Chengde - Bishu Shanzhuang Imperial Palace
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Bishu Shanzhuang, a mountain palace used by the imperial court as a summer retreat, lies in a valley surrounded by high mountains to the north of the town. Its construction commenced in 1703 under the Jiangxi Emperor Xuangye, but it was not completed until 1790. The Qianlong Emperor extended it with buildings in various national styles. When the Jiaqing Emperor was struck down by lightning near the palace in 1820 the court regarded this as a bad omen and left the palace never to return. The residence comprises over 110 buildings, covers an area of 560ha/1400 acres and is surrounded by a wall. The largest part consists of park-like landscaped gardens and wooded hills. The actual palace buildings cover only a small area in the south.
Visitors enter the relatively small palace area through the Gateway of Beauty (Lizheng Men), which has three entrance passages, a large central one which was reserved for the Emperor and two smaller ones at the side.
Visitors enter the relatively small palace area through the Gateway of Beauty (Lizheng Men), which has three entrance passages, a large central one which was reserved for the Emperor and two smaller ones at the side.
Hours:
8am-5:30pm
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