The most dramatic of the Eight Outer Temples, Putuo Zongcheng was modelled closely on the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Thirteen storeys of white-washed platforms rise above the valley north of the Mountain Resort wall, topped by red halls with gilded roofs. The effect is striking: a piece of Tibet transplanted to the Hebei hills.
The Qianlong Emperor built it as political theatre, signalling to Tibetan and Mongolian subjects that their traditions were respected within the Qing empire. Walk up through the lower courtyards and platforms to the main hall at the top for views over the resort and the surrounding mountains.