The Mountain Resort of Chengde, a key national cultural
protection unit, was listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory in 1994.
It was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and took about 90 years
(1703-1792) to construct. The Mountain Resort, also called Rehe Temporary
Palace, is situated north of Chengde and 230 kilometers (143 miles) from
Beijing. It covers an area of 564 sq meters (218 sq miles) and was originally
built for the royal families to spend the hot summer months. When compared with
the grand and solemn Forbidden City, the mountain resort is characterized by
its simplicity and elegance. It is a grand architectural complex that consists
of numerous palaces, the largest royal garden in China and wonderful scenery,
combined with a pleasant climate.
The Mountain Resort is divided into four parts: the Palace
Area, Lake Area, Plain Area and Mountain Area. The Palace Area lies in the
south part of the resort and is a concentration of palaces where the Qing
emperors handled the political affairs and where the royal families lived. It
covers an area of 100,000 sq meters (25 acres), consisting of four main
complexes: the Main Palace, the Pine-Crane Hall, the East Palace and the Pine
Soughing Valley. The Main Palace was the place where important ceremonies and
events were observed but today it is used as the Mountain Resort Museum. The
Pine-crane Hall was the residence built by Emperor Qianlong for his mother-the empress
while the East Palace was damaged in a fire in 1945 with only the groundwork
still visible today. The Pine Soughing Valley was the reading room of the
emperors and the office where the emperors handled the political mandates.
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