Chengde, located at the northeast of Hebei Province, is very close to many cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan. Geographically, the city can be mainly divided into two parts: plateau and mountainous regions, which contain Yanshan and Yinshan mountains. Besides, the Luanhe, Liaohe, Chaobaihe and Jiyunhe rivers flowing through the city. The blend of mountains and rivers brings up a city with outstanding natural landscapes.
Chengde, originally called Rehe was once the summer resort capital of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It holds rich culture related to this history as well as many historic relics dating as far back as the Neolithic Age in this city. Ethnic groups such as Xiongnu, Xianbei, Qidan, Nvzhen, and Mongolian once led a nomadic existence in this region from the Qin (221BC-206) to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
As one of the famous historic and cultural cities of the nation, Chengde has plenty of scenic spots, with some of them being renowned both at home and abroad. The Mountain Resort and Eight Outer Temples are listed as the world cultural heritage sites.
The transportation of Chengde is very well developed. The majority of tourists would choose to go to Chengde by railway or land transportation, which can also connect them to many other cities, such as Tianjin, Shenyang, Baotou, Ulanhot, Liaoning, etc. City buses provide a fine and integrated transport service; taxis are also a good choice due to their convenience and inexpensiveness.