Chengde, often called “Beijing’s backyard,” is arguably Hebei’s most awkward city. Despite its prestigious nickname, it remains a fourth-tier city with a challenging situation that many find regrettable. So, what kind of city is Chengde? Why is it so awkward, and what makes it such a pity?
The Awkward Situation of Chengde
As Hebei’s northern gateway, Chengde boasts the province’s largest administrative area at 39,511.89 square kilometers. Yet, its population is only 3.28 million, ranking second-to-last among Hebei’s 11 prefecture-level cities. Worse, the population has been shrinking, dropping by over 70,000 from 2020 to 2024. Chengde also faces severe aging, with 18.7% of its population aged 65 or older in 2023, higher than the provincial average, placing it in the “deep aging” category.
Economically, Chengde’s 2024 GDP was 196.26 billion yuan, again second-to-last in Hebei, just 4.93 billion yuan ahead of Zhangjiakou. Despite its fame as home to the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its tourism industry relies heavily on a “ticket economy.” The development of related cultural products, creative industries, or leisure services is nearly nonexistent. Higher education is scarce, making it hard to nurture or retain talent. While housing prices are low compared to other cities, salaries have barely budged in a decade, severely limiting the city’s appeal, especially to young people.
Geographically, Chengde’s position adds to its awkwardness. Bordering Beijing and Tianjin to the south, Inner Mongolia to the north, and neighboring Chaoyang, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan, and Zhangjiakou, it sits at the transition zone between North China and Northeast China. This gives it a unique “one city connecting five provinces” advantage, serving as a key node in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning.
Chengde is just 225 kilometers from Beijing and 435 kilometers from Shijiazhuang, Hebei’s capital. With infrastructure like the Beijing-Shenyang high-speed rail and Puning Airport, it’s part of a one-hour travel circle to Beijing. As the ecological barrier and water source for the Jing-Jin-Ji region, Chengde shoulders the critical task of ensuring water security for Beijing and Tianjin while absorbing their industrial transfers and non-capital functions. This earns it the “Beijing’s backyard” title.
Why Is Chengde Struggling Despite Its Advantages?
With such a strategic location, why is Chengde faring so poorly? Historically, it was a star. During the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era, the Summer Palace made Chengde a “second political center,” a “royal companion capital” rivaling Beijing and Shenyang. It hosted imperial governance, diplomatic receptions, and cultural activities, boasting significant political and cultural status.
Today, however, it lags economically due to a conflict between its responsibilities and development goals. As a vital ecological barrier for Jing-Jin-Ji, Chengde enforces strict environmental protections, limiting heavy industry development. Its light industry and electronics sectors lack a robust supply chain, making industrial transformation challenging.
Protecting Beijing and Tianjin’s ecology comes at a high economic cost. Yet, the ecological compensation mechanism in Jing-Jin-Ji is inadequate, with ecological transfer payments accounting for only about 6% of Chengde’s fiscal expenditure. This mismatch between its ecological contributions and received compensation hinders growth.
Compared to other cities, Chengde lacks a clear role. Shijiazhuang is the provincial capital, Tangshan is an industrial powerhouse and Hebei’s economic leader, Baoding supports Xiong’an New Area, Langfang serves as the Jing-Jin-Ji corridor, and Qinhuangdao thrives as a port city. Each has administrative advantages, policy support, or industrial pillars. Chengde, however, struggles to find its place in Hebei’s urban cluster or the Jing-Jin-Ji framework, lacking core competitiveness.
Outside Hebei, Inner Mongolia’s Chifeng and Liaoning’s Chaoyang rely on heavy industry or resource-based economies, making cooperation with Chengde difficult and deepening its isolation. As Hebei prioritizes a “strong capital, strong coast, strong Xiong’an” strategy within Jing-Jin-Ji integration, Chengde remains on the fringes.
How Can Chengde Break Free?
The most direct solution is to turn its ecological strengths into development advantages. Investing in health industries, green organic agriculture, and other sustainable sectors could carve out a unique path, revitalizing this “royal heritage” city.
References
- Hebei Statistical Yearbook, 2023–2024 (population and GDP data).
- UNESCO World Heritage List, Summer Palace in Chengde.
- Reports on Jing-Jin-Ji ecological compensation mechanisms.
