Unique Places in Beijing

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Fan-Shaped Pavilion is located right opposite to Double-Ring-Shaped Longevity Pavilion. This Fan Shaped Pavilion is small, but has unique shape to enhance the beauty of Temple Of Heaven Park.

The signboard was written as:

" In a unique and grotesque shape with the front narrow and the rear broad, the pavilion is refined and complex in structure. Its structure shows the form of an ancient foldable fan. It is one of the unique structure in the traditional garden of ancient Chine. "

In Chinese: 扇亭 (Shan Ting)

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As I walked around the Temple of Heaven Park, I noticed this beautiful Pavilion with interesting roofs like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. It matches so well with the surrounding green trees and plants.

The signboard was written as:

" The Double-Ring-Shaped Longevity Pavilion, strict and unique in structure, and gracious and elegant in style, is composed of two linked-up round pavilions each with a double eave and malachite blue glazed tile roof. A masterpiece of ancient architecture, it is unique among the ancient architectural structures in China. It was originally located in the Middle and South Seas. It is said that Hongli, Emperor Qianlong, had it built in 1741 (the 6th year of Qing Emperor Dowager's 50th birthday. Its plane shape symbolized a pair of peaches and the stairways in front of the pavilion look like the tips of the two peaches-all symbolically meaning "Harmony, auspiciousness and longevity". It was transferred here in 1975. "

In Chinese: 双环万寿亭 (Shuang Huan Wan Shou Ting)

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After visiting the museum at Divine Music Administration, I found the history of this place is very interesting as a music training institution in the ancient China. The signboard was written as:

" The Divine Music Administration is one of the major architectures of the Temple of Heaven. Located on the west side of the temple, it served as a place for rehearsing music used in sacrificial ceremonies during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was praised as the highest institution of the ceremonial music in the two dynasties. The Divine Music Administration was first built in the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (A.D 1420). At that time it was called the Taoist Temple of Divine Music, also known as the Taoist Court of the Temple of Heaven. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Taoist Temple of Divine Music boasted many grand halls with beautiful environments. There were even tea houses and drug stores in the temple. In the 8th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong (A.D. 1743), the Taoist Temple of Divine Music was renamed "Institute of Divine Music," then again renamed as "Divine Music Administration" in 1754. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, it was ravaged by the Eight-Power Allied Forces and Japanese aggressor troops. Nearly all the buildings in the Administration were destroyed. After the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, the Administration's courtyard was occupied by residents from the surrounding neighborhood. They built many makeshift buildings in the courtyard. The Divine Music Administration was thus lost amid the residential houses.
Over recent years, various social circles have shown concern over the state of the Divine Music Administration. Many experts and scholars called for the rescue of the Administration. Also some leading officials of the Beijing Municipal Government went on inspection tours of the Administration to solve relevant problems. In August 2004, the rebuilt Divine Music Administration was renamed Exhibition rooms of Ancient Imperial Music" and officially opened to the public. "

" In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Divine Music Administration was the place for training ritual servicemen and performers of Zhonghe Shaoyue music. All the officials and servicemen were expected to attend exacting rehearsals at the Divine Music Administration so that imperial sacrificial ceremonies would be disciplined in ritual, music, song and dance. The Divine Music Administration kept many different types of tutors to train the performers. During the Ming and early Qing dynasties the performers were Taoists, but performers were selected from clever Manchu children of the Eight Banners., a hereditary elite guard servant to the Emperor and imperial princes. They were called the " Heaven-Worshiping Children."

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Divine Music Administration (Shenleshu) is located west of Temple of Heaven, next to Fasting Palace. I was not known this place, but the ticket (Y10) is included with Fasting Palace. So, I walked along the imperial river outside of Fasting Palace, I saw the gate into this Divine Music Administration. I was amazed with views of ancient buildings, walls, rivers, and gates around the neighborhood. After I entered the gate, I saw many locals doing exercises, dancing, Tai chi, singing, and other local activities at the square. There were ancient music instruments as decoration at the square. Based on the signboard, there were more than one buildings in the site, but I could only see the main buildings restored. Other buildings were either under restored or had been destroyed.

The signboard was written as:

" Constructed in 1420 during the 18th year of the Ming Emperor Yongle's reign with original name of the Temple of Divine Music under the administration of Ministry of Rituals, the construction was the administration institution in charge of the teaching and training of the ceremonial music " zhonghe Shaoyue". Inside it are buildings such as the Nixi Hall, Xianyou Hall, Zhaoxiu Hall, Muxiu Hall, Linren Hall, and Garment Warehouse. "

In Chinese: 神乐署 (Shen Le Shu)

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Living Hall is located north of the Fasting Palace, behind Beamless Hall. This was the place where the emperor exercised abstinence, met with officials and guests. During my visit, the hall was closed, so I was not able to see inside.

The signboard was written as:

" The Living Hall, constructed in an antique style and bearing two characters " Respectful Abstinence" at the lintel, is a place where the emperor used to exercise abstinence before he held the sacrificial rites. The Hall is composed of five rooms. The middle room with a throne bed and a flower table served as the emperor's reception room where he gave audience to officials. The third room in the north was the bed chamber during the abstinence in winter. There was a bed with a thick canopy, and an underground fireplace and charcoal burners for heating the chamber. The third room in the south was used as a living room during the abstinence in Summer. The two annex chambers served as a living room and s study respectively, where Emperor Qianlong wrote dozens of poems in eulogy of Heaven worshiping. "

In Chinese: 寝殿 (Qin Dian)

In Temple of Heaven , near the Fasting Palace, there is a site with column foundations named " Column Foundation of the Sacrificial Hall. This site has significant history related to the process of the ceremonies of prayer to Heaven.

The signboard was written as:

" In the outer enclosure of the Temple of Heaven there was a Sacrificial Hall (not existing today) where the cattle were raised for the use of the sacrificial rituals in the altars. The hall covered an area of five room units housing the "God of Sacrifice." During the construction work in recent years the column foundations were discovered and moved into the altar of preservation. "

I come here often to have foot massage , it's quite close to my work place.
It's on the second floor inside a building, there are quite a few separate rooms where 4 to 6 persons can sit down relax . The ambience is clean, staffs are extremely friendly. Staff are not allowed to receive tips from clients. I like this!
They will first warm your feet up in the hot water with herbs, after about 30 minutes when you foot become softer, you start to enjoy their 1:30 minutes soft massage. Very relaxing!
Price: Before 18:00 happy hour RMB70
18:00-02:00 a.m RMB120

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Everybody gets so dominated by the freshness and beauty of the gardens, that the temptation is to skip the houses, as a common detail. But I think it would be wrong.

More than in the Forbidden City, the houses here give a more lively idea of their use, and though more discreet, they are also good examples of Chinese architecture.