Beijing - Chinese Religions Tour
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Is not soul-touching the sweetest and most precious aspect between humans? And it is the same for you, the westerner, to become part of the family, by paying tribute to the three main Gods in China : Heaven, Buddha & Confucius.
Step on sacred grounds of the Temple of Heaven, you shall never feel closer to a celestial spirit. The Lama Buddhism Temple (Yonghe Palace) houses the world's tallest wooden Buddha statuary, a glimpse of enlightenment par excellence. Last but not least, Confucius Temple, the home of the holy saint, the master who taught a nation about love and benevolence.
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As the largest of the all-existing temples in China , the Temple of Heaven was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped heaven and prayed for good harvests. The construction was done in the same time as the Forbidden City .Main buildings in the temple include the " Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests", the " Imperial Vault of Heaven", and the "Circular Mound Altar". The Temple of Heaven is listed as UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage.
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The Lama Temple, with its beautifully landscaped gardens, is a temple to die for. First built in 1694 to serve as a residence for Prince Yongzhen who later succeeded to the throne, it was rebuilt into a lamasery in 1744 to strengthening ties with Tibetan Buddhism leaders. The most impressive wonder in the temple is an 18m (60ft) high sandalwood statue of the Maitreya (future) Buddha , carved from a single tree shipped from Tibet .
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Confucius Temple
Confucius (551-479 BC) is acknowledged as ancient China's greatest thinker and philosopher. The Confucius temple was initially built in 1302. Sacrifices were made to Confucius during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368), Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) at this temple.
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