Chengde

Chengde lies in northern Hebei and was the summer capital of the Qing emperors, who built here the vast Mountain Resort to escape Beijing's heat. The Resort and its surrounding Eight Outer Temples form a UNESCO World Heritage landscape blending Han, Tibetan and Mongol architecture. The Putuo Zongcheng Temple is a smaller replica of Lhasa's Potala Palace, and Puning Temple houses one of the world's tallest wooden Buddha statues. Set among mountains, the city enjoys cool summers that first drew the imperial court. Chengde Puning Airport and high-speed rail from Beijing make it easy to reach. For an international student, it offers a living museum of Qing-era diplomacy and religion.