Chengde overview

If you are looking for a breather from the lovely hospitality and clean air (sic) of Beijing it might be time to take a trip to Chengde. Because of its natural beauty and proximity to the capital, Chengde has become a popular business and tourist centre in China but still offers a unique experience not found in other parts of China. Chengde is best known for housing the massive Mountain Resort, which is a huge garden complex that was constructed over a nearly one hundred year period in the 1700s. The Mountain Resort as well as the Saihanba National Park are beautiful enough to make you forget about the honking horns and smog of Beijing. There is a freeway system connecting Chengde to Beijing so getting there is easy. The Sledgehammer Peak is a giant rock formation that looks like…. a sledgehammer and is also a popular attraction.