The Chengde Summer Resort, originally called Rehe (hot river) Imperial Palace, was named after Emperor Kangxi's inscription on its front gate. Since Emperor Kangxi, generations of Qing emperors dealt with government affairs at this resort in summer and autumn each year, living there for half a year. Hence, the resort became the national political center only second to Beijing at that time. The construction of the Mountain Resort took place in the 42^nd year (1703) during the reign of Emperor Kangxi and was completed in the 55^th year of the reign (1790) of Emperor Qianlong. The resort boasts more than 120 grand halls, towers, pavilions, courtyards and temples that constitute 72 famous scenic spots, covering an area of 5.64 million square meters. The architectures there make full use of the nature of surroundings. They integrate scenic views of southern and northern China and present a style of delicacy and primitive simplicity.

The Summer Resort, with 10-km surrounding outer walls, has two main parts, the Palace Area and the Scenic Area.

The Palace Area, lying in the south, is made up of the Main Hall, the Pine-Crane Hall, the Pine Soughing Valley and the East Palace, and forms nine-ringed courtyards, where the emperors lived and dealt with government affairs. Those buildings, covered with glazed tiles, were made of green bricks. They are hidden in the woods of tall pine trees and create a circumstance of tranquility. Inside the main hall stands Danbo Jingcheng Hall (Hall of Frugality and Placidity) where Qing emperors received aristocrats of minorities. The hall once collected 10,000 volumes of Gu Jin Tu Shu Ji Cheng (Selected Ancient and Contemporary Works). On the east and west walls hangs Huang Yu Quan Tu (Map of Qing Dynasty's Territory). The Danbo Jingcheng Hall was made of a certain wood, smelling fragrant in summers, which makes it a perfect place to escape the heat. The Yanbo Zhishuang Hall (Hall of Refreshing Mists and Waves) is the place where emperors slept. It got its name from Emperor Kangxi's poem. Emperor Jiaqing and Emperor Xianfeng passed away in this hall.

The Scenic Area, made up of the Lake Zone, the Plain Zone and the Mountain Zone, is the place where the emperors and queens used to enjoy themselves. The Lake Zone to the north of the Palace Area is the origin of the Rehe River, which converges with many springs and brooks. There you can enjoy the lake scenery, rippling waves, tiny islands, exquisite pavilions and exuberant flowers and woods. The architecture around mainly imitates the famous scenic views of the south of the Yangtze River, full of changes. Emperor Kangxi once wrote a poem, saying that the scenic views here could surpass that in the West Lake. To the north of the Lake Zone is the Plain Zone where the woods flourish and the grassland is pretty green. When the Summer Resort was initially constructed, there were flocks of elks. There the emperors and aristocrats used to ride horse, shoot arrows and have picnics. The Wenjin Attic in the west is one of the four famous inner-court attics, sharing the same reputation with the Wenyuan Attic of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Wenyuan Attic of the Summer Palace and the Wensu Attic of the Forbidden City in Shenyang City. The Wenjin Attic once had a collection of 10,000 volumes of Gu Jin Tu Shu Ji Cheng (Selected Ancient and Contemporary Works), and four volumes of Yu Zhi Shi (Imperial Poem Albums). In 1785, Si Ku Quan Shu (Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature) was once collected there.

The Mountain Area is in the northwest of the Summer Resort. There used to be many pavilions on the top of each hill, most of which have been dilapidated. Only a pavilion called Accumulated Snow on South Mountain survives. Seeing from the peaks, you can command a complete view of the Summer Resort and its surrounding hills and eight outlining temples.