After our trip to the Great Wall in Badaling, Marc and I felt more relaxed touring on our third full day in Beijing.  We felt like we had achieved something great having been able to walk on China's iconic Great Wall independently.  Good riddance to those exorbitant tours, guides, and hired taxis.  We really had a blast.  The Temple of Heaven was the next big tourist site in our must sees.  Since it was easily accessible by subway, we didn't have to wake up so early unlike the day before.  We didn't realize that the Pearl Market we saw right across the Temple was akin to the Silk Market many tourists visit less the chaos.  In hindsight, I wish we had visited the place.  Anyway, now we know should we return to Beijing anytime soon.  Anyway, the Temple of  Heaven was another Beijing attraction that surprised me.  It was in a huge complex with other tourist attractions nearby .  I simply didn't expect it.

First off, we had to buy our tickets.  I can't recall anymore how much it cost.  It must have been 60 Yuan per person.  I will have to check my scrapbook to make sure.  I always thought that the Temple of Heaven was part of the Forbidden City.  Hey, I had never been to Beijing before before this trip.

The way to the Temple of Heaven

Very nice doors to the Temple of Heaven

The dragon door knobs of the gates to the Temple of Heaven

Our very first glimpse of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

Me in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

Marc in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

Spectacular is all I can say about this building.  Simply spectacular!  Actually this building is called the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests within the huge complex of the Temple of Heaven.

Another view of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

I wonder what that red thing is.  Must be a lantern.

On the terrace of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

A close up view of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

A close up view of the roofs of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven

Now for what's inside this famous Hall of Prayer

Here are the cows on the left

The lone cow on the right of the altar

I remember seeing lots of these cauldrons in the Forbidden City.

The marble terraces of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven reminded me so much of the Forbidden City.  They look so, so alike.

As we left the area where the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was, we saw a lot of the banners and steel bars used for the platform for the New Year's Celebrations being taken down.

There was a small museum on the grounds of the Temple of Heaven.  The calligraphy scroll was one of the exhibits.

An impressive golden panel with etchings inside the Temple of Heaven Museum

The following buildings stood on each side of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.  This must have been the Imperial Hall of Heaven.

A view of the exquisite detail on the side of the roof of one of the buildings within the complex of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (see previous picture)

A view of one of the entrances to and exits from the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

A last glimpse of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The view of the entrance to and exit from the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

An exterior view of the same gate used as an entrance to and exit from the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The entrance/exit and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The bright red wooden door of the entrance/exit to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.  Actually, many if not all of the doors of entrances and exits to buildings within the Temple of Heaven look like this.

The Gates to the Imperial Hall of Heaven

The altar inside the Imperial Hall of Heaven

A closer view of the altar inside the Imperial Hall of Heaven

These were right next to the firewood stove

In front of the Imperial Hall of Heaven

This is the Imperial Vault of Heaven

A closer view of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

One of the flights of stairs that lead to the Imperial Vault of Heaven

The altar inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven

A closer view of the altar inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven

The very beautiful ceiling of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

The information about the Echo Wall

The echo wall surrounding the Imperial Vault of Heaven

Marc in front of the Echo Wall

The Lingxing Gate viewed from the Circular Mound

More of the Lingxing Gates around the Circular Mound

A fairly close view of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, a partial view of the Echo wall on the middle right, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests from the Circular Mound

A view of the Lingxing Gate, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the far background taken from the Circular Mound

Intricate details on the roofs at the Temple of Heaven

The Lingxing Gates on the other side of the Circular Mound

A view of the firewood stove from the CircularMound

The Dressing Terrace

The Double Ring Pavilion of Longevity

The roof of the Double Ring Pavilion of Longevity

Informative Plaque about the Nine Dragon Juniper Tree which is over 500 years old found on the grounds of the Temple Of Heaven

The 500 year old Nine Dragon Juniper Tree at the Temple of Heaven Park

The 500 Year old Nine Dragon Juniper Tree at the Temple of Heaven Park

Here I am touching another ancient Juniper tree at the Temple of Heaven believed to bring good luck to whoever touches it.  The part of the tree I touched here was so smooth due to all the people who have touched it before me.  I think being able to visit mainland China once again was lucky enough for me.

The long walkway out of the park.  This was also the way we took to see the Hall of Abstinence.

Our last glimpse of the Temple of Heaven

I love the way the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests of the Temple of Heaven is framed by one of the arches here.

The doors of the Temple of Heaven closing for the day

Bye for now.  Hope to see you, Temple of Heaven, again soon.