Study Chinese - To the moon and back

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CITYLIFE / Weekend & Holiday






To the moon and back

By Chen Nan (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-07-10 09:42 The Temple of the Moon has undergone a major
facelift and reopened to the public two months ago with its original
grandeur restored. Tourists can enjoy visiting four major imperial
temples in Beijing - the temples venerating the heaven, the earth, the
sun and the moon - where emperors worshipped nature on various sacred
days.

The four temples were built in locations demarking the four cardinal
directions, forming a square that surrounds and protects the Forbidden
City. They are now public parks.

The Temple of the Moon has undergone a major facelift and reopened to the
public two months ago with its original grandeur restored. Tourists can
enjoy visiting four major imperial temples in Beijing - the temples
venerating the heaven, the earth, the sun and the moon - where emperors
worshipped nature on various sacred days.

The four temples were built in locations demarking the four cardinal
directions, forming a square that surrounds and protects the Forbidden
City. They are now public parks.

Temple of Moon(Yuetan)

Built in 1530, the roughly 8-hectare Temple of Moon, or Yuetan Park, to
the west of the imperial city was the site of imperial sacrifices to the
moon.

In the past decades, bushes and fruit trees have been planted here. In
1969, a 180-meter-tall television-broadcasting tower was erected in the
park, taking up about one-eighth of its total space, according to Wang
Jun, an official with the Xicheng District Gardening Bureau.

During the restoration project, many damaged parts were rebuilt,
including the walls of the altar, the square white marble sacrificial
platform, the sacrificial routes through the park and many ancient
dwellings. The Beijing municipal government and the Xicheng District
government jointly earmarked 190 million yuan ($23 million) for the
renovation project, which also called for relocating the broadcasting
tower and upgrading the park's environment. Four institutes and 178
households near the altar are also being relocated to make way for the
altar wall and expanded greenery.

Opening hours: 6am-9pm
Location: 6 Yuetan Beijie, Xicheng District. Buses to get there: 15, 19,
823.
Tel: 6802-0940.

Temple of Earth(Ditan)

The Temple of Earth, or Ditan Park, near the North Second Ring Road, is
where emperors prayed to the earth for favorable weather and national
prosperity. Built during the Ming Dynasty in 1530, it is the only
existing place to worship the earth.

According to ancient Chinese belief, heaven is round, while earth is
square. So, the Temple of Earth's construction included many square
altars and walls.

This magnificent temple consists of five main buildings arranged on the
north-south axis, with annexed halls flanking both sides. The Chinese
government has listed the temple among the most important historical
monuments under special preservation.

The surrounding areas have become an open space for people to engage in
leisurely activities. Since the late 1980s, traditional temple fairs have
been held here regularly during the Chinese lunar new year.

Opening hours: 6am-9pm
Location: A2 Di'anmenwai, Chaoyang District. Buses to get there: 13, 27,
104, 108, 116, or take the subway to get off at Yonghegong to go north.
Tel: 6421-4657.

Temple of Sun(Ritan)

The Temple of Sun, or Ritan Park, in eastern Beijing, is located near the
Jianguomen area and adjacent embassy district. It is a short walk from
the Yong'anli subway station on the Line 1. The altar was built in 1530
as a place for emperors to make ritual sacrifices to the sun. The park
has been undergoing slow but steady renovation and upgrading since it
opened to the public 50 years ago.

It features expansive gardens and a small lake. A mural wall, the park's
main scenic attraction now, was a piece of artwork created about 20 years
ago to draw more sightseers. The tiled mural depicts sacrificial
ceremonies for the sun in emulation of what was done on these grounds by
Ming and Qing emperors. The park is also known for its blossoming lotuses.

Opening hours: 6am-9pm
Location: 6 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District. Buses to get there: 1, 4, 28,
43, 57, 120.
Tel: 8563-5038.






















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