it is a great trip for anyone spending significant time in the Beijing area. Located 4-5 hours outside the city by train or bus Chengde is a small town with clean air (rare in china) and some great sites. Key things to see; Summer Resort a huge park that has a feel of that of the summer palace but the area is much larger, Putuozhongcheng a mini potala palace, and punyin temple. There are also other outlying temples, and make hiking/climbing trails making a stay of a few more days worth it if you have time. Entrance is to sites is expensive by China standards (90 yuan, 40 yuan, and 50 yuan for the sites mentioned above in order). Transportation however is cheep no place in town should be more than 10 yuan by taxi.