Chengde Travel Guide
Chengde is a vibrant and dynamic city, gradually revealing its charm to the world. Known for its blue skies, green landscapes, clear mountains, beautiful waters, refreshing air, smooth roads, clean cityscape, and harmonious community, Chengde is a picturesque garden city.
The city’s tourism resources are proudly summarized by the locals as the “Three Royal Crowns” and the “Three Wonders of the Purple Frontier.” The “Three Royal Crowns” include the world’s largest existing imperial garden, the Mountain Resort (Bishu Shanzhuang), the world’s largest complex of royal temples, the Eight Outer Temples (Wai Ba Miao), and the world’s largest royal hunting ground, Mulan Weichang.
The “Three Wonders of the Purple Frontier” highlight the essence of the Great Wall at Jinshanling, known for its architectural brilliance and strategic importance. They also include the majestic Wuling Mountain, the main peak of the Yanshan Mountains, celebrated as the “Natural Plant Treasury of North China.” Lastly, Panlong Lake, often referred to as the “Guilin of the North,” is renowned for its stunning scenery and picturesque views, earning it the nickname “Little Li River Beyond the Great Wall.”
Most Popular Chengde Attractions
Other Attractions in Chengde
1️⃣ Summer Resort (避暑山庄) Duration: 6 hours Make sure to take the mountain loop car; you’ll see deer, and the view from the top of the Small Potala Palace and Bangchui Mountain is stunning. Coming down, you don’t need to take a boat – the highlights are along the lake. P.S. The Clock Museum features one of the largest collections of European court clocks after the Palace of Versailles and is worth a closer look. 2️⃣ Chengde Museum (承德博物馆) Duration: 3 hours It has a very high historical value. 3️⃣ Puning Temple (普宁寺) Duration: 2 hours It’s not that you can’t afford Lhasa, but Puning Temple offers better value for money. 1️⃣ Lao San Yang Soup (老三羊汤) The hygiene is lacking, and the taste is mediocre. 2️⃣ Apricot Good to Meet You (杏好遇见你) You must try the almond tea; it’s unforgettable! I even managed to replicate it at home in… Read more »
Two highly recommended attractions in Chengde:
1. Rehe Valley (热河谷) – Beautiful scenery, not crowded, very peaceful, and quite suitable for walking with kids.
2. The Grand Ceremony of Emperor Kangxi at the Dynasty of Prosperity (鼎盛王朝·康熙大典演出) – The live performance is truly impressive.
The long-awaited trip to Chengde was filled with many attractions and clear themes. However, the area is too small to accommodate such a large number of tourists. The city’s core area is centered around the Summer Resort and the surrounding Eight Outer Temples. This results in local residents and tourists crowding together, leading to a conflict between the convenience of local residents’ daily lives and the experience of visitors.
I knew in advance that the Summer Resort was not really a place for escaping the heat, but I was surprised to find that there were almost no convenient facilities inside. They seem to prioritize profit over the visitor experience.
During the weekend, I went to Chengde (承德) with my family, thinking we would escape the heat and enjoy cooler temperatures. However, it turned out to be even hotter than in Beijing! I really can’t understand how the emperors of the Qing Dynasty managed to keep cool during the summer.
Itinerary Plan
Day 1: Take the high-speed train from Beijing to Chengde South Station, spend the afternoon exploring the Summer Resort (避暑山庄), and experience the grandeur and delicacy of the royal garden.
Day 2: Visit Putuozongcheng Temple (普陀宗乘之庙), Xumi Fushou Temple (须弥福寿之庙), Chengde Museum (承德博物馆), and Puning Temple (普宁寺), to explore the “Eight Outer Temples” and appreciate the profound Buddhist culture.
Day 3: Explore Anyuan Temple (安远庙), Pule Temple (普乐寺), Qingchui Peak (磬锤峰), and head to Chengde Station to experience the natural wonders and cultural charm of Chengde.
Recommended Transportation:
G9901: Beijing Chaoyang to Chengde South
K7712: Chengde to Beijing
Accommodation Recommendation:
Near the Summer Resort in Shuangqiao District, we stayed on Taoli Street. Although it was a last-minute booking and the hotel was not great, the transportation was convenient.
3 days and 2 nights itinerary sharing in Chengde About Transportation: High-Speed Train: From Beijing Chaoyang to Chengde South, 08:30-09:22 (G931) From Chengde South to Beijing Chaoyang, 21:33-22:25 (G974) About Itinerary: 1️⃣ Day 1: Beijing Chaoyang Station—Summer Resort (避暑山庄)—Putuo Zongcheng Temple (普陀宗承之庙)—Xumi Fushou Temple (须弥福寿之庙) 2️⃣ Day 2: Mulan Weichang—Saihanba National Forest Park (塞罕坝国家森林公园)—National Highway 1 Scenic Road—Dream-chasing Bashang Grassland (追梦坝上草原) 3️⃣ Day 3: Ulan Butong Grassland (乌兰布统草原) Tips: Chengde city is not large, and the attractions are concentrated. Since I mainly wanted to see grasslands this time, I only visited the two most famous attractions in the city. For grasslands, I recommend Inner Mongolia more. If you are self-driving, I highly recommend Saihanba National Forest Park and Ulan Butong Grassland. Day 1: Summer Resort (避暑山庄) – The Chengde Summer Resort is divided into the Summer Resort Museum, Lake Area, Plain Area, and Mountain Area. The resort is very large,… Read more »
Day 1: In the morning at 8:30, visit Puning Temple (普宁寺) to experience the atmosphere of morning chanting. Inside the temple, there is a unique combination of Han and Tibetan architecture with a Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue. Head to the Mountain Resort in Chengde (避暑山庄) where you can take a sightseeing car in the northern mountain area, covering a total of 13km. Along the way, you can catch distant views of the Small Potala Palace, Banquet Palace, and observe sika deer. In the southern plains and lakes area, there are tour vehicles and boats available, but it is recommended to explore by foot. Around 7 p.m., wild deer may come down from the mountains to graze. For dining recommendations, try lamb soup, Banmian (板面), and hotpot lamb. Day 2: Visit the Small Potala Palace (小布达拉宫), also known as Putuo Zongcheng Monastery, a place built for Tibetan lamas to give lectures and… Read more »
Chengde Two-Day Travel Guide: Day 1: In the morning, visit the Chengde Museum. Before exploring the attractions, learn about the splendid historical and cultural heritage of Chengde. Follow the exhibits to envision the grand scene of Emperor Kangxi’s Mulan Hunting Grounds. In the afternoon, visit the Chengde Mountain Resort. This is not only a national 5A-level scenic spot but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can see many replicas of famous landscapes and gardens from various parts of China. Although most of the original structures were destroyed in wars, the reconstructed buildings on the original sites still offer a glimpse of the former grandeur of the Mountain Resort. Day 2: In the morning, visit Putuo Zongcheng Temple, also known as the “Small Potala Palace” of Chengde. Among the external temples of Chengde, this is the largest architectural complex, modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Landmarks such… Read more »