The Anyuan Temple is one of the famous Eight Outer Temples of Chengde. The Eight Outer Temples were constructed between the 52^nd year (1713) of the reign of Emperor Kangxi and the 45^th year (1780) of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Originally there were 11 temples, but only seven temples and one site remain: the Eight Outer Temples surrounding the Chengde Summer Resort Manor. To the east of the Chengde Summer Resort Manor are the Puren Temple, Pule Temple, Anyuan Temple and Pushan Temple (where only ruins remain); to the north are the Puning Temple, Sumeru Fushou Temple, Putuo Zongsheng Temple and Shuxiang Temple.

The Anyuan Temple was built in the 21st year (1756) of the reign of Emperor Qianlong when the Qing Dynasty put down Zhunge'er's rebellion in Xinjiang. To conciliate the rebels, Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of a temple outside the Chengde Summer Resort Manor, naming it Anyuan (to appease from far), also known as Ili Temple, which imitates the style of Guerzha Temple in the north of the Ili River in Xinjiang. The construction was completed in 1764. The main hall of the Anyuan Temple named Pudu, with black glazed tiles covering its roof, has a double-eaved roof and three stories. A Dumu statue resides on an altar in the hall and the four walls are covered in Buddhist stories. The hall has 64 principal columns to form a winding corridor in front of which is erected a stone tablet made at Emperor Qianlong's request. Inscriptions on the tablets are written in Manchu, Han, Mongolian, and Tibetan characters, recording the historical facts of Zhunge'er's rebellion.