The Eight Outer Temples

The Eight Outer Temples

The Eight Outer Temples is a cultural tourism attraction.

On the undulating hills to the east and north of the Chengde Mountain Resort, twelve large, colorful, and magnificent lamaseries are arranged in a pattern that resembles stars encircling the moon. These temples feature exquisite architecture and diverse styles, serving as a model of cultural integration among Han, Mongolian, and Tibetan traditions. Here, visitors can admire the grandeur reminiscent of Tibet’s Potala Palace, explore the magnificence of Shigatse’s Tashilhunpo Monastery, appreciate the charm of Shanxi’s Wutai Mountain Shuxiang Temple, catch a glimpse of the presence of Ili’s Gurdzha in Xinjiang, and even see the world’s largest wooden Buddha statue — the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin. Originally, eight of these temples were managed by the Lifan Yuan (Board of Colonial Affairs) of the Qing government, registered with the Lama Print Office in Beijing, and maintained “liaison offices” in the capital with resident lamas. As all were located beyond the ancient Gubeikou Pass, they were collectively referred to as the “Eight Outer Temples” (meaning the eight temples outside the pass). Over time, this term came to represent all twelve temples. In December 1994, the “Eight Outer Temples,” along with the Mountain Resort, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Among the “Eight Outer Temples,” except for the Puren Temple and Pushan Temple built during the Kangxi era, the remaining ten were constructed during the Qianlong period. They are: on the east side of the Mountain Resort, across the Wulie River, lie the Puren Temple, Pule Temple, and Anyuan Temple; to the northeast of the resort are the Puning Temple, Puyou Temple, and Guangyuan Temple; directly north of the resort, separated by the Shizi Gully and arranged from east to west, are the Xumi Fushou Temple, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Shuxiang Temple, Guang’an Temple, and Luohantang. The Qing emperors built these temples to accommodate the religious customs of ethnic minorities such as the Mongolians and Tibetans who followed Lamaism, adopting the principle of “respecting their religion without altering their customs.” By extending “benevolent governance,” they aimed to “pacify distant peoples and bring them closer,” thereby fulfilling the Qing Dynasty’s political goal of “unifying hearts within and outside the realm and consolidating a stable reign.” These temples reflect, from one perspective, the history of the Qing Dynasty’s peak period — overcoming internal separatist forces, strengthening ethnic unity, and resisting foreign aggression.

Mountain Resort and the “Eight Outer Temples” From an architectural standpoint, the buildings within the Chengde Mountain Resort — whether solemn imperial palaces or recreational pavilions, verandas, terraces, and towers — all use gray bricks and tiles, presenting a simple and natural style. In contrast, the surrounding “Eight Outer Temples” are adorned with colorful glazed tiles, some even topped with gilded fish-scale tiles. From afar, they appear majestic, resplendent, and splendidly luxurious, forming a sharp contrast with the elegant simplicity of the Mountain Resort. Here, one can easily discern the thoughtful intentions of the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors of the Qing Dynasty.

The twelve temples of the “Eight Outer Temples” showcase three architectural styles: Han-style temples, Tibetan-style temples, and a fusion of Han and Tibetan styles. The architecture, gardens, as well as the numerous stone tablets, sculptures, murals, Buddha statues, and ritual implements housed within the “Eight Outer Temples,” are invaluable treasures for studying Qing Dynasty history, culture, religious art, garden design, and for vividly appreciating the wisdom and talent of laborers over two hundred years ago.