Tag Archives: Chengde
A Short Trip to Chengde (Video) Posted by sasha on Jul 26, 2017
What can you do with a short trip to Chengde? With just a day or two there, you can do a bit of temple hopping, see the famous Summer Mountain Resort, and dig in to a sizzling plate of the local specialty – venison. Check out some highlights of a short visit to this historical…
A Short Visit to Chengde Posted by sasha on Jul 24, 2017
You’re probably familiar with the Summer Palace in Beijing, but did you know that the real summer palace is actually in a city called Chengde (承德 – chéng dé)? While Chinese emperors and their families definitely spent some time at the sprawling complex in the capital, the heat got so intense there during the summer…
10 Videos for Summer in China Posted by sasha on Jun 22, 2017
Today marks the official start of summer (夏天 – xià tiān). All across China, children are finishing up their final exams while parents are busy scheduling summer activities. The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and you can expect to see the “Beijing bikini” on display as men roll up their shirts to deal…
A Video Tour of Northeast China Posted by sasha on Mar 29, 2014
Head out from Beijing and take a tour of NE China (plus a quick stop in Hebei province) to see some of the most famous places in this region. Explore the Summer Mountain Resort of Chengde, hit seaside Dalian, climb stunning Chang Bai Mountain, and end with the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin. 承德…
Top 10 of 2012 Posted by sasha on Dec 31, 2012
Tempus fugit (time flies in Latin) – one of the only things I remember from my language classes in high school. That ancient phrase still holds true today. This year has flown by; 2012 is just about finished. Despite all the hype around the Mayan calendar, we’re still here. Having spent a few weeks in…
Chengde (承德) – Summer Mountain Resort (避暑山庄) Posted by sasha on Jul 21, 2012
The highlight of Chengde is without a doubt the Summer Mountain Resort. This massive complex features four main areas: the palace, the lake, the plains, and the mountains. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it served as a summer retreat for the Emperor and his family, who would escape the brutal heat of Beijing to hunt…
Chengde (承德) – Temple Hopping Posted by sasha on Jul 12, 2012
Located just a few hours northeast of Beijing is the city of Chengde in Hebei province. During the Qing Dynasty, the Emperor would come here to escape from the heat of Beijing. One particular Emperor – Qianlong – had two incredible temples built here. One is a replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet…