Visit Zhihua Temple for the pear blossoms—miss it, and wait another year.

Every Wednesday, some of Beijing's scenic spots, historic sites, and museums are free to visit, or free for the first 200 visitors. Luckily, I booked a free Wednesday ticket to Zhihua Temple in advance. You can book tickets by following the official WeChat account. Around 9:00 a.m., there was already a long line in front of Zhihua Temple, but it was orderly, and we got in quickly. Many photography enthusiasts were taking pictures of pear blossoms and lilacs, and some were focused on the ancient architecture, but everyone was waiting for the 10:00 a.m. live ancient music performance. When I left the temple after 10:00 a.m., there was no longer a line at the entrance. Hidden within Beijing's Second Ring Road, next to Galaxy SOHO, and nestled in a lively hutong, Zhihua Temple is an artistic gem. It's one of the largest Ming Dynasty wooden architectural complexes in the capital, preserving a complete four-hall structure. It's a living fossil for the study of ancient Chinese architecture. The temple has inherited an extremely important piece of intangible cultural heritage—Zhihua Temple Jing Music, which originated in the Ming Dynasty court. It has been passed down for 27 generations and over 500 years, and is a superb representative of ancient Chinese music. Zhihua Temple is located at 5 Lumicang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing.