The mountain resort at Chengde (Bishu Shanzhuang) was chosen by the Kangxi emperor in 1703 as a means of eluding the hot summers in the Forbidden City. Set in a river valley surrounded by mountains, the park was strategically secure and allowed the hardy Manchu to engage in hunting and martial sports. The eclectic temple design of the surrounding Eight Outer Temples put visiting Mongol and tribal chieftains at ease, so the emperor could exploit their allegiances. Bishu Shanzhuang, the southern section of the resort contains an array of simple but elegant palaces, cool shaded lakes and waterside pavilions, best viewed from a rowing boat.

Putuozongcheng Zhi Miao

Built to resemble the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the temple is the largest of the Eight Outer Temples and has displays of thangkas (Tibetan religious scrolls), Tibetan religious ornaments, and two scaled-down sandalwood pagodas.

Xumifushou Zhi Miao

This temple was built to impress the visiting Panchen Lama who came to Chengde on the occasion of the Qianlong emperor’s birthday in 1780.

Puning Si

This temple combines Han designs at the front with typical Tibetan structures at the back. The highlight is the majestic wooden statue of Guanyin in the main hall (see pp124-5).

Pule Si

The most impressive hall in Pule Si, the Temple of Universal Joy, is the yellow-tiled twin conical-roofed hall which has strong echoes of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.