Heaven in a Temple

Finding myself with a day off, as one of the companies that I work with were on vacation, I sat undecided as what to visit first. Of course on my list is the usual requirements..... The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, The Hutongs, The Summer Palace..... The Shopping Centres (only joking)... but as the weather had
turned drizzly and overcast, I decided on The Temple of Heaven.

This temple was built in1420 by the Emperor Yongle for better harvest. In comparison to the Forbidden City, it is four times larger in square meters. The large gardens are laden with trees, that are now only starting to bloom, but one can imagine how it must look in the summer. The Temple itself with its inner sanctuaries and alters was built to represent 28 constellations, 4 seasons and the 12 months of the year.

The Emperor who was the all powerful, was responsible for the good harvest.
The hall of Prayer itself is very impressive and under one of the long houses, I found the 'retired' folk, playing cards, musical instruments, dancing with their fans and generally keeping themselves amused and busy. An outdoor 'golden' retirement club, this was a delight to see.

I myself have not been yet to the following, but have seen pictures of his work.
Zhang Yujun, 47 is a fan of the 'hutong culture' of Beijing. The 'hutongs' are the famous alley ways and small streets that could be found in some parts of England, as in Brighton or Bath or in Israel in Zefat or Neve Zedek in Tel Aviv. For the past decade her has invested most of his money into his craft and collection of keeping this era alive in a museum. His idea is/was to maintain a window into the past life of Beijing, that was mostly destroyed when the mass building overtook the city. The musem is found opposite the National Memorial of the Chinese People's War, near the Marco Polo Bridge (otherwise known as Lugou Bridge) inFwngtai District. I understand this is a place not to be missed, not quite Madame Tussaud or The Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv, but well worth a visit and not to touristy.

Every Friday I usually go out to teach in a far flung part of Beijing, past the 6th Ring Road, that has not been completed yet, to an industrial area that looks like the 'back and beyond', the rural area that is left outside the main city. But, on my return, the hustle and bustle of the city is unbelievable. Neon lights blazing, cars honking, this city is alive with activity and many a Beijinger can be seen standing on one of the many pedestrian bridge crossings, standing agog looking at all the activity below, a sight truly not to be missed.

Lastly for all you would be shoppers that come to Beijing and go to the Silk/Pearl Market and are not sure of what you are buying. Know that in a small town near Suzhou, a city not far from Shanghai, is the true birthplace of the Chinese freshwater pearl trading center. Around 1,000 families breed these white treasures in the surrounding waters and lakes. Legend tells that around 770-476BC, a famous beauty Xishi dropped her pearl bracelet into a lake in Weitang, which was then changed to Pearl Lake and from that time it has given
big, pure and bright pearls to the locals and for others to buy. Bear in mind, that the pearly are graded and classified before being sold. Worth checking out.