In summer, Chengde Imperial Summer Resort.
The emperor’s temporary palace is hidden among green mountains and clear waters, with pavilions and towers, lakes and hills. A gentle breeze blows, bringing the fragrance of lotus flowers. Walking on the long corridor, watching swans leisurely swimming in the lake, imagining the scene of emperors escaping summer heat here.
This was the Qing emperors’ summer palace, and China’s largest existing royal garden.
Hebei is an underrated province.
Province Profile#
- Location: Northern China, surrounding Beijing and Tianjin
- Best Travel Season: May-October
- Highlights: Imperial gardens, seaside retreat, Taihang mountains and waters, Yan and Zhao culture
Must-Visit Attractions#
Chengde Imperial Summer Resort: The Emperor’s Back Garden#
Chengde Imperial Summer Resort was the Qing emperors’ summer palace, built over 89 years, larger than the Forbidden City.
Palace Area is where the emperor handled government affairs, with the Hall of Simplicity and Sincerity built from precious nanmu wood, unpainted, simple and elegant. Lake Area imitates Jiangnan gardens, with Misty Rain Tower, Golden Mountain Pavilion, and Water Heart Pavilion—one scene at every step.
Plain Area is a miniature of Mongolian grasslands, with green grass where you can ride horses and practice archery. Mountain Area occupies three-quarters of the resort’s area—climb to the summit for a panoramic view of the entire resort and the Eight Outer Temples.
Best Experience: Come to Chengde to escape summer heat, stay overnight in the resort, and feel the emperor’s summer life.
Eight Outer Temples: Art Treasury of Tibetan Buddhism#
The Eight Outer Temples are eight temples around the Imperial Summer Resort, blending Han, Tibetan, and Mongolian architectural styles.
Puning Temple has the world’s largest wooden Buddha statue—Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Guanyin, 27 meters high, carved from five types of wood: pine, cypress, elm, basswood, and fir. Putuo Zongcheng Temple was built imitating Lhasa’s Potala Palace, called the “Little Potala Palace.” Xumi Fushou Temple was built by Emperor Qianlong as the Sixth Panchen Lama’s temporary residence.
Best Experience: Visit the Eight Outer Temples in the morning, enter the Imperial Summer Resort in the afternoon—one day is just right.
Beidaihe: Summer Resort#
Beidaihe is China’s most famous seaside summer resort, a royal bathing beach during the Qing Dynasty.
Dove Nest Park is the best place to watch sunrise—in the early morning, the sun rises from the sea level, ten thousand birds flying together, spectacular beyond words. Tiger Stone Park has giant reefs, a good place for photos. Biluota Bar Park is a good place for nightlife, with seaside barbecues, listening to the sound of waves.
Best Experience: Come to Beidaihe in summer, watch sunrise in the morning, swim during the day, eat seafood at night.
Shanhai Pass: The First Pass Under Heaven#
Shanhai Pass is the eastern starting point of the Ming Great Wall, “The First Pass Under Heaven.”
Old Dragon’s Head is where the Great Wall enters the sea, with stone fortifications extending into the water like a giant dragon drinking. Meng Jiang Nü Temple tells the legend of Meng Jiang Nü weeping at the Great Wall. Jiaoshan Great Wall is the highest point of Shanhai Pass—climb to the top for a panoramic view of the pass and the sea.
Best Experience: Stand at Old Dragon’s Head, watch the Great Wall meet the sea, feel the magnificence of “The Great Wall of ten thousand miles spans the dragon’s head.”
Special Experiences#
Baiyangdian#
Baiyangdian is the largest freshwater lake on the North China Plain, the “Pearl of North China.”
In summer, ten thousand mu of lotus flowers bloom, pink and white flowers swaying among green leaves. Take a small boat through the reeds, watching water birds fly, listening to fishing songs.
Best Experience: Come to Baiyangdian in summer, view lotus flowers, eat river delicacies, stay in farmhouse courtyards.
Zhaozhou Bridge#
Zhaozhou Bridge is the world’s oldest existing stone arch bridge, built in the Sui Dynasty, over 1,400 years ago.
The bridge is 64 meters long, without piers, with only one large arch—ingeniously designed. Ancients said it is “Wonderfully constructed and firmly protected, the best under heaven,” a miracle in architectural history.
Yesanpo#
Yesanpo is a secret place deep in the Taihang Mountains, with canyons, waterfalls, and karst caves—beautiful scenery.
Hundred-Mile Gorge is Yesanpo’s essence, with deep canyons and babbling streams—a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. Juma River offers rafting—coolest in summer.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Shijiazhuang is Hebei’s transportation hub, with high-speed rail to all parts of the country. Chengde and Qinhuangdao both have high-speed rail stations.
- Accommodation: In Chengde, stay near the Imperial Summer Resort; in Beidaihe, stay in seaside guesthouses; in Yesanpo, stay in farmhouse courtyards.
- Note: Chengde is cool in summer, a summer resort. Beidaihe is crowded in summer—book accommodation in advance.
Hebei’s beauty is hidden in those unassuming corners.
The imperial grandeur of the Imperial Summer Resort, the seaside charm of Beidaihe, the lotus scenery of Baiyangdian, the millennium wisdom of Zhaozhou Bridge… each place is worth your stop.
Come to Hebei and discover the underrated beauty.
Tomorrow, we head to Shanxi to see the Jin merchant legends of Pingyao Ancient City and the millennium Buddha statues of Yungang Grottoes.