The Temple of Heaven is often regarded as one of the Top 250 places to visit in the world. Personally it doesn’t do a whole lot for me. I’ve visited the temple twice and I find the buildings to be rather dull and unimpressive on a global scale (the Top 250 is a rather prestigious list). For me it probably just gets lost amongst the other amazing sites in Beijing – Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Olympic Park and more!
While I am not in the love with the temple itself, the surrounding grounds offer a fascinating view of local Chinese culture. Every morning thousands of elderly Chinese gather in the temple parks to partake in a series of activities together. Organized group tango dancing, sword fighting, and painting sidewalks with water were all popular ways to enjoy the morning among friends. Those who weren’t into group activities would get lost in the surrounding trees and perform these deep, individual morning exercises. I caught this lady midway through her weekly Saturday morning ritual.
