1. Chengde Summer Resort

Chengde Summer Resort in Hebei province

Chengde Summer Resort in Hebei province

It is located in the northern part of Chengde City in Hebei province, the largest existing imperial garden in China, listed in the directory of the cultural heritages by the UNESCO.

It occupies an area of 5,640,000 square meters and is twice as large as the Summer Palace in Beijing. It becomes a model for China's classical gardens not only for its largeness but also for its general layout and design.

The designer of the garden made full use of the natural scenery, the traditional park design methods of the Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties and those of southern China, thus improving the art and skill of garden designing. Within the summer resort, there are 72 scenic spots named by ancient Chinese Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong.

To the east and north, there are twelve temples and monasteries surrounding the resort, which have diversified architectural styles, reflecting the Han, Mongolian and Tibetan Cultures.