Chengde

From ChinaTravelGuide

North China (华北) » Hebei (河北) » Chengde (承德)

Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Weather 4 Best time to visit 5 Getting in & Getting out 5.1 By Train 5.2 By Bus 6 Getting Around 6.1 By Public Bus 6.2 By Taxi & Rental Car 7 Attractions 8 Hotels 8.1 Budget 8.2 Luxury 9 Restaurants 10 Shopping 11 Night Life & Entertainment 12 Sports & Recreation 13 Excursions & Day Trips 14 Tips & Practical Info 15 See also

[edit] Overview

Chengde is located in the northeast of Hebei Province, about 140 miles (230 km) to the northeast of Beijing. Best known as the site of the Mountain Resort (避暑山庄), an imperial garden enjoyed by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, Chengde has been a popular tourist destination since the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Geographically Chengde is covered by plateau, mountainous regions (including Yanshan, Yinshan and Qilaotushan mountains), and the rivers (including the Luanhe, Liaohe, Chaobaihe and Jiyunhe rivers).

[edit] History

Chengde has a long history. Early human beings lived on this land back in the late Neolithic Era. During the Warring States Period (战国时代) – [403 BC – 221 BC], Yan State (燕国) constructed part of the Great Wall in this area where the wall ruins can still be seen today. The discovery of iron mold casting used to build agricultural tools in the nearby Xinglong County indicates that this area's agricultural production was fairly well-developed during the Yan State period.

[edit] Weather

[edit] Best time to visit

Chengde is located in an area where Inner Mongolia Plateau meets with the North China Plain. It has a temperate monsoon climate and four distinct seasons.

Winter is cold in Chengde, but not as cold as other areas on the same latitude, because Chengde is surrounded by mountains that block the cold spell from the Mongolian Plateau. Summer is always cool with plenty of rainfalls. Chengde is a well-known summer tourist resort.

April through October is the best time to visit Chengde because of its beautiful seasonal natural scenery.

[edit] Getting in & Getting out

[edit] By Train

Chengde Railway Station is to the southeast of the city center. Three railways, Beijing-Chengde Railway, Jinzhou-Chengde Railway, and Chengde-Longhua Railway, intersect here at the Chengde Station. In addition, Beijing-Dandong fast trains, and Beijing South-Ulanhot express trains also pass through here.

Most people travel to Chengde via Beijing (zh:北京), which is only about 230 km away. Chengde can also be reached from Jinzhou (zh:锦州), or Shenyang (zh:沈阳). To visit Mulan Imperial Hunting Park (木兰围场) in Chengde area, take trains running on Beijing-Tongliao Railway from Beijing North Railway Station to Siheyong Station, and then switch to bus to the destination. Mulan Imperial Hunting Park is an ideal place for hunting and skiing in winter, and for horse riding and grass-sliding in summer.

[edit] By Bus

National highways 101,111,112 pass Chengde. There are roads going north to Inner Mongolia, east up to Liaoning, southwest to Beijing and Tianjin. It takes only about five hours between Beijing and Chengde. Besides the regular long-distance buses to nearby cities, Chengde now has luxury express buses to Beijing and Shijiazhuang, and tourist buses to Beijing and Tianjin.

[edit] Getting Around

[edit] By Public Bus

Chengde has extensive bus network. One RMB can take you to most of the attractions in the city. It takes another 10-15 minutes to walk to the Little Potala Palace and the Town God's Temple after getting off the bus. From outside the main gate of the Summer Resort, Bus #6, #15 take you to Eight Outer Temples (外八庙).

[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car

The cost of taxi in Chengde is five RMB for the first 2 km, and then 1.4 RMB for each additional km. In addition to taxis, you can also ride three-wheeled motorcycles for slightly lower costs.

[edit] Attractions

• Chengde Mountain Resort (避暑山庄)
• Eight Outer Temples (Waiba Miao)
• Temple of Far-spreading Peace (Anyuan Miao, 安远庙)
• Temple of Happiness and Longevity of the Sumeru Mountain (须弥福寿之庙)
• Temple of the Manjushri Statue (Shuxiang Si, 殊像寺)
• Temple of the Potaraka Doctrine (Putuozoncheng Miao, 普陀宗乘之庙)
• Temple of Universal Charity (Puren Si, 溥仁寺)
• Temple of Universal Good (Pushan Si)
• Temple of Universal Joy (Pule Si, 普乐寺)
• Temple of Universal Tranquility (Temple of the Great Buddha, 大佛庙)

[edit] Hotels

[edit] Budget

[edit] Luxury

• Chengde Hotel
• Jinjiang Wenguan Hotel
• Puning Hotel
• Yunshan Hotel

[edit] Restaurants

[edit] Shopping

As a well-known tourist city with a long history and of cultural heritage significance, Chengde offers many colorful folk art and local specialty products.

[edit] Night Life & Entertainment

[edit] Sports & Recreation

[edit] Excursions & Day Trips

[edit] Tips & Practical Info

[edit] See also

Baoding (zh:保定) Cangzhou (zh:沧州) Handan (zh:邯郸)

Hengshui (zh:衡水) Langfang (zh:廊坊) Qinhuangdao (zh:秦皇岛)

Shijiazhuang (zh:石家庄) Tangshan (zh:唐山) Xingtai (zh:邢台) Zhangjiakou (zh:张家口)

• Hebei (河北)
• Wikipedia:Chengde