Xumi Fushou Temple

须弥福寿之庙

Built by the Qianlong Emperor to welcome the 6th Panchen Lama, who came to Chengde for his birthday celebrations. Modelled on Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, its gilded copper roof and eight golden dragon ridge ornaments are the highlights.

Xumi Fushou Temple was built in 1780, the 45th year of the Qianlong era. When the Qianlong Emperor celebrated his 70th birthday, the 6th Panchen Lama travelled over ten thousand li from Tibet to offer his congratulations. Qianlong had this temple built as the Panchen's residence, modelled on Tashilhunpo Monastery where the Panchen was based, so it is also called the Panchen Palace. The whole temple is built into the mountainside along a central axis. The Miaogao Zhuangyan Hall, inside the main Red Platform, is where the Panchen gave lectures. Its roof is covered in gilded fish-scale copper tiles, and each of its four ridges has two golden dragons soaring into the sky, each weighing about a tonne. It is the finest roof craftsmanship among the Eight Outer Temples. At the highest point, the seven-storey octagonal Wanshou Glazed Pagoda has a green glazed body and a yellow glazed roof. It is the perfect spot to look out at the Red Platform of Putuo Zongcheng Temple. The temple still holds the Panchen's ritual objects and Qianlong's own calligraphy plaques. It sits just east of Putuo Zongcheng Temple and is a 5-minute walk away. It attracts far fewer visitors than the 'Little Potala Palace', so it's ideal for studying the architectural details in peace. Admission is 80 yuan in peak season and 60 yuan in the off-season. A combined ticket with Putuo Zongcheng Temple costs 100 yuan in peak season. The suggested plan is to spend half a day on both temples, visiting Xumi Fushou first and then Putuo Zongcheng, and to photograph the Red Platform in the afternoon when the light is good.

Xumi Fushou Temple

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