Time: Two days.

Cost of tour: About 400 yuan (US$48) round trip per person.

Distance: About 230 kilometers from downtown Beijing.

The destination: This is the place where the Qing court lived between May and late October every year from the time of the Kangxi Emperor (1662-1722). Nowadays this retreat from Beijing's summer heat is still crowded with visitors over this period.

In 1703, Kangxi Emperor began the construction of a summer palace, that gradually grew into plans for 36 structures, such as temples, palaces and pagodas.

Many of the structures were later built as part of this original plan, either in the form of replicas of minority architecture from around the country, such as the one inspired by the "Tibetan Sumero Temple," or with names of obvious intent, such as the deviously hopeful Temple for Distant Security.

Qianlong (1736-1796), Kangxi's grandson, was the next to take the throne and he followed in his predecessor's footsteps by building another 36 structures. The golden days of Chengde had arrived, and thousands of visitors, from all over China and beyond, flocked to the site to pay their respects to his imperial majesty.

Nowadays eight of the twelve original outer temples have been restored or partly restored, and all can be visited by taxi, minibus, bicycle, or on foot. The Imperial Summer Villa has also undergone restoration work, although much of the park area still needs work.

How to get there: Most visitors from Beijing go by rail. Buses are faster, but the train is much more comfortable.

K711 is the best equipped train from Beijing to Chengde. It takes four hours and costs 91 yuan (US$11) for a sleeping berth or 40 yuan (US$4.80). It starts from Beijing Railway Station at 7:20 am and arrives at Chengde at 11:18 am.

Flights are also available. But the 20-minute flight comes after an almost-two-hour drive from downtown Beijing to the Capital Airport, and waiting for your plane; and when you get to Chengde Airport you would still have to take a taxi to the palace. So your 20-minute flight would actually take almost three hours and cost four times the price of the train ticket.

Hotels: Yunshan Hotel, Chengde Hotel and Villa Hotel are nearby. The price for a double room ranges from 90 yuan (US$11) to 500 yuan (US$60).

Entrance tickets: 30 yuan (US$3.60).

(Beijing Weekend November 19, 2002)