A PLACE, A STORY / Chengde
Putuo Zongcheng Temple
A hillside temple brings another architectural voice to Chengde. Look at the relationship between its broad walls and layered roofs.
© Gisling · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
© 颐园新居 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
Putuo Zongcheng belongs to the temples built around Chengde’s imperial mountain retreat. Together, these complexes show how the Qing court drew on several architectural traditions, including Tibetan forms, within one carefully planned landscape. Walls, terraces and roofs give the temple a striking profile against the hillside.
A useful way to look is to choose just one edge: a roofline, stairway or change in wall height. Compare what your companion followed through the scene.
Editorial sources
- UNESCO · Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples
- Chengde Cultural Heritage Bureau · Putuo Zongcheng Temple
Editorial review:
Before travelling, check current access, opening times and entry requirements with the relevant official sources.
