Beijing, china

I lived in Beijing in 2017 and again in 2018. I spent a lot of time working as a Model, and the other time was spent exploring this old city. Beijing has so much to offer for anyone interested in Chinese history. From the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace, from the Temple of Heaven to a big section of The Great Wall. Here I have posted a few of my favorite places which I captured on 35mm film. I hope you can feel something and place yourself there for a moment.

Please leave any comments on photos or any advice. Also if you have, yourself visited any of these places please share your story. Would love to read about other’s experiences. Thank you :))

These were shot on a mixture but mostly on a Pentax.

Temple of heaven

I visited the Temple of Heaven in July 2018. It was a warm summer day and I spent 12 easy hours walking around the 670 acres of beauty. Within that there are plentiful sitting areas, where people play traditional games, picnic, or just close their eyes and take a rest. The Temple of Heaven is a combination of multiple religious buildings. Visited by Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest.

Now open to the people for a small fee. Tickets are RMB 35 (April – November) and RMB 30 (December – March)

Also as a foreigner you should always take your passport when visiting. You may or may not need it to enter the main gate but will definitely need it to enter other Temples inside.

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Beihai park

Beihai Park was one of my favorite parks I frequented. It is an Imperial Park located pretty centrally if I’m not mistaken and very near to the Forbidden City, just 10 minutes by walk. Also easily accessed by metro. Beihai Park along with a few others are Imperial Parks which means they used to be only visited by the Imperial families and no one else. Now open to the public for a small fee. Ticket prices go from RMB 5- 10 depending on the season and RMB 20 for a through ticket which allows you to enter the many sites within the park, you can also pay per site at the entrances.

Beihai is 175 acres, half of which is made up of the lake. There’s even swan boats for rent!

Walking anytime of the day and into evening is magical here. I once got lost and exited a different place from where I entered. My phone died so I was in search of the metro. I knew once I found that I could get home without help from my gps. It was evening and getting dark. I found myself across the street at a different park. Following the lights and local live music. I came across Houhai Park. Which is a great place for nightlife or even a place to enjoy dinner, and a walk with the family. Early evening there are kids running around with light-up toys and people enjoying evening boat rides. There are also karaoke bars. And my favorite was a Jazz Bar that I came across. I went in, ordered an Old Fashion, sat down and listened to a stunning set by a traveling jazz band. Completely forgot about my dead phone. Also right outside this area is a metro station. Worked out perfectly. So please stop by these two amazing parks and definitely enjoy the guys playing traditional Chinese tunes at Houhai Park!

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Yonghegong Lama Temple

I visited the Lama Temple April of 2018. First off I want to say, the air quality in Beijing can be quite toxic on some days, but this day was a beautiful day of fresh, fresh air. I just remember entering the long corridor that you follow down under a tunnel of trees, just breathing. Taking deep breaths and filling my lungs. Feeling so abundantly happy.

As we followed the bustle of people in towards the temple I noticed a young man doing what I believed to be a Kora. A type of pilgrimage or meditative practice in Tibetan Buddhism. I watched as he prayed, knelt ,and crawled just present in his own.

Lama Temple or Yonghe Temple is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was a gift from the seventh Dalai Lama to the Qianlong Emperor and took three years to transport from Tibet to Beijing.

Once you enter; there are many places of prayer and offering. There is also an area with a spectacular throne and from what I was told the Dalai Lama himself has come on occasion and given teachings. Also on display is a favorite of mine, a Sand Mandala. Which is made of colored sand in Tibetan Buddhist tradition where Monks will spend weeks and go great lengths to create such detailed art. It is believed that it will bring healing and positive energy to those who view it. Once they finish, the Monks will then completely wipe it away. Exampling that nothing is forever and nothing permanent. The one on display is currently my phone background. Maybe that’s frowned on but to me, its a reminder of the lesson these pieces of art represent.

Everything is always moving to balance and enlightenment

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<3.Beijing