Beijing to Shanghai
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Beijing to Shanghai - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Mountain Resort
Charmed by Chengde's dramatic setting, pleasant climate, and plentiful game, Emperor Kangxi ordered construction of the first palaces of the Mountain Resort in 1703. Within a decade, this once sleepy settlement boasted dozens of ornate temples, pagodas, and walled grasslands spread out across 1,500 acres. By the end of the 18th century nearly 100 imperial structures had been built, with Chengde becoming the epicenter of Chinese political and cultural life whenever the emperor and his entourage decamped here from Beijing. The Mountain Resort and its surrounding temples were more than just an Imperial retreat, however. Besides luxurious quarters for the emperor and his court, great palaces and temples were constructed to house visiting dignitaries—particularly China's border groups like the Mongols and Tibetans—and to woo them with the might and wealth of the Qing empire. Not forgetting, of course, that the Qing also came from beyond the Great Wall as the pastoral Manchu. The location was useful, as Chengde lay far enough away from Beijing to host talks with border groups who wouldn't otherwise set foot in the capital. From the interconnected palaces, each built in different architectural styles, to the replicas of famous temples representing different Chinese religions and ethnic groups, everything about the resort was designed to reflect China's diversity. In retrospect, it was as much a Qing statement of intent as it was a holiday home. Today, the palace and its walled-off landscape of lakes, grasslands, hills, and forests dominates the center of Chengde. The steep hills in the northern half of the park, crowned by stone walls that resemble the Great Wall, afford beautiful panoramas, as does a slog up the nine-tiered pagoda in the center. Even during peak season (April to October) it rarely feels crowded.
Center of town, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, China0314-202–9771Sight Details
Rate Includes: Apr.–Oct., Y120; Nov.–Mar., Y90, Apr.–Oct., daily 7–5; Nov.–Mar., daily 7–4:30 -
2. Pule Temple
The conical-roofed centerpiece of this serene hillside temple, the Pavilion of the Brilliance of the Rising Sun (Xuguangge), will be instantly recognizable if you've visited Beijing's Temple of Heaven. Built to host visiting Kazak, Uygher, and Kyrger dignitaries, as well as to commemorate certain Mongol tribes, Pule Temple was laid out to resemble a mandala of Tibetan Buddhism. From the south wall of the temple, it's a peaceful 40-minute walk up the hillside to Sledgehammer Rock. The Y50 ticket includes admission to Sledgehammer Rock and the lovely Anyuan Temple down the hill.
Chengde, Hebei, 067000, ChinaSight Details
Rate Includes: Y50, Apr.–Oct., daily 8–5:30; Nov.–Mar., daily 8:30–5 -
3. Puning Temple
Located on the western banks of the Wulie River, this temple was built in 1755 to commemorate Emperor Qianlong's triumphant conquest of the warring Dzungar people from Xinjiang. Intended to mark a new period of peace, it was modeled after the Samye Monastery, a sacred Lamaist site in Tibet. Also known as "Big Buddha Temple," its main attraction is an awe-inspiring 72-foot-tall statue of Guanyin, a Buddhist deity of compassion. The statue is made from five types of wood, including pine, cypress, elm, and fir.
Chengde, Hebei, 067000, China0314-205–8209Sight Details
Rate Includes: Apr.–Oct., Y80; Nov.–Mar., Y60, Apr.–Oct., daily 8–4:30; Nov.–Mar., daily 8:30–4 -
4. Putuo Zongcheng Temple
Built from 1767 to mark Emperor Qianlong's birthday, the largest of Chengde's temples is modeled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa—it also goes by the nickname "Little Potala." A fusion of Chinese and Tibetan architectural styles, it's most impressive when viewed from the north wall of the Mountain Resort, or from the courtyard of Anyuan Temple. Inside the imposing gate is a pavilion housing three stelae, the largest inscribed in Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan languages. The Y80 ticket includes admission to the Xumi Fushou Temple next door, a replica of the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama.
Chengde, Hebei, 067000, China0314-216–3072Sight Details
Rate Includes: Apr.–Oct., Y80; Nov.–Mar., Y60, Apr.–Oct., daily 8–5; Nov.–Mar., daily 8:30–4:30 -
5. Sledgehammer Shan
A chairlift ride or a 35-minute hike leads from Pule Temple up through lovely hillside to this remarkable rock protrusion that spawned a local legend: if the rock should fall, so will the virility of local men. In fact, this unusual geological feature probably played a part in Emperor Kangxi choosing Chengde to establish his summer retreat.
Chengde, Hebei, 067000, ChinaSight Details
Rate Includes: Y50, includes entrance to Pule Temple and Anyuan Temple, Daily 8–5 -
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