Temple Of Heaven Park, Beijing

This morning we went to the Temple of Heaven Park.  It is over 700 acres and was used as a summer palace for the emperor. This place looked different than the Forbidden City because it had lots of trees and gardens.

Every morning people come to the park to dance and exercise.  They looked happy.  They were having fun.

Some people were doing Xi Gong.

Other people were doing exercise in a playground made for adults.  Some kids were playing on it too.  They did a workout while talking and laughing with their friends.

Around the park there was a long walkway with a roof where people played games, cards, dominos and talked. David told us that this used to be a park only for the imperial family.  Now it is a park for everyone.  People come to meet friends and enjoy themselves every day.

 People played instruments and some people sang together in a group. Some women were knitting and others just sat and read the newspaper. 

In the yard some people played games together with shuttlecocks where they were kicking a feathered shuttlecock back and forth.

The Temple of Heaven was just above the garden.  Climbing the stairs you walk through a gate and tunnel. 

When you come out you see a great big view.  The buildings did not have yellow roofs.  The roofs were blue and green.  This was to represent nature.  One building was round and looked like a bunch of UFOs stacked one on top of the other.  This was the Temple of Heaven.

 Many Chinese people pat me on the head and ask me to take pictures with them.  David says it is because they almost never see red hair and blue eyes.