Temple of Heaven Park

We started out the day with Tai Chi in the parking lot of the hotel...always outdoors.  We get some strange looks and some smiles as we learn the moves...but it's very relaxing and peaceful.  Mei is a patient teacher!  Then off to the Temple of Heaven Park.  I thought this was going to be another temple but it really did turn out to be a park and like all parks we've been to in China, there were lots of folks getting their morning exercise....

dancing....

Chinese Yo yo....

Pat gave this one a try...takes practice!

stretching on the apparatus...

This gentleman is the "star" of the park and can

do wonders on these bars!  He's 87 as I recall.

He gave Rocco a free ride!  

Rocco's in the white pants hanging on for dear life.

This is tai chi with balls and paddles.

The Nine Dragon Juniper - over 500 years old and the

bark really does look like 9 dragons crawling up to heaven.

This is one of almost 4000 Juniper and Cypress trees in

the walled area - some 800 years old.

And this is matchmaker corner.  Parents and grandparents bring 

papers with the information about their children to try and 

find a match for marriage.

Then on into the Temple of Heaven area. 

The Berlitz China guide describes it as..."This marvel of geometry, art and engineering, built of wood without a single nail measures 123 feet to the gilded orb on it topmost roof.  In 1889 the masterpiece was struck by lightening and burnt almost to the ground but...quickly restored.
     At the winter solstice, the emperor expressed thanks for the previous harvest.  Then, on the 15th day of the first lunar month of the year, he was carried here in a procession to pray to the gods of sun and moon, clouds and rain for a bountiful harvest in the year to come.  The four central columns represent the seasons; then come two concentric rings of 12 columns each representing the 12 months and the dozen 2-hour periods into which the day is divided; and 28 hardwood pillars symbolize the constellations."

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.

It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Heavenly Center Stone

There is a great description of all this on 

wikipedia if you want more info.

Time to leave Beijing so off to the airport and our flight to Xi'an.

Much greener and better air here!

In the airport was a long row of beautiful mosaics 

telling the story of the Xi'an area

And we met our new regional guide and he gave a talk about the area on the way to the hotel.  He is also a singer- great voice. 

After catching our breath, we headed down the street to a local restaurant for a wonderful dinner!  The food is spicier here:-).  After dinner we were free to wander or do what we chose.  We picked up some water and checked out the stores across the street and then...

John worked on pictures!  If only we could get on the blog!!!

Another very fun day!