In October last year when I visited Beijing, I went to the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde. Chengde used to be called Rehe (meaning Hot River) during the Qing Dynasty. As a matter of fact, the later Qing Emperors spent more time in Rehe than in the Palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing. On the northeastern side of the Imperial Summer Resort about 30 minutes drive away is a nondescript hill. But on top of this hill is something unique and stunning. Two huge rocks about the height of two 20-storey buildings stand shoulder to shoulder next to each other. On top of EACH of these two rocks is a pagoda that was supposedly built many hundred years ago. Now, there is no way one can go up to the pagodas. Well, at least that is for now. I hate to think of the day some idiotic enterpreneur will build an elevator to fetch tourists to the top and collect 100 RMB per visitor for the ride. And to make it more visitor friendly, add a link bridge between alpha and beta to 'enhance' its appeal.
Look at the photo below, it is unique isn't? I reached there in the morning at about 10 am. Unfortunately, the weather was not good that day and that was all I could do with the shot.
I think Twin Pagodas Hill is certainly more qualified to be a classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site than some botanic gardens in the tropics.
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| Twin Pagodas Hill |
