Best bets along Beijing's backbone

Temple of Heaven.[Photo/China Daily]

The central axis starts from Yongding Gate in the south and ends at the Clock Tower 7.8 km to the north. But the best starting place for a tourist is the Temple of Heaven, slightly to the east of the southern tip of the axis. Here you'll be amazed to find that a square peg in a round hole, or vice versa, can be a wonderful principle in architecture. There are round buildings on square bases, and a square encirclement next to a round one. These are manifestations of the Chinese belief that "heaven is round and Earth square" and, as such, make the temple complex an ideal place for the emperor to pray. He was accountable only to heaven since he was supposed to be the son of heaven. In that sense, the annual praying session was somewhat equivalent to the State of the Union address a US president delivers to Congress.

Nowadays the real fun happens outside the temple, mostly in the eastern part of the park where Beijing residents of all ages congregate, mostly on weekends, to practice singing, sword dancing and chess, among myriad activities. Everyone is welcome to join them. Don't be shy if you are in a mood to show off your talent, and you'll quickly discover the Chinese love to communicate.