Qingchui Peak (Sledgehammer Rock)
磬锤峰
Chengde's iconic rock formation: a 38-metre peak shaped like an upturned mallet. Take the cable car to the top for views over the Mountain Resort and the Eight Outer Temples. Its silhouette at sunset is the most classic image.
Qingchui Peak lies within Qingchui Peak National Forest Park, east of the Chengde Mountain Resort. It is a red-sandstone column that is narrow at the base and wider at the top. It stands 38 metres tall, with a top diameter of 15 metres and a base diameter of 10 metres. Locals call it 'Mallet Mountain', and the Kangxi Emperor named it after the qing, an ancient stone musical instrument struck with a mallet. It is Chengde's natural landmark and can be seen from the Hammer Peak Sunset Pavilion in the Mountain Resort and from the top of the Red Platform at Putuo Zongcheng Temple. To get there, take the cable car up from the foot of the mountain for about 15 minutes to the base of the peak, then walk about 20 minutes to the peak itself. Halfway up is a Mongolian mulberry tree that has grown for over 300 years. You can also climb the stone steps on foot, which takes about an hour. The platform at the base offers a panoramic view of the Mountain Resort, the Eight Outer Temples and the city, making it the best spot to photograph Chengde. On the east side of the peak, Pule Temple, whose Xuguang Pavilion mirrors the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at Beijing's Temple of Heaven, and Anyuan Temple can be visited along the way. Pule Temple is also a classic vantage point for photographing Qingchui Peak. Admission is 50 yuan in peak season and 30 yuan in the off-season. The one-way cable car costs about 50 yuan, and a return ticket costs about 80 yuan. The peak is about 5 km northeast of the city centre. Take bus line 10 to the Qingchui Peak stop, or hail a taxi for a 15-minute ride. The summit is very windy, and you should stay away from edges without railings at the base. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so it's best to go in the morning.
Opening hours
8:00–17:00 (cable car 8:30–16:30)
Nearby sights
- Pule Temple
- Anyuan Temple
- Puren Temple
- Chengde Museum
- Puning Temple
- Chengde Mountain Resort
- Xumi Fushou Temple
- Nanyingzi Street