In the Tian Tan area of Beijing is a huge park. It is most noted for the iconic Temple of Heaven. But there is much more to the park than this beautiful structure. As we entered the area, our guide Wanda showed us some very interesting activities that are a part of everyday life in the park. It is a favorite place for exercising and socializing especially among the older population.
Those who like to sing simply bring their music and perform for whoever wants to listen. (In person she really looked quite a bit like Elvis.)
There is an adult exercise/play yard that was in full use. We were quite impressed by the level of fitness and the activities taking place. After walking through this area, we entered the beginning of the Temple.
There is a long corridor which connects the kitchen where the animals were prepared to be sacrificed for a good harvest to the temple where the rites were carried out. The long corridor is now a center for social interaction. As you walk along you can find all kind of activities.
Card games are prevalent. I am not sure what all of the games were, but the players were very intense at times. Many people worked on crafts with lots of knitting and crocheting.
This woman was working on one of the largest counted cross stitch pieces I had ever seen. She even took the time to show me the pattern she was working from.
This gentleman was playing a traditional two stringed instrument (can't remember the name) while those around him enjoyed the serenade. There was so much to see and take in and we hadn't gotten to the temple yet.
The doors to the temple are quite large and the view beyond is simply beautiful.
This temple is surrounded by several square tiers and a circular wall encloses it all. The circle represents heaven and the square earth. This theme of heaven and earth (circle and square) is seen throughout the entire temple grounds.
Inside the temple is beautifully adorned and this is where the emperor would pray for a good harvest for the common people each year. The Temple was used for this purpose only one day each year.
We thought that
was the whole of it, but we were mistaken. There are three large sections to the temple with each being used for a particular part of the ceremony.
As we walked the long paths between the temple areas, we could look off to the sides and get an idea of the enormity of the park land. It is much bigger than the Forbidden City but seems smaller since so much of it is treed walking paths.
The various parts of the temple were each unique and beautiful. There is so much history which Wanda told us, but even with taking a few notes the amount of information over the four days of touring is overwhelming. So you will just get the highlights.
Some of the artifacts are so beautiful but cannot be given justice in a photo. The carvings in this area are exquisite.
In the final area there are the gates and the fire pit where the animal sacrifices were burned. This is such a unique spot because it houses the past yet nurtures present. It was a great start to our official tour of Beijing.
Following our tour of the Temple fo Heaven we had dinner and then we were off to the Acrobatic Show. No photos were allowed and that is too bad. All that I can say is "Wow" and "ouch." I needed some IcyHot just from watching it. The performers are incredibly skilled and the variety of acts is astounding. The finale involved more than a dozen girls simultaneously riding on one bicycle in a tight circle around the stage. It was a great finish to our opening day.
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