The Chengde Mountain Resort is not only a place to escape the heat, but its scenery is also unparalleled

The Chengde Mountain Resort in Hebei, also known as the Rehe Imperial Palace, is styled after the simple and elegant charm of a mountain village, embracing the natural essence of landscapes and incorporating the scenic beauty of both southern and northern China. It stands as the largest existing ancient imperial garden and the pinnacle of Chinese classical garden design. Wandering through the gardens and landscapes, visitors can appreciate the royal gardening philosophy of 'moving heaven and earth into the emperor's embrace' while enjoying the beautiful views. The resort comprises palace areas, lake areas, plains, and mountainous regions, and even with transportation, it takes about five hours to tour. It has been the setting for over fifty film and television productions. During the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, the emperors would spend about half of the year in Chengde, and significant state affairs concerning politics, military, ethnic groups, and diplomacy in the early Qing period were handled here. The Chengde Mountain Resort also served as a secondary capital and political center outside of Beijing. The Mountain Resort is a masterpiece of Chinese classical garden art, capturing the essence of natural landscapes and the scenic beauty of both southern and northern China. It incorporates the best features of famous gardens and temples from across the country, innovating within the tradition, with the '72 Scenic Spots of Kangxi and Qianlong' being the most famous. It is also the largest existing classical royal garden in the world.