Eight Outer Temples
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City Name:Chengde (Chinese:承德, Pinyin:Chengde)
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Population :3400,000
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Area :40,000 square km
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Overview:Chengde is a famous historical and cultural city in China, located in the northeast of Hebei province, about 220 kilometers from Beijing. It was an imperial resort area in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
World Culture Heritage Site
Outside the palace walls of the Mountain Resort, to the north and west, lies the Eight Outer Temples. They were built between 1713 and 1780, many of them are in Tibetan style. Actually, 'Eight Outer Temples' is a collective name given to 12 temples. These temples were administered by Lifan Yuan, an administrative department for the affairs of ethnic minorities such as the Mongolians and Tibetans, so different combinations of architectural style could be seen. Together with the Mountain Resort of Chengde, the Eight Outer Temples was made a UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site in 1994.
Now six temples are open to the tourists, which Putuo Zongchengzhi Temple, Puning Temple, Xumi Fushouzhi Temple, Pule Temple, Anyuan Temple, and Puyou Temple. Each shows unique features and special appeal. Of the eight temples that surround Chengde, two of the most famous are Puning Temple and Putuo Zongcheng Temple.
The Outer Eight Temples symbolize the various ethnic groups from all parts of China, directing their loyalty towards the center of authority. Emperor Qianlong expressed this concept in his poem "One Hundred Rhymes from the Mountain Manor for Escaping the Summer Heat." He wrote: "These buildings embody the successful unity of the hearts of the people of the inner and outer lands." Following this belief, the palaces, halls and gardens erected under Qianlong' s direction stress the use of architecture to embody the theme of national unity.
