Chengde

Chengde (承德; Chéngdé) is a city in Hebei.

Culture and History

Rehe (the former name of Chengde) was the summer residence of the early Qing Dynasty emperors, and the city still maintains the fine features of this hill-side resort, such the outer wall and large expanse of parkland that incorporates lakes, pagodas, and palaces. Outside the complex are the impressive Eight Outer Temples. The resort, along with the Outer Temples, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

The city is located approximately 160km northeast of Beijing and currently has a population of around 3.5 million.

Travel to Chengde - Visa Requirements

There is a small airport in southern Chengde where occasional charter flights shuttle between Beijing and Chengde. Chengde is 180 kilometers away from the Beijing Capital International Airport. To travel by air, visitors can take a coach to Beijing and connect with their flights from there. A coach departs for Beijing every twenty minutes, making it very convenient. More on Chengde Transportation.

Buses charge a flat rate of 1 RMB (U.S. 15 cents), but there is no attendant, so have correct change. The buses have no English and little pinyin signage. Taxis generally aren't metered, but sometimes will use the meter if insisted upon. Short trips are a flat rate of 5 RMB. Trips from one side of the city to the other are 10 RMB, and trips out to the temples should cost about 15 RMB from the city center. Much of Chengde is accessible by foot or bike; one can walk from one end of the city to the other in an hour.

Chengde tourist attractions and sightseeing

Various hotels, rest houses and leisure places will also provide you with comfort and pleasure during your travels in this wondrous city.

Chengde city tours

Chengde souvenirs and shopping

Chengde Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Donkey-Rolling Roll

Donkey-Rolling Roll is a long roll with stuffing wrapped in yellow rice. The Roll is served on a bed of yellow beans. The act of turning the roll on the yellow beans is just like a donkey rolling on the ground. That is how the snack got its name. It could be found in Chengde more than 200 years ago.

Generally less than one hundred yuan for a large plate (in Chengde restaurants, there are always large and small plates; the large plate is about ten inches wide and the small one seven inches wide).

You Noodle

You noodle is a kind of coarse food grain. It is slightly dark colored. The local You Noodle wozi dough is first rolled out to a thin skin, and then formed to its final shape. After that, it is put into a pot and braised. You dip it in the sauce when eating. It feels smooth and jelly-like in your mouth. You Noodle jiaozi is a kind of ravioli stuffed with pickled vegetables.

Pubang deer meat clusters and the cooked deer meat clusters are quite tasty, and cost only four or five yuan for each cluster. They are well worth trying. In the street south of the Summer Resort, there are many shops featuring local specialities which cater to tourists.

In the evening, you will find mini-booths selling tangy scented baked corn along Chengde Street.

Da Qing Hua 大清花 Dumpling Restaurant. This restaurant is a favorite among foreigners and Chinese alike. There are three locations in the city: Train Station, Summer Mountain Resort, and City Center (on the small street behind the two-story KFC). The menu varies slightly between branches; the City Center location has an excellent menu (in English and Chinese, with color photos). Try the dumplings, the are unique to this restaurant.

Chengde nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Chengde cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

Get out

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