Travel Guide to Chengde's First Imperial Temple, the Puning Temple

Puning Temple🔸The first imperial temple of the Qing Dynasty! Puning Temple, commonly known as the Big Buddha Temple. 'Puning' means universal peace and well-being, reflecting the Qing government's wish for eternal peace, unity, and the happiness and prosperity of the people. It is the largest venue for Tibetan Buddhist activities in northern China, with typical Tibetan Buddhist architectural features. The mandala of Puning Temple is currently the most completely preserved in our country's temples. 🔸The main shrine features a gilded wood carving of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva, which is the largest and heaviest wooden Buddha statue in the world. In 1994, Puning Temple was approved by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site. 📍Detailed address: No. 1 Puning Road, Shuangqiao District, Chengde City. Transportation: Take bus No. 6 or 26 in Chengde City to the 'Puning Temple' stop. Ticket🎫: 60 yuan during peak season, 45 yuan during off-season Opening hours: From October 10th to March 31st of the following year. The temple opens from 8:30 to 17:00 on important Buddhist festivals and during dharma activities. Tour duration⌚️Reference: About 2-3 hours ‼️Temple Introduction: ✅Heng Ha Er Jiang: Located on both sides of the mountain gate, distinguish by the shape of the mouth ✅Mahayana Pavilion: Houses the statue of Guanyin ✅Four pavilions in the southeast and northwest: Represent the four great continents, the most complete mandala architectural group in China, even more complete than the Summer Palace ✅Four-colored Lama Pagodas: At the four corners of the Mahayana Pavilion ✅ 'Hongxiu Puyin' plaque: Written by Emperor Qianlong ✅East and West Side Halls: House Tibetan Buddhist statues ✅Good Wealth and Dragon Girl beside the Big Buddha: Surprisingly, the Good Wealth Boy has grown a white beard... 📝Note tips: Puning Temple is the only one among the Outer Eight Temples where lamas reside. During the Lamp Festival, the square outside the mountain gate will be filled with butter lamps, and the prayer wheels inside the temple should be turned clockwise. Don't do anything absurd just for the sake of taking photos... 🚲Surrounding Tour: Actually, the Outer Eight Temples of Chengde are not far away, a taxi ride costs less than 10 yuan. Chengde's Outer Eight Temples: Include Puren Temple, Pushan Temple (no longer exists), Puning Temple, Anyuan Temple, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Shuxiang Temple, Xumi Fushou Temple, and Guangyuan Temple Accommodation🏨: Puning Hotel, where you can see the Xumi Fushou Temple from the guest rooms, and it's just a short walk to the door – less than two kilometers from Puning Temple. Eat🍲: Chengde's specialty lamb soup (Pingquan Erzi Lamb Soup, Old Three Lamb Soup)