Day 89 Sightseeing Part 2

After cycling yesterday, today I went on an exploration tour with a driver and an air-conditioned car. The program included the Temple of Heaven, the Palace of the Princes, and another temple.

The driver skillfully navigated me through the rush hour traffic of Beijing to our first stop, the Palace of the Princes.

The Prince lived in a modest villa with a large garden and a large prayer room.

The prayer room or place was full of prayer flags and prayer drums.

The villa provided enough space for him, his wife, and his concubines. In addition to old stone walls, the garden also contained a beautiful pond and many small temples.

All in all, a very nice property where one could surely live well.

The next stop I made was at the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven is not really a temple, but rather a huge park that contains several smaller temples.

First, I visited the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. A large tower adorned with various figures and equipped with many chairs.

Photography was impossible. So many people crowded around the 3 windows that you could only catch a brief glimpse.

Shortly after, I was asked again if someone could take a photo with me. That's how a star must feel =P

I continued to swim in the stream of tourists, which led me to the Echo Wall. It was again a circular room adorned with figures and images.

Next, I went to the Circular Moon Altar.

A round elevated place in which a raised stone stood in the center. This single stone was surrounded by exactly 9 stones. The second circle contained 18 stones, the third 27, and so on, up to the 10th circle with 90 stones. 9 is a lucky number in China and therefore has a special meaning.

If you stand on the middle single stone, it brings good luck. But I don't know if Fortuna has time for everyone with the large crowd... But you can try it.

After the many people, I needed a little break and strolled off the main paths through the various gardens. The tranquility that prevailed here was wonderful after all the hustle and bustle. I walked to the Fasting Palace, where the monarchs withdrew to fast 3 days before the festivities in the temple. That is, no meat, no drinks, no women, no music, and no trade. However, you could not enter the inner part of the palace.

In the cool car, it was then off to the last station. The Lama Temple is described as the most beautiful temple in Beijing. Many believers still visit it.

After observing the rituals for a while, I couldn't resist participating myself. I lit 3 incense sticks, respectfully stood in front of a Buddha, and silently said my prayers.

Then I bowed and placed the incense sticks in their designated place. This process was repeated 6 times, each time in front of a different Buddha. I made every effort, let's see if the prayers have an effect. They certainly won't hurt.