I have to go on a lengthy subway trip to get there and turn up at the east gate. I get a through ticket which includes all the buildings, good value at 28 RMB or about £3. There are groups of locals singing and dancing in the park.
The Temple of Heaven was an altar where the Emperor would go to pray for abundant harvests and seek atonement. Actually this process involved an entourage of thousands, an army in procession from the Forbidden City to the Temple. The common people had to hide in their homes during this procession and keep their windows shuttered and doors closed. Even to look out of the window whilst the Emperor was passing through the city meant death.
This is the east entrance to the park.
This is the Seven Star Stones, which are "pacifying" stones with mountains engraved on them They signnify the peaks of the Taoshan Mountains. There were originally only 6 but a seventh was added during the Manchu reign to signify the unification of China under the Manchu dynasty.
In a way I've approached the park from the wrong entrance, as I'm starting with the most impressive part, which is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
This was the central altar for the rite. The surrounding buildings are the Annex Halls.
The halls in the Temple of Heaven are arranged along a meridian from south to north. This is one of the massive gates to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
All the buildings are arranged in symmetry. This smaller pavilion is the Vault of Heaven, which is surrounded by the Echo Wall, like the one in St Paul's Cathedral where your own voice will travel along the wall (at least on a quiet day!)
The Circular Mound Altar was used for sacrifices at the winter solstice.
View from the Circular Mound Altar.
There is a lot more to see like the Divine Kitchens, Animal Sacrifice Pavilions and Hall of Divine Music, but I have had enough for one day by now. I walk through the cypress groves of which there are many and go back north to the east gate.
Following this I return to the hotel and go out for lunch in the hutong, of all things I have fish and chips in a little hole in the wall restaurant which actually is not bad at all! I follow up with a visit to Great Leap Brewing where I get talking to a couple of American teachers who work in Beijing. I get back to the hotel for a shower and change, then wander back out for a few beers. I actually bump into a colleague of mine from the University which is a real surprise, we get talking and by now I'm getting drunk. I don't get to eat until past 10pm, then I have some more fish and chips and round off at my usual haunt to say goodbye to the staff. Next day I'm back in Baoding but have had a really great time: although I spent too much money! One thing about this is that I've been able to take my time sightseeing, I just did one a day and then relaxed over a beer and some food. It was a pleasantly relaxing pace.
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