde has a long history and a variety of cultures. There are traces of early man living here in the period of Longshan Culture. In the Warring States period, Yan State once had its county government in this area. From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, some minority nationalities had nomadic life in this region.

To the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the present urban Chengde was called Rehe Shangying-a small village of some dozens of household.

In 1703, the Qing Emperor Kangxi began to build the Mountain Resort. And in 1723 Rehe [Jehol] Ting was founded and in 1733 renamed as Chengde Zhou(Prefecture).

Chengde is especially rich in tourism resources. In this miraculous region, you find numerous "Tops in the world" the Mountain resort-the largest imperial garden, the Eight Outer Temples-the largest Royal Temple groups, the Avalokitesvara-the largest wooden buddha in the world, the Rehe river-the shortest river in the world, the Jinshanling Great Wall-the best section of the Great Wall, the Qingchui Peak-the superb stone pillar, Mulan Enclosure (Weichang)-the largest imperial hunting ground. With the Mountain Resort and the Eight Outer Temples at the center, all other scenic spots are located round Chengde city; Mulan Enclosure (Weichang) to the north, the Wuling Mountain National Nature Preserve, the imperial garden in the past, to the south, No.1 Grassland north of Beijing and the Baiyun Cave to the west, and Chaoyang Cave, Liao(he) River Source National Forest Park and the Panlong Lake North of the Great Wall to the east. The steep and magnificant Jinshanling Great Wall is between Beijing and Chengde along the Beijing-chengde tourist highway.

These unique scenery and natural landscape make Chengde a famous tourist attraction. Chengde boasts many special local products and folk handicrafts such as Xinglong haw, Jingdong Chinese chestnuts, hazelnuts, almond, Bashang mushroom ferns, Jinlianhua flower and wild medical herbs famous in China; Teng's Buhuhua, known as wonder in China" Fengning papercuts, root sculpture, hadicraft articles" china porcelain carving, bonsai etc. Besides, the almond juice, white as milk, delicious and nutritious, enjoys international fame. Wandering along the streets in the city, you will find various kinds of local food, such as Haw food products are made of the local haw form Wuling Hill. They sell very well in the country.

With the development of tourism, Chengde city has already eatablished a good tourist service system. There are 63 travel services, 18 hotels with/above 2 stars, over 30 restaurants and gift shops.

In addition, there are many entertainment Karaoke dancing hall, bowling etc. In case you need help in your tour, call 86-314-2024548 for information.

Chengde Summer Resort

The latter can be further devided into three parts:the lake, plains and mountain areas.
　　
The palace area is located in the southern part of the Summer Resort, and it includes Zhenggong (Front Palace), Songhezhai (Pine-Crane Hall), Wanhesongfeng (Whispering Pine Valley) and Donggong (Eastern Palace)(destroyed).

Zhenggong is the main building in the palace area, including a court in front and bed chambers in the rear. The main Hall is the Danbo Jingcheng Hall ( Hall of Frugality and Placidity), also known as Nanmu Hall because it was built of nanmu. This is the palace building where the Qing emperors conducted state affairs and held various important ceremonies.
Many of the scenic spots around the lake area were copied from famous landscaped gardens in south China. Yanyulou (Tower of Mist and Rain), for example, is a copy of a tower on Nanhu Lake at Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. Jinshan Islet is a copy of Jinshan Hill at Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. 

Visitors may appreciate the grass and trees in the plain area. In Wanshu garden(Garden of Ten Thousand Trees), there were over 20 yurts of different sizes, the largest of which is replicas of the one used by emperors.

It served as a temporary palace where Emperor Qianlong often received ethnic minority nobles, religious leaders and foreign envoys. The western and northern parts of the Summer Resort are the mountain area which commands a beautiful view of layer upon layer of green hills. Visitors may enjoy the cool temperature in a hot summer day.

The Summer Resort is located on the north of Lizhengmen street. Drive along the Beijing-Chengde tourist highway to Chengde city, follow Wulie road, cross the Xiaonanmen crossroads, then arrive at the Dehuimen Plaza. From the Railway Station or the Long-distance Bus Station you could take Bus No.5 or a minibus to get there.

TelephoneCall: 86-314-2160513 for information.

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