Temple of Heaven: Circular Mound Altar

Temple of Heaven – Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing with the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece.  By no means is the Temple the only structure though and the buildings and surrounds are as vast as the park that they are set in.… Read the rest

Hutongs

Hutongs

This feels like the real deal.  It’s drizzling and I’m finally out.  In China.  The real China.  Old certainly meets new here in the Hutongs (narrow street) district where neon sits beside buildings which are hundreds of years old and now protected as the old town historic district. … Read the rest

Tokyo In 12 Hours

Sensoji main building & gardens
Sensoji main building & gardens

Tokyo in 12 hours! Not ideal, but it’s all I have. I’m on a stopover on the way home and have been awake for 24 hours already, having left the UK yesterday and now landed in Tokyo early this morning with a mere twelve hours to explore.… Read the rest