The lmperial Mansion of Summer in Chengde

The emperors of different dynasties used to leave their residence imperial of Peking and they were pleased in long inspection tours outside the capital. To this aim, they made over the years construct in diverse numerous regions of the country to a large extent destroyed secondary palaces. Nevertheless, the Imperial Mansion of Summer in Chengde, construída under the outer Qing (1644-1911), as well as temples surround that it, still is in good state and they have become concurred tourist centers.

The Imperial Mansion of Summer in Chengde is placed in a narrow valley on the shore the west of the Wulie river, to the north of the city. To two hundred thirty they separate it kilometers of Peking. The works of spare part – initiated in 1703-, lasted 90 years under the reigns of emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, of the Qing dynasty.

During a trip by the north of China, Kangxi emperor found that Chengde occupied good geographic position, not far from his native earth, in the north, and the communications center between the rear area and Mongolia; and that was equipped with an advantageous relief, pleasant climate and magnificent landscapes. It immediately decided to construct a secondary palace there. It made dredge Lagos, it prepared ways and it constructed buildings. In 1713, 36 sites already were created and surrounded by walls. Under the Yongzheng reign, the constructions were interrupted, but, between 1741 and 1792, under the reign of Qianlong, it retook the works. One added to 36 sites and 8 outer temples. One rose therefore an ample and beautiful imperial park that extends on 564 has.

According to the location, the Imperial Mansion of Summer in Chengde includes four parts: to the south of the Lagos, they are the palaces where the emperor lived and where he granted hearing to its ministers. The Lagos occupied 43 has, where 8 small barren islands emerged from the water. On the foot of mountains, to the north of these Lagos, a vast covered plain of ebullient and arrogant vegetation extends and, in short, in the part the northwest they extend – cut into by valleys, prodigal mountains in kioscos, pavilions and temples. The set agrees with the relief of China, that inclines in slope of the west to this.

Beautiful and typical buildings harmonize with the configuration and the beauty of the land: identification of the man with the nature.

These wood and gray brick buildings and walls of natural colors, present/display a simple and elegant style that it differs remarkably from the splendid imperial palaces of the copital, of red walls and ceilings sea breams. They integrate the architectonic characteristics of the gardens of the China of the South and those of the North well.

The Imperial Mansion of Summer in Chengde is surrounded in its sides this and North ones by several temples that symbolize the union of diverse ethnic groups around the central Government.

From its foundation, the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) applied a support policy to the lamaísmo to gain the confidence of the minority ethnic groups who grouped in the west and the north of the country. Qianlong emperor made construct these temples according to the model of lamaserías of Tibet and Xnjiang around the Imperial Mansion of Summer, with the purpose of to allow to heads and noble of these ethnic groups to render there cultured to Buddha during the time in which they appeared to imperial hearing.

The temples, that are staggered in slopes of hills, often have an imposing main room. The buildings of the Temple of the Universal Placidness remember to those of the Sangyuan monastery of Tibet. The Dacheng Palace symbolizes the Sumi mount and the rooms of the surroundings, to the four continents, in the sea that surrounds this mount according to the doctrine by the buddhism. The Anyuan Temple was constructed according to model of one of Xinjiang. The Putuo Zongcheng evokes to the Potala de Lhasa, whereas the Temple Xumi Fushou has the aspect of the Zhashilumbo monastery, in Zigaze. The distribution of these temples makes think about cintilantes stars around the moon. Indeed, they to the solidarity of the different ethnic groups contributed.

Abiertos for a long time to the tourism, the Imperial Mansion of Chengde and the outer temples attract every year numerous visitors. In 1994, they have been registered in the List of World-wide Patrimonies of UNESCO.