Summer vacation, a trip to Beijing with my son (4)

On the 25th, it was another fully packed day. First stop: Yonghe Temple. Originally the residence built by Emperor Kangxi, it was later granted to his fourth son Yinzhen, becoming the Prince Yong Mansion. After Yinzhen ascended the throne as Emperor Yongzheng, it was converted into a temporary palace called Yonghe Temple. Because Emperor Qianlong was also born here, producing two emperors, Yonghe Temple became a "dragon’s hidden blessed place." In the ninth year of Qianlong’s reign, it was converted into a Lama temple, becoming the Qing government’s center for managing Tibetan Buddhism nationwide. It was the highest-ranking Buddhist temple in the mid to late Qing dynasty. Tour route: Enter and see the archway—carriage road—Zhaotai Gate (do not use the middle gate, men on the left, women on the right)—Yonghe Gate Hall (you can pray for happiness and smoothness here; inside is one of Beijing’s three treasures, a bronze incense burner)—Lecture Hall (pray for safety)—Yonghe Palace (pray for wealth)—Wheel of Time Hall (turn for good luck and disaster relief)—Yongyou Hall (once Yongzheng’s study and bedroom, pray to ward off evil and disasters)—West Side Hall (pray for studies)—Dharma Wheel Hall (pray for career, later there is one of the three wood carving treasures, the Five Hundred Arhats)—Wanfu Pavilion (front hall pray for good luck and safety, back hall pray for marriage and children, inside is one of the three wood carving treasures, a standing Maitreya Buddha made of white sandalwood)—Zhaofu Tower (the Buddha shrine inside is one of the three wood carving treasures, carved from golden Phoebe wood)—East Side Hall (pray for wealth)—Medicine Master Hall (pray for health), Esoteric Buddhism Hall (pray for safety). Second stop: Confucius Temple and Guozijian Museum. These are the royal sacrificial sites and highest academic institutions from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the most complete surviving ancient central government school complex. When we arrived, there was a volunteer guide, so we followed her carefully. Dacheng Hall is where the Confucius ceremony is held, the central building of the Confucius Temple, enshrining the wooden tablet of Confucius titled “Great Accomplished Sage, Cultured and Proclaimed King.” Biyong is the central building of Guozijian, located on a square high platform in the center of a round water pool on the central axis, symbolizing heaven as round and earth as square. Between the Confucius Temple and Guozijian is a corridor with a forest of steles made up of 189 tall stone tablets engraved with Confucian classics such as the Zhou Yi and Shang Shu, totaling over 630,000 characters, the second largest stele forest in China. Third stop: Wudaoying Hutong. It starts from Yonghegong Street in the east and ends at Andingmen Inner Street in the west, connected to Jianchang Hutong in the south, with two side alleys leading to Andingmen East Street in the north. Wudaoying Hutong was called Wude Guard Camp in the Ming dynasty, reportedly a military camp for city defense, hence the name. During the Qing dynasty, it belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner and was called Wudaoying. After Qianlong’s reign, the hutong’s appearance was basically formed. Now it is a popular cultural and artistic destination and photo spot in Beijing, perfectly combining traditional siheyuan courtyards with shops blending Chinese and Western styles. It has the old Beijing street vibe and modern commercial youthful energy, making it ideal for art lovers and foodies. Here you can find the world’s first Michelin three-star vegetarian restaurant Jing Zhaoyin, the “veteran” Spanish restaurant Saffron, the specialty café Fuding Coffee, as well as various old Beijing flavor restaurants and international cuisine. There are intangible cultural heritage experience shops like Naxi Handmade Workshop, independent designer brand stores like Naqu, and the Yonghe Art Gallery focusing on contemporary art. Fourth stop: Beihai Park. It is the earliest built, best preserved, and culturally richest classical royal garden in China’s history. Tour route: Enter from the northwest gate—Jingxin Studio (Qianlong’s study, the pavilions and towers reflect on the clear water, winding paths lead to secluded spots, rockery landscaping and small bridges with flowing water complement each other, full of the charm of Jiangnan gardens)—Western Heaven Buddhist Realm (a Ming dynasty Lama temple with a beautifully crafted glazed archway, yellow tiles and red walls with a blue plaque, very imposing. The Great Compassion True Suchness Hall is made of golden Phoebe wood, simple and solemn, showing nobility)—Nine-Dragon Wall (the only double-sided Nine-Dragon Wall in the country, 25.5 meters long, with 635 dragon patterns on both sides, lifelike dragon shapes, the blue glaze uses Persian cobalt, dazzling in the sunlight)—Kuai Xue Hall (calligraphy exhibition)—Five-Dragon Pavilion (built along the lake, composed of five square pavilions linked like dragons, inside the Floating Green Pavilion is a stone stele with Qianlong’s imperial calligraphy “Record of the Five-Dragon Pavilion.” This is a great spot to enjoy the lake view and the White Pagoda. The coffered ceiling of Longze Pavilion is especially beautiful)—Little Western Heaven—Take a boat to Qionghua Island (the island has Yong’an Temple, its red walls and yellow tiles are very distinctive, the “Qionghua Spring Shade Stele” is one of the Eight Sights of Yanjing. The white pagoda on the island’s top is Beihai’s landmark, 35.9 meters tall, a Tibetan-style Lama pagoda)—Cross Yong’an Bridge to Tuancheng (a 10-meter-high “miniature ancient city.” Inside Chenguang Hall is a white jade Buddha. The Yuan dynasty jade urn “Dushan Great Jade Sea” in the garden is the park’s treasure and one of Beijing’s three treasures. The ancient pine “Shade Marquis” on the city wall is 800 years old, with great historical and cultural value).