Other than my time in the Taipei Taiwan Temple and Taipei 101, hiking in the Maokang area was my favorite experience in Taipei. To get there I rode the subway all the way to the end of the brown line … Continued
Not far from Taipei 101, the Sun YatSen Memorial Hall stands as a testament to the influence of one man for so much change. Sun YatSen is respected in Taiwan and on the mainland. He is the father of modern … Continued
Taiwan is a lovely island rich with Chinese culture. My recent visit to Taipei helped me experience this lovely place. I was there for a week, which allowed for more than just the high tourist spots and time to explore. … Continued
Massive colorful halls. Sweeping pointed eaves. Elaborate colorful woodwork and detailed stone carvings. Buddhist. Taoist. Traditional Chinese. Islamic. Peaceful meditative sanctuaries. Fragrant smoky air. These are just a few ways to describe the magnificent and diverse temples of Beijing that … Continued
Many of the Beijing temples I’ve visited are now museums or significant historical sites. However, the Western Yellow Temple is an active lamasery. The emperor built Xihuangsi in the 17th century to honor the visit of the Panchen Lama to … Continued
The Poly Group is one of the largest entertainment companies in China owning theaters and other amusements all around the country. It is also a major collector of Ancient Chinese artifacts, particularly bronzes. To showcase this collection, the Poly Group’s … Continued
Near the Altar of Agriculture, one of Beijing’s large city parks invites visitors to explore. Taoranting Park, like most large Chinese city parks, is anchored by a central body of water. This lake wraps around islands and peninsulas. This creates … Continued
Xiannongtan or the Altar of Agriculture is one of Beijing’s ancient imperial altars where the emperor would perform sacrificial rites and ceremonies. As I wrote about before, this altar lies at the southern end of the Dragon Line on the … Continued
Beijing, as a capital city of some kind for more than 1,000 years, has been a locus for people from all over China and all walks of life to descend upon. As part of this influence, religious peoples too have … Continued
Beijing has been a capital city for more than 1,000 years. Purposefully placed imperial structures including temples and sacrificial altars dot the urban landscape. There were, in the day, nine Beijing imperial altars. Today, not all remain or are open … Continued