12-Day Trip to Chengde & Beijing in October

(Saturday, October 12, 2012) Morning: Putuo Zongcheng Temple I had already bought a ticket to Beijing for the evening, so I had plenty of time today. I checked out at 10 am, stored my luggage, and took a bus directly to the Little Potala Palace. Putuo Zongcheng Temple * A Han-Tibetan style building, built in imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa * The gold roof of the Hall of All-Pervading Law cost more than 10,000 taels of gold leaf * The largest of the Eight Outer Temples It is also one of the must-see attractions for tourists. Fortunately, it was the off-season, so there were no crowded and noisy crowds, and the moderate number of tourists kept the place alive. It must be a sunny day, so that the red and white walls with yellow and green glazed tiles look noble and solemn in the sun. The photos are so colorful. After visiting the first half of the Han-style buildings, I sat down to rest. I ate some hand-torn bread and drank some black coffee while admiring the big red platform in front of me. I was afraid of altitude sickness, so I didn't consider going to Lhasa, but coming here made up for the regret. According to the introduction of the "Big Red Platform," the interior of the building is in the shape of a square. When I climbed up and saw it, I was shocked. It was so big. I went up layer by layer to the top floor, and the golden roof was dazzling. Looking around, I could see the nearby Puning Temple (the one with the glazed pagoda behind it) and the distant Sledgehammer Peak. I recommend spending about 2.5 hours here.