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
Recently, I’ve been visiting temples all over Beijing, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, a mosque, etc. Dazhongsi or the Great Bell Temple is just a mile from where I’ve lived for the last three years. I attempted visiting before, but it … Continued
The Fangshan District of Beijing is rich with history! In addition to the Peking Man Site, my recent trip to the southwestern district of Beijing included a visit to the Yunju Temple. A temple has been on this site for … Continued
Beijing is known for its rich history, China for its 5,000 years back to antiquity, but this Oriental capital also boasts a Paleolithic heritage discovered and preserved at the Peking Man Site or Zhoukoudian. I have wanted to visit this … Continued
Confucius said many things that have been passed down for thousands of years and continue to influence daily life in China. In Beijing, the Confucius Temple reminds visitors of his significant impact on Chinese culture and philosophy. It is the … Continued
Nestled in an unassuming building near the southeast corner of Tiananmen Square and behind the elaborate, old Beijing train station, the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall gives visitors a glimpse into the growth of this ancient city from Genghis Khan’s palace … Continued