Temple of Heaven Beijing China

One of the places that I felt most comfortable during my trip to Beijing was at the Temple Of Heaven and its surrounding park. The Park sits just north of the 2nd Ring Road and the city canal and is about 4.5 km south of Tiananmen Square.

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 Originally built in 1420 it is the place where emperors went to pray to the gods of heaven and earth for a good harvest. The connection is represented by the shape of the park - square at the south end representing earth, and domed at the north end representing heaven.

The most important building at the temple is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. It is 38 m tall and 36 m in diameter.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

Your author in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

This building is impressive. It sits on three square tiers of carved stone. These represent the earth. The hall itself is beautifully decorated and is round to represent heaven.

Decorations under the pagoda

Each pillar is a solid tree trunk

The emperors throne

As impressive as the temple is, what I really loved about this place was the surrounding park. The park is gathering place for seniors from throughout Beijing. When you come, enter through the East Gate. This part of the park is is a gathering place for groups practicing tai-chi and dancing.

A belly dancing class

More belly dancing

Tai-chi using a ball and racket

The tai-chi groups are plentiful and varied. In addition to traditional tai-chi, we observed groups belly dancing,, using ribbons and balls with a soft racket. The important thing was that here were groups of people getting exercise in. they spent time together and helped each other keep in shape.

Nearby is the Long Corridor. This is covered walkway where groups of people come to pass time, play cards, chess, knit and crochet. But most of all to visit. They are obviously old friends who have been doing this for years.

The Long Corridor

A band performing traditional Chinese folk tunes

Chess players and kibitzers

I felt comfortable here because it brought back memories. When I was young my grandmother lived in Co-op City in the Bronx. If you have ever driven by Co-op City you know that it filled with tall, large apartment building, but it also has a lot of open space and benches and tables for people to sit at. My grandmother spent her days sitting on these benches spending time with her friends. She would play kalukee, a card game whose rules I no longer remember. It was a social circle that kept minds alive and checked in on each other.

The Temple of Heaven Park plays this role in the lives of its users. They come and spend time with their friends They pass time and visit. It is the heart of a city in so many real ways. It was a place where I felt that I knew the people. It reminded me of my grandmother.     

The Forbidden City - Beijing China

Here is the thing about The Forbidden City, unlike the European castles that I have visited, which can pack more opulence in a square foot than the eye can take in, what is truly overwhelming is the way that open space and size has been used create the felling of power.

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The Forbidden City sits in the heart of Beijing. Built between 1410 and 1420 it was the home to 24 emperors up until the 1912, when the Emperor Puyi resigned. The grounds cover 180 acres, (which is 10 times the size of the Palace of Versailles) and consists of 9,999 rooms. It was called The Forbidden City because the only people allowed into it inner reaches were the Emperor, his concubines and the eunuchs who guarded them.

Most people (and tour groups) start their visit by entering through the Tiananmen Gate, under the watchful gaze of Mao Zedong.

Approaching the Tiananmen Gate

Chairman Mao

Once through, you are in a tree lined courtyard leading up to the Meridian Gate - the true entrance to the Forbidden City. Here is a chance to catch your breath. If you are on a tour you probably have spent the past hour or so in Tiananmen Square. So sit under a tree and watch the parade of people passing by.

The Meridian Gate

Looking back to the Tienanmen Gate

Taking a break waiting for tickets

The Crowd

The Forbidden City unfolds like a Russian maroushka doll, You will pass through many gates and courtyards on the way to emperors palace. This in itself was both security and and a way to intimidate those who came to the court on business.

Once you have your tickets you cross through the Meridian Gate and enter a courtyard bisected by The Golden Stream.

Bridges across the Golden Stream

Your author with Gate of Supreme Harmony

The Golden Stream

  To the left and right are smaller gates leading off to smaller pavilions, many of which now act as museum of imperial treasures. Also (to the right) through the Gate of Blending Harmony are toilet facilities, but be warned, here, as in most of China these are "squat toilets".

The Gate of Blending Harmony

Away from the crowd, beyond the Gate of Blending Harmony

 You might notice that the gates are 10-20 feet above the ground level of the courtyard. This is true throughout the palace, so be prepared for climbing up and down stairs and ramps.

The Gate of Supreme Harmony

 Through the Gate of Supreme Harmony you enter the heart of the Forbidden City. Here three pavilions sit along the north-south axis,The Hall of Supreme Harmony, The Hall of Central Harmony and The Hall of Preserving Harmony. The halls were ceremonial seat of the emperors' governments. The Hall of Supreme Harmony was the official throne room and the place where many official ceremonial activities happened.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

Top of the Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Halls of Central Harmony and Preserving Harmony

The Hall of Central Harmony

Looking out from The Forbidden City with modern Beijing in the background

These lion heads still serve as drainage when it rains

My trip took place during a national holiday, and the Forbidden City was packed. It was impossible to get anywhere near the pavilions in this section of the Forbidden City, so I took a different path, walking around the edges of the pavilions.From it was interesting to see some of the engineering that went into building the this palace. The three pavilions sit up on a raised platform, probably 30 or feet high. The platform is tiered and its height represents the primacy of the emperor's position in society.

The Large Stone Carving

At the north end of the tier is The Large Stone Carving. Over 16 meters long, and 3 meters wide, this was the path the emperor's sedan chair would take to the throne. No one else was allowed to walk over this path.

Beyond the Halls of Harmony is the Gate of Heavenly Purity which led to the living quarters of the emperor and his concubines. On either side of the gate are bronze lions.

Gate of Heavenly Purity

On the right is a male lion with an orb under foot. This represents the power of the emperor. On the left is a female lion with a cub under her foot representing continuing life and future generations.

The palace is filled with artistic flourishes throughout. Carved stone, painted walls, and corners of roofs have carved dragons and lions.

If you exit the living quarters to either side you will find an area with small paths that used to be servants quarters. Today they house museum and little surprises of beauty.

The last bit if the palace on the standard tour is Imperial Garden.

Leaving the Forbidden City through its northern most gate - The Gate of Divine Prowess, you will probably have a bit of a walk to get back to your tour bus. The walk is along the moat that protects the Forbidden City.

Turret at a corner of the Forbidden City

Gate of Divine Prowess

The Moat

As you walk along there are many street vendors. Be careful here, Some of the goods are poorly made, and two of our groups were given a 20 rouble (33 cents) note as change instead of a 20 Yuan note ($3.15).

Some final notes - 
If you are on a tour, you will probably have only about 1.5 hours in the Forbidden City. This makes it really rushed. I could have used 2-3 more hours and I wish that I had free time to go back.

One thing that China has learned is how to market. The Forbidden City is filled with "Museum Stores." Each one sells different goods. So don't spend all of your money in the first, and don't buy heavy things until the end of your tour.

Your tour guide might tell you not to buy here. They might tell you that they are going to take you to a market where you can get things cheaper. This would be "The Pearl Market." I would be very careful there. The goods are mostly counterfeit and expectation is that you will bargain down the price. I felt that I received very good quality at the Forbidden City and I am very happy with those purchases.