Tiatan Park in Beijing

The Temple of Heaven occupies a lot of Tiatan Park, but there is also much more to enjoy outside the temple buildings.  Forest, paths, arbors, floral beds, playgrounds, and exercise areas all occupy the non-temple areas of this 660 acre (267 hectare) park.  It's Sunday afternoon in the park and a lot is going on.

As I leave the Circular Mound Alter in the Temple of Heaven, I walk down straight paths through the forest.

 Paths through the trees

Approaching the Palace of Abstinence/Fasting Palace, the paths widen to the point where people have stretched badminton nets between the trees and are having good games.

 Wider paths, with badminton

And, at the entrance to the Fasting Palace, others are playing a game that involves keeping a puck in the air and passing it to each other by foot.

 Groups kicking the puck

After my visit to the Fasting Palace, I wander through the grounds back toward Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and find more great paths, gardens, and a sing-along.  There is a small group performing, but everyone watching seems to know the tune and sings along.

 Rose gardens

Other gardens and floral displays

 Sing-along

 As I walk through the park, I see more great resting areas that are being fully utilized on this beautiful day.

 Resting/picnic areas in the park

And, more people expressing themselves in song and dance.

Singing for a small group

 Dancing for us all

Practicing with the sword

Everyone is just having a great Sunday in the park, visiting the temples, walking, singing, dancing, or just resting and enjoying the day.  What a great day!  But, eventually, it is time to go and I head out the west exit and turn right toward Tiananmen Square.

 Time to go

Temple of Heaven in Tiatan Park

Beijing's Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Tiatan Park, southeast of Tianamen Square.  Built between 1406 and 1420, the temple was a holy site through the Ming and Qing dynasties, with royal alters for sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and other forces of nature and to pray for good harvests and favorable rain.

 Map of the Temple of Heaven

As I walk in from the south, I first enter the Long Corridor, off of which are 72 rooms associated with animal sacrifice, including the Animal Killing Pavilion, the Divine Kitchen, and the Divine Warehouse.  Currently, animal sacrifices are apparently no longer performed in this facility and the corridor is a great resting place for people to hang out with friends and hold a few friendly games.

 Hanging out in the Long Corridor

 At the northern end of the Long Corridor, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests dominates the scenery, elevated on a huge marble base, the Hall was used by the emperor to pray for good harvests.

 Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

Inside the magnificent triple-gabled hall are is the alter for prayers.

 Alters for prayers for good harvests and rains

On the elevated marble base are several smaller Annex Halls, which hold exhibitions describing the Hall and the worship and prayers carried on in each.

East Annex Hall and exhibitions

Heading out from the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, I head toward the Imperial Vault of Heaven, which was used to prepare for ceremonies in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, holding tablets to be used in the ceremonies (including tables of the ancestors of the emperor) and in the events filling the days leading up to the formal ceremony.

 Imperial Vault of Heaven

 Across from the Imperial Vault of Heaven is the Circular Mound Alter, built of three circular levels of marble, where the emperor prayed for good weather.

Circular Mound Alter

Looking back at the Imperial Vault of Heaven from the Circular Mound Alter

Leaving this complex, I have one more stop in the park, to the northwest of the Circular Mound Alter is the Palace of Abstinence or Fasting Palace, where the emperor would live alone for three days prior to the ceremony, following a simple vegetarian diet and avoiding entertainment and court intrigue.

Fasting Palace

The main hall of the Fasting Palace ("Beamless Hall", consisting of a brick dome with no beam) was built in 1420 and was used for ceremonial rituals during the arrival and departure of the emperor. It now holds exhibitions.

 Beamless hall and exhibitions

Behind the Beamless Hall is the Living Hall where the emperor would stay and prepare for the ceremony.

Living Hall

 All surrounded by moat and walls and gates

We've traced the emperor's path backwards from the ceremonial halls back to the preparation halls. Now, let's explore the grand park in which this temple is located.

A Few Simple Meals in Beijing

Except for a fabulous Beijing Duck Dinner (a later blog), I eat simply, but with great variety and fabulous tastes on this trip to Beijing.   Here's two simple dinner plates, wok-fried duck, steamed buns, and noodles in the first and braised pork belly with water chestnuts, sauteed mushrooms, and steamed rice in the second.

Wok-fried duck

Braised pork belly

And, one breakfast at the hotel is representative of the great way I start each day:  steamed buns, steamed vegetables, and congee (rice porridge) to which I add from a selection of peppers, mushrooms, and other great accompaniments.

Breakfast

Walking the streets, I saw lots of great shops and markets with food for sale.

 Lots of great fresh food

And, off the main streets are food streets with stalls selling food to go or eat right there.  One of the most famous of these, Wangfujing Snack Street, is near Tiananmen Square and the narrow alley still maintains the ancient style, serving traditional snack foods.

 Entrance to Wangfujing Snack Street

 Food stalls on Wangfujing

I pass on some of the more exotic offerings, such as fried scorpions, and choose fried squid on a stick for my lunch.

Squid on a stick

The squid is delicious and just the right amount for lunch.  I munch on it as I walk back to the metro to catch the train to my hotel.