Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area

Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area

The Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area is situated at the southern foot of Lion Mountain, just north of the Mountain Resort, covering an area of 257,900 square meters. The scenic area consists of two temples from the Imperial Temple Complex: the Putuo Zongcheng Temple and the Xumi Fushou Temple. These two temples were built in 1767 (the 32nd year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign) and 1780 (the 45th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign), respectively. Modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa and the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, they are commonly known as the Little Potala Palace and the Panchen Lama’s Summer Palace. The Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area features two grand Sino-Tibetan style temples that are majestic and solemn, presenting a vivid portrayal of the Tibetan plateau’s cultural charm. Visiting the Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area allows you to bathe in the magnificent divine light of blessings and longevity, offering a comprehensive insight into Tibetan culture.

Experience Auspiciousness

No need to travel to the highlands to catch a glimpse of Tibet’s Potala.

No need to trek through snowy lands to hear the Tibetan damaru drums.

Step into the Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area, enjoy the authentic Tibetan song and dance performance “Light of Potala” at the Royal Throne Building; witness hand-painted thangkas at the Golden Blessing Hall, relive Tibetan folk customs, and feel the wisdom of the Tibetan people; experience the imperial culture of blessings and longevity at the Thousand Buddha Pavilion, and pray for fortune and long life before 1,019 statues of Amitayus...

Attain Spiritual Insight

The Potala·Imperial Summer Palace Scenic Area nurtures the souls thirsty for knowledge.

In the Donggang Hall, listen to the “Splendor of Buddhism – Guanyin Culture Exhibition” narrate the teachings, legends, folk beliefs, and consecration rituals of Guanyin.

In the Wanfa Zongyuan Hall, explore the “Heavenly Emissary – Panchen Lama Culture Exhibition” telling stories of reincarnation, the Golden Urn Lottery, and the successive Panchen Erdeni Lamas.

Worship Amitayus Buddha and Pray for Longevity

The year 1771 marked the 80th birthday of Empress Dowager Chongqing, Emperor Qianlong’s mother. A deeply filial emperor, Qianlong had decreed in 1767 the construction of the Putuo Zongcheng Temple in Chengde to celebrate his mother’s birthday. He required that a resplendent hall be built within the temple to host her birthday celebration. The temple was completed in 1771 and became the largest among the Mountain Resort and its surrounding temples.

As you ascend the steps, you’ll find the temple’s Great Red Platform absolutely magnificent. The parapet walls of the platform, as well as its central southern section, are inlaid with glazed Buddhist niches housing statues of Amitayus Buddha, adorned in yellow and green hues that are strikingly vibrant. Entering the Red Platform, in the east and west side chambers of the South Group Buildings’ “Secret Realm,” there are two octagonal sandalwood towers. These nine-story wooden towers sit atop Sumeru pedestals and reach the platform level through open wells on the second and third floors. Each tower houses 1,080 gilded bronze Amitayus Buddha statues—an extraordinary sight rarely seen in the world. These statues embody Emperor Qianlong’s heartfelt wish for his mother’s enduring fortune and longevity. If you wish to pray for similar blessings for yourself and your family, be sure to pay homage before the Amitayus Buddha statues.

The Hall of Ten Thousand Methods Returning to One – The World’s Bewitching Golden Temple

The Hall of Ten Thousand Methods Returning to One is a gem of religious architecture and the main hall of the Putuo Zongcheng Temple. It is nestled among the group buildings of the Great Red Platform, with its lower structure enclosed by three tiers of buildings. Its dazzling golden roof rises above the surrounding structures, shimmering in the distance like a golden mountain. The entire roof is covered with fish-scale-shaped copper tiles, each gilded with 50 grams of gold—equivalent to about one tael of gold per tile. Over 15,000 taels of gold were used in the construction of the entire hall.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the renowned Swedish explorer and geographer Sven Hedin planned to find a first-class lamasery in China to relocate to Chicago for the 1932–1934 World’s Fair. After searching unsuccessfully for a suitable candidate, Hedin arrived at the Mountain Resort in Chengde and laid eyes on the Hall of Ten Thousand Methods Returning to One. He was captivated by its radiant golden roof, colorful paintings, and exquisite, unique architectural style. Hedin and his team then initiated negotiations with the authorities on how to move the hall to Chicago without damaging the original structure. Eventually, a remark by the architect Liang Sicheng resolved the issue: “We can provide a scale model of the building.” Under Liang Sicheng’s direction, over 200 skilled artisans worked day and night for a year to replicate more than 28,000 major components of the original hall at a 1:10 scale. After Hedin brought the replica to the United States, he had another full-scale model created. The architectural masterpiece from China, displayed at the Chicago World’s Fair, caused a sensation worldwide. Due to its gleaming golden roof, the replica of the Hall of Ten Thousand Methods Returning to One was affectionately referred to by Westerners as the Brilliant Golden Temple.