Chengde is located in Hebei's most fertile area, which mainly produces maize and sorghum, but also yields excellent local chestnuts,mushrooms and apricots. This fresh produce, plus the culinary legacy of the imperial cooks, means it is possible to eat very well here.

The town is also noted for its wild game, particularly deer, hare and pheasant, and its medicinal juice drinks: almond juice is said to be good for asthma; date and jujube juice for the stomach; and jinlianhua juice for a sore throat. Date and almond are the sweetest and most palatable. 

Local cakes,such as the glutinous feng family cakes,once an imperial delicacy but now a casual snack, can be found in the stalls on Yuhua Lu and Qingfeng Jie. Rose cakes, a sweet, crisp pastry cake and a particular favourite of Qianlong, are sold in Chengde's department stores.