So Colorful
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
It's no surprise that the architecture for the Temple of Heaven is very similar to that of the Forbidden City but everything here is so much more vibrant and colorful. It feels much less serious andRead more
Kathy
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
Kathy looks very natural and at home in front of this Chinese architecture. I'm guessing that many of the people here think that she's a local because when they find out that she's American, they seemRead more
So Inspiring
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
There's a half scale replica of the Temple of Heaven in the China Pavilion of Epcot's World Showcase at Walt Disney World. I always loved that building but it's nothing like the real thing! It's sizeRead more
The Dragon
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
Like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven has many of those glazed ceramic animals around the buildings. Here, though, not all of them are on the top of roofs so we can get a much closer loos k atRead more
Careworn
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Seen up close, the details of the Temple of Heaven might seem a bit frayed but, considering it was built between 1406 and 1420, it's condition is amazing!
Shutterbug
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Kathy's been taking a lot of pictures on this trip, which I think is great. I'm still hoping that she'll become interested in photography enough to start using a real camera and come out with me toRead more
Magnificent Architecture
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
The Temple of Heaven was the most important of Beijing's imperial temples. It was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (from 1420 to 1900) worshiped the god of heaven and prayed for goodRead more
A Prized Landmark
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Many books, magazines, and travel websites prefer to use the photos of the triple-gabled circular temple in the Temple of Heaven to represent Beijing. It has become one of Beijing’s truly prizedRead more
Jump!
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Someone in our tour group wanted us to take a group picture of everyone jumping up at the same time. It was a good idea but a lot of us aren't there because we're still wandering around the grounds ofRead more
Stairway to Heaven
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
That's some of our tour group climbing the steps to get a closer look at the Temple of Heaven. I guess that means that this is the famous stairway to heaven that Led Zeppelin has been singing aboutRead more
Going Up
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Other than it's size, I'm amazed by how closely the Temple of Heaven in the China Pavilion at Epcot's Walt Disney World matches the real one here in Beijing. Although the Disney one is much cleaner,Read more
Kathy
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Kathy made it to the top of the steps before I did. I'm happy she did because it let me get this great shot of her waving to me. She looks so happy to be here in the land of her ancestors.
Stairway Architecture
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Like what we saw in the Forbidden City earlier today, the architectural details here are amazing. What's even more amazing is that everything we see here is created by hand without any of the modernRead more
Details
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Here's another look at the steps and railings, at a different angle. This shot really shows off the stone carvings. The details are astounding!
So Big!
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
That's Kathy standing in front of the Temple of Heaven, giving a sense of scale of just how big this building actually is. Walt Disney World's replica Temple of Heaven looks so tiny in comparison.
Colorful
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
The bright vibrant colors look great and the details are amazing. I'm thinking that the painting is probably redone every several years because, after so many years, the original paint job would haveRead more
A Peek Inside
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Unfortunately, people aren't allowed to enter the Temple of Heaven but here's a peek at what it looks like inside. I was able to go inside the replica at Walt Disney World's Epcot but it doesn't lookRead more
Getting Crowded
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
I'm glad that we got a look inside when we did because it suddenly started to get crowded. I'm guessing that another tour bus, or two, arrived to see the Temple of Heaven. I prefer my shots having asRead more
A New Angle
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
With just a bit of creative thinking I was able to get some great shots of the Temple of Heaven without any people in the frame. By shooting over everyone's head I got a full frame details shot.
Stone Dragons
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
These carvings are all around the steps leading up to the Temple of Heaven. I wonder how long it took to create this beautiful piece of art by hand, and without any modern tools. I'm amazed by whatRead more
Red is Lucky
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Here's an up close look at the windows surrounding the Temple of Heaven. They look very similar, if not identical, to the window designs in the Forbidden City. I'm guessing that this look was veryRead more
Always Look Up
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Little details seem to cover every part of the Temple of Heaven. Here's a look at the ceiling. I wonder how many people miss this by not looking everywhere. Always remember to look up! When you do,Read more
Similar Styles
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Without knowing where this shot was taken, it could be the Forbidden City just as easily as the Temple of Heaven. I'm guessing that they were built around the same time because the architecture isRead more
A Wide View
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
Here's a wide angle shot of the Temple of Heaven to give people an idea of exactly how big this place is. I'm still trying to decide if I prefer the Forbidden City or the Temple of Heaven. Let's justRead more
Great Details
September 27, 2018 in China ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
The workmanship in these buildings is amazing! I'm wondering if the workers responsible for all of this did so willingly, and happily, or if nearly all of the work was done with slave labor, like theRead more