Dr. Mark Nan Tu

The Red Shells Temple, or Hongluo Si received its name from a legend that two spiral shells gave out red light in the evening. Located at the foot of the Hongluo Mountain, the temple is seven kilometers northwest of Huairou County. First built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the temple is worth a visit in early summer because of the wild flowers, fresh air. Covering an area of 16.6 acres, Hongluo Temple is the largest temple in the Beijing’s northern district. Surrounded by hills dotted with pines and cypresses in different shapes, the temple’s tasteful layout creates an atmosphere of quiet contemplation.

Admission Ticket: 30 yuan (adult), 15 yuan (kids under 1.2 meters)
Opening hours: Daily (7:00

JieTai Temple is located 35km west of Beijing and is only 10km from Tanzhe Temple. JieTaiSi, or ‘Temple of the Ordination Altar’, takes its name from its famous Ming marble ordination altar, built some 1,300 years ago. This altar is nearly 5 meters high and is decorated with exquisite carvings.

The temple was first built in the year 622 during the Tang dynasty but most of the buildings here now date from the Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911).

The temple sits on a hillside looking more like a fortress than a temple, surrounded by forbiddingly tall red walls. On a clear day, this temple offers an unhindered view of Beijing.

Surrounding the main hall are a number of courtyards containing rock formations and ancient twisted pine and cypress trees. It is renowned for its venerable pines – eccentric looking trees growing in odd directions. Indeed, one, leaning out at an angle of about thirty degrees, is pushing over a pagoda on the terrace beneath it.

These ancient trees and are the subject of many songs. It is said that the Chinese Scholar Tree, known as the protector of Buddhism, is more than 1,000 years old.

Other famous trees include the ‘Nine Dragon Tree’ which has 9 branches that reach up to the sky like 9 flying dragons, and the ‘Mobile Tree’ which trembles even when only one branch is slightly touched.

The enormous white marble ordination platform (JieTai) is China’s largest and intricately carved with figures – monks, monsters (beaked and winged) and saints. Dating from the Liao Dynasty, it is a three-tiered structure with 113 statues of the God of Ordination placed in niches around the base. It is located in Jie Tan Dian (Hall of the Altar of Ordination) in the far right (north west) corner of the temple.

Ceremonies conducted on this platform to commemorate the ascension of a devotee to full monkhood required permission from the emperor. Often referred to as the “Beida [Peking University, nominally the best university in China] of Buddhism” for its ability to attract the most promising monastic scholars (along with temples in QuanZhou and HangZhou), it has been the most significant site for the ordination of Buddhist monks for 900 years.

Another smaller hall holds a beautiful wooden altar, decorated with dragons in relief. There are also fragrant peony gardens.

Situated in the Western Hills, this Buddhist temple lies 45km west of Beijing. The temple name means ‘Dragon Pool and Mulberry Tree Temple’, due to its proximity to the Dragon Pool and the trees growing in the surrounding hills.

Although its name has changed on numerous occasions, it dates back to the Western Jin dynasty (265 – 316). A local saying on the sign confirms its history: “First there was TanZhe, and after there was YuZhou.” YuZhou is an ancient name for Beijing.

Covering an area 41,600 sq meters, this temple is the largest in the area and one of the oldest. The greenery of the surroundings is spectacular, especially in the spring when the fruit trees are in blossom. There are also lush bamboo gardens.

Most of the buildings are in typical Ming and Qing style architecture. The temple primarily comprises of the Hall of Abstinence, the Ordination Altar and the Hall to GuanYin.

In the main courtyard on the central axis is a pair of towering and majestic 30m high ginkgo trees (the ‘Emperor and Empress’), supposedly planted in the Tang dynasty (618-907) or perhaps Liao Dynasty (916 – 1125), as well as several apricot trees, cypresses, peonies and purple jade orchids. The ‘Emperor Tree’ was christened the “King of Trees” by Emperor QianLong. “The Emperor’s Wife” is supposed to produce a new branch every time a new emperor is born.

The complex is extensive, and is said to have provided a model for the layout of the Forbidden City. Above and to the right of the main courtyard lies a rare stupa yard (TaYuan), with stone monuments built in different styles over a period of several centuries and housing the remains of eminent monks.

The Hall to GuanYin (Goddess of Mercy), at the top of the western axis, is associated with princess MiaoYan, daughter of Kublai Khan. Legend has it that the princess entered the nunnery here in the 13th century. Within the hall, indentations can be found in the stone on which she always knelt to pray in her devotion to GuanYin. It is said that she was buried within the temple compound and a statue of her is on display here.

The butterfly story

Song Cheng is a recreation village builds with Song Dynasty streets and architecture. It is located just 30 km outside Hangzhou. The main attraction for the village is the Song Cheng Show which
promises to give you 1000 years if you give them a night.

The show is an impressive 300 people 2 hour performance. There were 6 scenes and each of them is from a historical event or fork lore in Chinese history. The show combined the flashy costume, magic lighting effects, dance, acrobats, Peking opera and even international flavors into a light hearted entertainment.

The entrance fee is 100-800 RMB (dependant on the seating). The show is very popular in the summer so that they perform twice each day. The best time to watch the show is however in the winter (off peak) season. When there are hardly any visitors, the 100 ticket entrance fee will allow you sit at the front row seats.

Visit Song Cheng if you have nothing to do at night in Hangzhou and bring a camera with a telephoto lens. Yes, no flash photography is allowed.

Even an international scene

The front row viewers will get tea served by the actress

There is an old saying that: who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man. I will add that who has been to the Great Wall is a fool. The Great Wall that most of the tourists visited are a few sections of the wall that are repaired beyong recognition. However, The Jiankou Great Wall is not same as others. It is in the original unrepaired state. It winds through mountains. I climbed to this section of the Great Wall from both sides of the mountain.

Having lived in Beijing several years, when my friends came here. I took them to visit the Great Wall. I always take them to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, because there were fewer visitors than the other more famous ones such as the BaDalin Great Wall. When President Clinton visited China, he also visited the MutianYu Great Wall. The Great Wall was built meanderingly in the mountains, and, the MutianYu Great Wall was repaired well. There is the cable car to the top of hill. Cause of few visitors, I took my friends there several times. I went there late in the afternoon where I didn

A friend recommended a tour book to me in recently. There were the introductions of Fahai Temple and Tianyi Tomb in the west of Beijing City. I had visited many places in Beijing since I had lived in here three years ago. But I didn

The Fragrance

The eunuch Tianyi Tomb is on the west side of Beijing, SiJingShan, only 20km from the city. It has the largest eunuch tomb complex and a memorial to eunuchs. The main tomb was built to salute the life of eunuch Tian, who served three generations of Ming emperors. He is the only eunuch who enjoyed grave complex similar to that of the Ming Emperors’ Tombs: a sacred way with sculptures of horses, elephants, etc., and underground graves.
In the compound, there is a Beijing Eunuch Museum where one can learn all the history and stories of Chinese eunuch.