China #8

On Saturday (3/24 - our anniversary)  we started our day at the Temple of Heaven.  This was once the Emperor's temple but after the revolution the government turned the grounds into a park.  Everyday over 10,000 seniors and others go there to exercise, play games, dance, sing, etc.  It was really a fun place and I wish we had more parks like this in our country. 

When we first walked in there was a large group of people standing in a semi-circle singing and playing instruments together.

  A little further on there were people dancing to recorded music - and though you can't tell from this angle of the picture, there was a lot of dancers.  Kind of like line dancing Chinese style.

There was a lot of adult sized playground type equipment - and you can't believe how many OLD people were incredibly limber and fit as they swung on bars and did chin ups etc.

 Really puts us older Americans to shame.

After going through this part of the park we walked on to the Temple of Heaven.  It is considered the supreme achievement in traditional Chinese architecture. 

While Dad and I were walking around this beautiful place, many in our group saw Regis Philbin and took pictures with him - but we missed out.

We went to the silk factory next and were impressed with the beautiful silk rugs, comforters (which you all know about now) and clothes.  At all of the factories (like the terra cotta, jade, pearl and silk) you don't really haggle for prices.  They are set - which I prefer, honestly.

After lunch we headed off for the Forbidden City. It is walled and has a mote around it.

I have seen the movie "The Last Emperor" several times and was really excited to be here.  That movie is the only movie that has ever been filmed on this location.  Of course for hundreds of years no one entered that city except the emperor's family, eunuchs (they didn't have regular men servants as to not mess with the royal wives and concubines) and other selected guests.  Each door way of these ancient structures (also all the other temples we visited) has a huge bar you have to step over as you enter each gate, doorway, etc. to keep the evil spirits out, which have legs that cannot bend and therefore can't step over the obstacle. 

See?  We were really there!

Obviously, this is one of the emperor's throne rooms. Along with all these formal meeting areas, the families private living areas are in the back of all the official buildings - and there is an official building there that fits whoever is visiting - how high ranking they are determines where they are received.

The number of figures on the end of each of the ancient buildings tells you how high ranking the official is who resides of attends there.  The Emperor's Temples as well as this building in the Forbidden City has 10 animals between the dragons on each end.  Only the emperor has 10.  All others have less.

 Also fascinating is how there are always North, East, South, and East gates to all these sites and always a central gate that only the emperor can go through.  Doorways are also this way.  The emperor always walks or is carried over beautiful ornate carved walkways that no one else can touch as they enter the royal buildings.

These are the gardens that are in the family area. The rocks are unique to China and are called "scholar rocks".  24 Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived in this city of 999 rooms (1000 was considered to be bad luck).  Obviously, we didn't see all that was there - you would need a few days for that.  But it was AMAZING!

We ended our day at the Yashow markets, where haggling is the order of the day.  We were thrilled to find a Cold Stone Creamery there - where I had a Love it sized "coffee lovers" special treat for my wonderful Anniversary dinner!