Chengde

Chengde or Chengteh both: chŭng-do͝o [key], city, N Hebei prov., China, near the Luan River. It is a distribution center for lumber products, fruits, and pharmaceuticals, and has textile mills. Copper and coal deposits are south of the city. The city is north of Beijing, with which it is connected by rail. The former summer capital of the Ch'ing dynasty (1644–1911), Chengde is surrounded by large parks with lakes, palaces, pavilions, and temples. The most notable building is a Lamaist temple duplicating the Potala palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Until 1956 the capital of former Rehe prov., Chengde was formerly called Rehe.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Chinese and Mongolian Political Geography