Covering 24,000 square meters, Temple of Universal Happiness (also known as Round Pavilion) was erected in 1766 when the upper strata personages from the Mongolian and the northwestern tribes came to pay respect to Qing Emperor Qianlong for the stability and peace in northwestern region of China.

The main building, the Pavilion of the Brilliance of the Rising sun, is noted for its caisson ceiling and unique wooden mandala, the only one of its kind in China outside Tibet. The temple's outer walls were once topped by eight colorfully glazed-tile pagodas built on lotus flower pedestals, but nowadays, only one of them still stands. Legend has it that they are said to symbolize the lotus flowers that appeared at every step taken by Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, when he was born.

Chengde Photo Gallery