April 5, 2012
We started our last day in Beijing with the Temple of Heaven (very close to our hotel, hence our hotel name). Twice a year during imperial times, the emperor and many others would leave the Forbidden City to visit the temple. At the Winter solstice, he expressed thanks for the previous harvest and on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, he begged to bless the coming harvest. We joined many locals to play Hacky Sack (they called it something else- I forget) on the courtyard of the Hall of Good Prayer for Good Harvest. The three circles commemorate from top to bottom, The Heavens, The Earth, and the human beings.
Before heading to the airport, we attended a tea ceremony. I loved this!! It was interesting to learn about all different kinds of tea and learn what the help with. We tasted five different types of tea.
That night after getting back from our flight to Shanghai (last flight until flying home to OHIO!!), we went to the top of the Ritz -Carlton Hotel to see the amazing view of the city and have a bottle of wine.
The Temple of Heaven.
Turner and I failing at this. As you can see, I missed and the feather hacky-sack is falling to the ground.
The tea tasting.
A view of the city from the ship.
Pearl Tower.
Enjoying some wine on top of the Ritz Carlton.
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