Tag Archives: China

Altar of the Moon, a delightful garden

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The enchanting Altar of the Moon, also known as Yuetan Park inherits a rich historical legacy. Initially called Xiyue Altar this was the location where the emperors of the Qing and Ming Dynasties proffered sacrifices to the deity of the moon and the deities of the stars. Many of the old buildings still stand today, and it was only in 1955 that it was converted into a park.

Most of the location’s highlights are located in the northern section of the park which contains numerous old buildings that house the venerated Altar of the Moon. This altar features a square raised platform with white glazing to represent the moon; there are six stairs on each of the sides. There are stone gates on the walls on each of the sides.

Outside the eastern gate you will see the Jufu Palace, which is the location where the emperor would change his clothes and take a rest. The three main halls of this palace all face south and are roofed with glazed green tiles. On the beams of the building are typical Chinese artworks and inside the edifice you will see a tablet marked by Emperor Qianlong himself.

To the southwest the visitor will encounter the Holy Kitchen ‘Shen Chu’, the Holy Storehouse ‘Shen Ku’ and the Zaisheng Pavilion where animals were slaughtered. The Holy Kitchen which faces south is where offerings were proffered, whilst the Holy Storehouse, facing east features the tablets dedicated to the Moon God.

Beyond the northern gate visitors will see a bell tower which contains a huge brass bell on the second floor. This massive bell perfectly resembles the original bell which was cast at the time of the Ming Dynasty.

On the other hand the southern section of the park is a scenic attraction of more recent construction which is called Inviting the Moon Garden (Yao Yue). In the garden’s centre a pleasant courtyard has been constructed, where there are cassia trees and an al fresco teahouse.

Visitors considering Greater China hotels will find an excellent choice in the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels China. These fine hotels in China always satisfy the demands of its clientele.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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Mutianyu- A significant part of the Great Wall of China

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When holidaying in Beijing, all you need is a comfortably designed luxury apartment in Beijing to relax and unwind after a tiring sightseeing tour. Somerset Grand Fortune Garden Beijing offers luxury serviced apartments Beijing for the travellers who are on business and leisure tours. One of the must visit places when in Beijing is Mutianyu, a part of the Great Wall of China. Located in Huairou County, this section of the Great Wall is considered as one of the best preserved sections of this great wonder of the world. Mutianyu is a significant part of the Great Wall as it served as the northern barrier which protected the royal tombs and the capital city.

Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.

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Yonghe Temple – Beijing’s Famous Monastery

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The Yonghe Temple is a monastery located in the Chinese capital of Beijing. Also known as the ‘Palace of Peace’ and the ‘Lama Temple’, the temple is dedicated to Geluk School branch of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the biggest Tibetan monasteries on the planet and is of great significance to followers. The temple’s architecture is quite distinct and combines the Tibetan and Han Chinese styles. Foreigners in Beijing interested in learning more about Buddhism and Chinese culture should consider visiting the Yonghe Temple.

Construction on the Buddhist temple started in 1694, when the Qing Dynasty was in control of China. Its original function was to serve as a residence for the court’s eunuchs. Eventually it was taken over by Prince Yong Yin Zhen, who used it as his court. When the prince finally achieved the throne (becoming the Yongzheng Emperor), the building was partly transformed into a lamasery (monastery). However, it was only after the emperor’s death that the place became a fully-fledged monastery.

The temple contains five halls, and each hall is separated from the other by a courtyard. ‘The Hall of the Heavenly Kings’ is found to the south of the temple. It was formerly the primary entrance into the lamasery. The hall contains statues of the Buddha as well as the heavenly kings. The main hall is called ‘the Hall of Harmony and Peace’. It contains three statues, made of bronze, depicting the Buddha. ‘The Hall of Everlasting Protection’ was where the emperor lived. It currently houses the emperor’s coffin.

‘The Hall of the Wheel of the Law’ is a place where one can read holy scriptures in peace, while the ‘Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happiness’ houses a Buddha statue that is nearly thirty metres in height. In addition to the halls one can find plenty of other interesting things to see inside the temple. It is definitely a ‘must visit’ when in Beijing.

Tourists planning on doing a tour of China can benefit by booking accommodation with a hotel chain like the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels China. This greatly reduces the hassles involved in booking multiple hotels in China. The chain’s range of Greater China hotels enjoys excellent locations and can be relied upon to offer the same standard of service.