Chengde is at its liveliest on Friday and Saturday summer nights, when the weekenders are here, though the Yiyuan Nightclub, just west of the Shanzhuan Hotel, caters strictly for wealthy tourists.

The main shopping drag, Nanyingzi Dajie, is a good place to come in the evening when a night market stretches all the way down it. Many of the vendors sell antiques and knick-knacks which are generally cheaper than in either Beijing or Tianjin.You'll have to bargain hard and don't expect everything to be genuine.