Beijing continues to delight and surprise. I had a few hours before my flight back home, so I took a taxi to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. I am absolutely stunned by the magnificient structures to be found in this city. The Temple of Heaven is one of the iconic buildings and you've probably seen pictures of it before without actually knowing what it is. During the times of the Qing and the Ming dynasties, this was where the emperor would come to pray to the 'God of Heaven' every January for China to have a good harvest and be prosperous. The Chinese considered this his sacred duty since the Emperor was able to ask for God's blessings directly. Of course, there was an elaborate ritual and ceremony that went on throughout the day.

The temple area is now another giant park in the heart of Beijing. This structure in the photograph was restored to it's original state in 2005 and is probably the finest example of Ming architecture in the world. The design is highly symbolic since the ancient Chinese considered Earth to be square and Heaven to be round. There are four giant pillars inside the building to give support which are meant to represent the four seasons.

I spent a good part of the day people-watching and listening to Chinese symphonies on my .mp3 player. I have to say that seeing these things gives me greater insight into the mind of the Chinese people. In all honesty, this building is even more beautiful than what I witnessed at the Forbidden City last year. The work that went into making this was done by artisans who had a love for their work and a devotion toward the divine. Of this, I have no doubt. It was well worth the time and effort required to make the visit possible.