Temple of Heaven

On our last day in Beijing I went to the Temple of Heaven. This place was built in the early 1400s and was visited by emporers in the Ming and Qing dynasties to pray for good harvests. It is regarded as a Taoist temple. You can read more about it at: Wikipedia

There are a number of buildings at the park. A couple are pictured here.

The park is very large.

On the right you see a picture of the inside of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.

Some people come to the park to offer prayers where the emperors stood.

One of the most facinating things about the park is that in addition to being a world famous destination, it is also a local park for Beijingers. They gather to sing and dance and play music. I was told that the songs tend to be patriotic or nostalgic. The quality of the singing and music was quite good.

Here is a group of musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments.

The folks on the right were practicing what looked to me like traditional ballroom dancing. Visitors seem to be welcome to join.

The park is pretty close to the center of the city. Our hotel is near the base of the tall building. About a $3 taxi ride each way. $0.30 if you want to take the subway.

Click "View Larger Map" to explore the area around the park. The Forbidden City is to the north and just a little west.

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