The Qing emperors survived Beijing’s op-pressive summers by taking to the imperial retreat at Chengde. The majority of the temples and palace buildings
now remaining are the result of Kangxi and his grandson Qianlong’s enthusiasm for the scenery. After Emperor Jiaqing was struck dead by lightning there in 1820, the compound was abandoned. In 1860, while flee-ing Beijing after the Second Opium War, Emperor Xian-feng found refuge here, but he was the last royal family member to take up residence in Chengde. The Chengde Resort is an enormous walled-off compound complete with Imperial Palace, lakes and hunting grounds, tem-ples, libraries and entertainment halls. The palace itself is understated with low, brown buildings shaped in Nanmu wood. Many of the rooms now house museum exhibits, with good English translations. The most interesting
of these is the wax museum, where you’ll find a memorable overview of Qing imperial history. Outside, a series of temples, mostly restored, combine various architectural
styles to please visiting dignitaries. The most popular of the group is Puning Temple, often called the “Little Potala,” a lamasery dating from 1755.
Chengde Mountain Resort Daily 5.30am-6.30pm. RMB 90 (Apr 15-Oct 15), RMB 60 (Oct 16-Apr 14). 避暑山庄，河北省承德市
Puning Temple
Daily 8am-5.30pm. RMB 50 (Apr 15-Oct 15), RMB 40 (Oct 16-Apr 14) 普宁寺
Approx. distance: 250km
Train: Take train N211 from Beijing Railway Station (6.30am) to Chengde (10.48am).
Car: The entire Beijing-Chengde stretch of the Jingcheng Expressway was finished in September 2009, so it’s a straight shot from Taiyanggong Qiao on North Third Ring Road or Wanghe Qiao on North Fourth Ring Road.
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