Che ngde is an 18th-century imperial resort, about 250 km northeast of Beijing, that is also known as Jehol or "Rehe" It was discovered by the early Qing emperor Kangxi in the late 17th century, who found the cool summer climate and natural scenery appealing as a summer retreat. Kangxi and his successors built some 72 palaces there by the end of the 18th century, along with replicas of the Potala Palace of the Tibetan Buddhist lamas. Today Chengde is a popular tourist center and now a summer retreat for Beijing urbanites.
One of China's ten leading scenic spots and the world's extant largest imperial garden where emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911) used to come in summer to escape heat and engaged in political activities, the resort is also known as the "Ligong of Chengde" or temporary palace away from the capital. Built in the years between 1703 and 1790 and located in a hill-encircled basin, it covers an area of 5.64 million square meters and boasts 120 groups of building, including terraces, pavilions and towers characteristics of gardening architecture.
Seventy-two scenic spots bear inscriptions by Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong. The gardens are full of natural interest, blending the cream of ancient gardening art of both the north and south of China .
In December 1994 the Mountain Resort was listed by UNESCO in its World Heritage.
Outside the surrounding wall of the Mountain Resort of Chengde in Hebei Province , lies an orderly array of eight brilliant and golden temples. Located east of the Wulie River are the Puren Temple , the Pule Temple and the Anyuan Temple . To their north and at the foot of the cliff is the Puning Temple . North of the Mountain Resort are the Xumifushouzhi Temple , the Putuozongchengzhi Temple and the Shuxiang Temple . These temples are arrayed around the Mountain Resort on the eastern and northern sides just like stars surrounding the moon in a semicircle.
The formation of the Eight Outer Temples around the Mountain Resort is our miniature motherland. Replicas of the Sanmoye Temple by the bank of the Yalutsangpo River , the Putala Palace in the upper Tibet , the Jashilumbu Monastery in the lower Tibet , and the Guerzha Temple in Yili, representative of China 's southwest and northwest border areas, have appeared here. Shuxiang Temple on the Wutai Mountain , and the Hall of Arhats in the Anguo Temple in Haining County , represent Northern and Southern China . These Temples in Tibetan, Mongolian as well as the Han architectural styles, are not just a simple imitation, but a new creation. For example, the Dacheng Tower of the Puning Temple is an imitation of the main hall of the Sanmoye Temple with the upper story in Indian style, middle story in the style of inland China and lower story in Tibetan style. However, the imitated Dacheng Tower here is all in the style of inland China , except the two sides of the lower story which retain a little characteristics of a Tibetan blockhouse, and the five upturned corner roofs of Sanmoye style. The Xumifushouzhi Temple differs greatly from the Jashilumbu Monastery, but its red platform, gilded cupola and the shape are very much in the style of the Monastery.