The Emperor's Secret Garden: China's Answer to Versailles
When the summer heat and rigid formality of Beijing's Forbidden City became too much, the great Qing emperors would escape to their private paradise. Welcome to the Chengde Mountain Resort, an imperial retreat so vast it’s twice the size of Beijing’s Summer Palace. This was the emperor's playground, a place where he could hunt, relax, and conduct diplomacy far from the capital's prying eyes.
The resort is brilliantly designed in two parts. The southern half is a delicate, landscaped area of palaces, lakes, and pavilions that mimic the famous gardens of southern China. The northern half is a vast, wild expanse of grasslands and forested hills, a "mini-steppe" where the Manchu emperors could practice archery and horsemanship, reconnecting with their nomadic roots. Surrounding the resort are the "Eight Outer Temples," including a stunning, smaller-scale replica of Lhasa's Potala Palace, built to make visiting emissaries from Tibet and Mongolia feel right at home.
Insider Tip:
The park area of the resort is enormous and very hilly. The best way to see it is by taking the official park shuttle bus. It's an open-air bus that winds through the forests and stops at several key viewpoints, including a high plateau where you can look down on the "Little Potala Palace." It saves hours of strenuous walking.
