Chengde,in northeastern Hebei province, is the site of the summer resort of the Qing emperors. It is about 200 kilometers from Beijing and is easily accessible by either train or long-distance bus.
The magnificent Mountain Resort and the 12 Buddhist temples at its periphery were built during the Qing Dynasty, the last feudal Chinese dynasty. It served as the second political center of the Qing imperial court and the emperors of the early Qing Dynasty often spent their summers there, conducting state affairs and engaging in important political activities. The Mountain Resort and its temples and palaces have made Chengde a famous historical and cultural city, and one of China's leading scenic spots. The imperial Resort was listed in the directory of the world's cultural heritages in 1994.
The construction of the Mountain Resort took place over a period of 90 years-starting from the 42nd year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1703), rebuilt and expanded during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, and completed in the 57th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1792). It is China's largest existing imperial garden, covering an area of 5.64 milllion sq. m., double that of the Summer Palace, and eight times that of Beihai Park in Beijing. The 1O-km. wall around It winds its way through plains and high mountains like the Great Wall. There are more than 90 towers and pavilions scattered around the Mountain Resort as well as small bridges, inscriptions on precipices, rockeries of various sizes, many gates, horizontal inscribed boards, palaces , terraces and other buildings.
The Mountain Resort can be divided into two parts: the palace area and garden area. In the southern part of the Mountain Resort are the palace buildings where the Qing emperors lived and conducted state affairs. The main buildings include Zhenggong, Songhezhai (Pine-Crane Hall) , Donggong (Eastern Palace) and Wanhesongfeng (Whispering Pine Valley) and their annexes. The buildings on the axis of the Main Palace include the Danbo Jingcheng Hall (Hall of Frugality and Placidity), Sizhi Shuwu (Four Knowledge Study), Yanbo Zhishuang Hall (Hall of Refreshing mists and Waves), and Yunshan Shengdi Tower (Viewing-Misty-Mountain Tower). Other buildings are arranged along the axis symmetrically, displaying the dignity of imperial power. The magnificent simple and elegant Hall of Frugality and Placidity, the main hall of the Mountain Resort, is also known as Nanmu Hall because it was built of the fine-grained fragrant hardwood called nanmu. The Hall of Refreshing mists and Waves. the emperors' bed chamber , is where emperors Jiaqing and Xianfeng died on their sickbeds. West of the Hall is a courtyard where Yi Gui Fei . the concubine of Emperor Xianfeng, later called Empress Dowager Cixi lived.

After Emperor Xianfeng died in 1861 , she came to power and controlled china for more than 40 years during the late Qing Dynasty. The garden area includes the lake, plains and mountain areas where most of the 72 scenic wonders named by emperors Kangxi and Qianlong are scattered. The scenic spots , situated in the foothills, and beside streams or pines, are arranged naturally and harmoniously with not a trace of artificiality. Various skills have been applied to achieve this wonderful artistic effect, a change of view with each footstep. These skills include dividing. separating, framing and taking advantages of the natural surroundings to serve as a framework, as well as the use of images, hiding or exposing scenes, and building scenes of uneven density. Wanshu Garden (Garden of Ten Thousand Trees) is full of fragrant trees and natural beauty, with an open grassland next to it. The emperors of the Qing Dynasty often hosted banquets in honor of ethnic minority nobles in the garden, and held wrestling matches and other activities , showing the strength and beauty of the warriors against the simple natural landscape. ; Visitors may appreciate the beautiful southern scenery of the lake area. Yanyu House (House of Mists and Rains) on the Qinglian Islet (Green Lotus Islet) , a two storey building standing against the river, is a copy of a tower on Nanhu Lake at Jiaxing City , Zhejiang Province. The faraway mountains and nearby water , and the lake reflecting the house are rich in the poetic and artistic conceptions of gardens of southern China.
With the establishment of a united and multiethnic country by the Qing government, the Puning Temple (Temple of Universal Peace) and other eleven magnificent imperial temples were built in the north and east periphery of the Mountain Resort. They were built in the Han and Tibetan styles, and a combination of two, which drew from and integrated with each other , symbolizing the final peak of the art of ancient Chinese religious architecture. Of the twelve temples, ten face the Mountain Resort like myriad stars around the bright moon, showing the political ideology of the supreme imperial power or authority, and the strong force of the religious and political policies. In addition, these temples were built under specific historic conditions and they show a wide historic background. They bear witness to the unity of our multiethnic state and symbolize national unity.
The Putuo Zongsheng Temple(Temple of the Potarak Doctrine) was erected by Emperor Qianlong in 1771 to host officials of the minority peoples from Mongolia, Qinghai and Xinjiang who came to join in the celebration of his 60th and his mother's 80th birthdays. Because most of them believed in Lamaism, Emperor Qianlong had this temple, the largest of the twelve temples, built in the style of the Potala Palace in Tibet , to show friendliness. The Xumi Fushou Temple(Temple of Sumeru Happiness and Longevity) , copied from the Tashilunpo Monastery, the palace residence of the Panchen Lama in Tibet , was built as a temporary residence and study for the Sixth Panchen Lama when he came to Chengde for an audience with Emperor Qianlong.
Northwest of the Mountain Resort, about 240 km. away, is a vast grassland covered with luxuriant grass and trees, a wonderful place to spend summers, and hunt in autumn. This is a world-famous imperial hunting ground, covering an area of 150 km. both from east to west and from south to north, and 600 km. around. It is here that emperors Kangxi, Qianlong and Jiaqing hunted, trained their troops, and had contact with the Mongolians and other neighboring minority peoples in order to improve their confidence in the Qing government.

In deze video is te zien: Lama klooster, Putuozongsheng (1 van de 8 buitentempels), de hamerrots en het keizerlijk zomerpaleis

Besides being a summer resort, the Qing government built up the resort to achieve some profound and lasting political and military objectives. I surely admire these northern sceneries , beautiful gardens , temples , palaces and their surroundings as well as Luo did.
Picture Gallery Chengde
Back to Beijing
To Pingyao