Apr 16-Day 2 Beijing

Day 2

Tuesday, April 16 - Beijing

BEIJING   This morning you visit nearby Tian'anmen, the largest square on earth. Of Tian’anmen, one visitor has written, "an army could be massed, and all the kites in the world could fly." You roam the square, then proceed to the vast enclave of the imperial court, the Forbidden City, called Ta Nei, "The Great Within." The Chinese were adept practitioners of feng shui, the art of geomancy, and the Forbidden City--all 250 acres and 9,000 rooms of it--is a devout expression of that art: all is placed according to plan, for maximum felicity and effect. The Forbidden City has been supplanted by history, but it retains an ancient and knowing air of utter command. You visit the Palace along the eastern route through the jewelry courtyards.

In the afternoon you take a look at the Temple of Heaven. One key element in China's architectural genius was the blending of the monumental with the delicate, and the Temple of Heaven is perhaps the finest expression of this mixing of near opposites. Built in the 15th century (without the use of a single nail), the Temple was visited yearly by the Middle Kingdom's emperors, who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest. The Chinese harvest was a huge undertaking, but one senses in this delightful and awesome structure the importance of each grain of wheat.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then spend the afternoon exploring some of Beijing’s markets and old shopping districts. The Panjiayuan market, which is at its best on weekends, is one of the most popular in the city. Both sellers and buyers are from different walks of life, some are here out of curiosity, some are here to complete their collection of old beads, coins, maps, etc. Or you may wander through the picturesque Liulichang district browsing through shops that were once frequented by Ming and Qing era intellectuals and which house fine collections of antiques, pottery, books, jade, woodblock prints, paper lanterns, musical instruments and more. This evening is at your leisure.