Page 16 - 23 Day China Sample

DAY 09 BEIJING Meals included: Lunch At 9:00 AM be ready in the lobby of The Four Seasons Hotel in preparation for a morning of exploring. Begin your day with a visit to the Lama Temple, fondly referred to as Yonghe Gong - the Palace of Peace and Harmony. The Lama Temple was originally the residence of a prince. When this prince ascended the throne as Emperor Yongzheng (reigned 1723-35), the complex of buildings was converted into a temple in accordance with custom. Under the next emperor, Qianlong, it became a center of learning for the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Lamaism. It has a fine collection of Tibetan bronzes and paintings, but its most well-known treasure is a huge statue of Maitreya. Over 75 feet tall, this piece of sculpture is said to have been carved out of a single sandalwood tree. Just down the hutong opposite the gates of the Lama Temple is the former Confucian Temple (Kongmiao) and Imperial College (Guozjian). The Confucian Temple is the largest in the land after the one at Qufu. The temple is used as a museum. The forest of steles in the temple record the names of those successful in the civil service examinations (possibly the world's first) of the Imperial court. To see his name engraved here was the ambition of every scholar - but it wasn't made easy; candidates were locked in cubicles (about 8,000 of them) measuring roughly 1.5 metres by 1.5 metres for a period of three days. Many died or went insane. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon to explore Beijing on your own. Overnight: The Four Seasons Hotel – Deluxe Room