Gyantse Kumbum
Commissioned by a local prince in 1427 and located next to Parcho Monastery, Gyantse Kumbum is the city’s main attraction. This 32-metre-high chorten features white tiers adorned with decorative stripes and a golden crown-like dome. But the interior is just as impressive, with elaborate paintings (kumbum meaning “100,000 photographs”) inside endless little chapels. The shooting fee is 10 yen (ticket fee not included, bring cash). Gyantse Kumbum has been described as the most important species in Tibet. In the Buddhist world, there are only two ruined, distant, taboo contemporaries.Jonan Khumbum, 60 km northeast of Lhatse, and Chong Liwoche, further afield west of Tsang. However, it is widely believed that Gyantse Kumbum’s style and size are unmatched. Once inside, follow a clockwise path marked by a red arrow, pass through his six floors where pilgrims mutter, and take in dozens of small chapels hidden in the walls along the way. Many of the chapel’s statues were damaged during the Cultural Revolution, but the murals are well weathered. They date to the 14th century and were clearly influenced by Newar forms, if not made by Newar (Nepal) artisans. Experts also see evidence of Chinese influence, and the fusion of these Newar and Chinese forms with Tibetan sensibilities has resulted in the emergence of a syncretic but distinctly Tibetan style of painting. On the first floor he has a two-storey main chapel with four he, facing the cardinal point. Four chapels are consecrated:Shakyamuni of the South (Shakyamuni Thukpa; two disciples, Medicine Buddha and Guru Rinpoche). Suhavati, the “Pure Land of the West” and home of the Red Opagume (Amitabha) of the West. North of Malmeze (Dipankara, Buddha in the past). And to the east is Tushita, another ‘pure land’ and home to the orange-faced Jumpa (Maitreya). In between are some excellent murals depicting minor tantras and guardian deities. Statues of his four guardian kings to the east mark the way to the upper floors. On the second floor, clockwise from the stairs, the first four chapels are dedicated to Jamperyan (known in Sanskrit as Manjushri), Chenlesig (Avalokiteshvara), Tsepame (Amitayus) and Dorma (Tara). increase. Most of the other chapels are dedicated to wrathful patron deities, such as Dorkar (White Tara; 12th chapel from the stairs), Chana Dorje (Vajrapani; 14th chapel) and Mikiyoba (Akshobuya; 15th chapel) It is Thunder). The chapel on this floor is visible only through the door window. The third floor is also occupied by a series of his two-storey chapels at base points representing the four Dhyani Buddhas.Red Opam (Amitabha) in the south. Orange he Rinchen Jungne (Ratnasambhava) to the west. The green Dongyo Drupa (Amogasiddi) is to the north. Blue Mikiyoba (Akshobhya) in the east. There are several other chapels dedicated to the fifth Dhyani Buddha, the White Namse (Vairokana). Again, most of the other chapels are filled with angry gods. Eleven chapels on the fourth floor are dedicated to teachers, interpreters, and translators of an obscure sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Exceptions are His Three Kings of Northern Tibet (his 8th chapel clockwise from the stairs) and Guru Rinpoche (10th chapel). The fifth floor, also known as the Bangpa, contains four chapels, with elaborate mandalas giving access to the Kumbung roof. Most people are fascinated by the stunning scenery, especially when looking south to the old town, with the white-walled Gyantse Dzong perched on a huge cliff in the background. A hidden staircase behind the statue on the east side leads to his sixth floor, which leads to a porch at eye level painted on the wall (this floor was closed for renovation in his 2018). was). The top step of Kumbum represents the tantric manifestation of Sakyamuni (Sakya Thukpa), but you will find that the way up is blocked.
Summer Palace
A marvel of Chinese garden design and one of Beijing’s must-see attractions, the Summer Palace was a royal retreat for emperors escaping the stifling summer slumps of the former imperial capital, and more recently a playground for the Empress Dowager Cixi. A (short) morning or afternoon exploring the waterways, pavilions, bridges and temples is sufficient, but well worth a full day exploring. The domain was a royal garden for many years until it was greatly expanded and beautified by Emperor Qianlong in the 18th century. He raised an army of workers to deepen and enlarge Lake Kunming (Kunming Hú), originally a reservoir dug by the Yuan dynasty, and overlooked the imperial naval excavators from the top of the hill. It is said Anglo-French troops destroyed the palace at the end of the Second Opium War in 1860. Empress Dowager Cixi began overhauling in 1888 and allocated funds for a modern navy. A marble boat on the northern shore of the lake was her only nautical concession, if not quite submerged. Enraged by the Boxer Rebellion, foreign forces attempted to burn the Summer Palace again in 1900, necessitating further restoration work. By 1949 the palace fell into disrepair again and needed a major overhaul. The glittering Kunming Lake occupies his three-quarters of the park, above which towers Changshou Mountain (Wanshou Mountain, Wanshou Mountain) with an eight-tiered Buddhist incense pagoda. This is the most elaborate and costly restoration project in Cixi’s large-scale redesign. Situated on a north-south axis, the pagoda towers behind the Cloud Exile Hall built by Emperor Qianlong for his mother’s 60th birthday. At the base of Longevity Hill, which hugs the northern shore of the lake, is the Long Corridor, a 2,300-foot (728 m) covered, decorative walkway. Thousands of works of art adorn each transom, pillar, and vaulted ceiling, depicting picturesque landscapes, popular myths, Buddhist scenes, and folklore from across China. At the western end of the Long Corridor is Cixi’s Marble Her Boat, a place of entertainment (and a common garden design motif), and at the eastern end is her living quarters, the Hall of Fame, Siheyuan. reflects the traditional layout of The courtyards of Beijing always have dusty furniture from the Qing dynasty. Continue east to Cixi’s three-story grand theater where she watched her beloved Peking Opera. At the nearby Hall of Mercy and Longevity, Empress Dowager Wu continued her official retirement by pulling government strings. Get a glimpse of the magnificent throne room inside. The outdoor rock garden is designed to mimic Suzhou’s famous lion forest. Also note the dragon and phoenix statues in the courtyard, symbols of the emperor and empress. Fenghuang is the star here, clearly showing that her female girlfriend Cixi is running the show. If you have time, circle the lake along the West Causeway. You can exit the palace through the West Gate and take the West Point Line back into the city or along the East Coast. Based in Hangzhou’s famous Su Dam, the willow- and mulberry-lined dam begins northwest of Marble Boat. The Yutai Bridge, which dates back to the reign of Emperor Qianlong, has a beautiful moon hump and crosses the point where the Yu River joins the lake. Behind Longevity Hill, Suzhou Street is built to mimic the waterways and architecture of Jiangsu’s famous canal city. Here, the emperor and his concubines pretended to be commoners and “shopped” for jewels in spare shops lining the seafront, with eunuchs taking the role of shopkeepers. Today, it’s ironically jam-packed with authentic souvenir shops.
Army of Terracotta Warriors
The Terracotta Army is not just Xi’an’s most important attraction.It is his one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in the world. This underground, life-sized army of thousands has quietly watched over the soul of China’s first unifier for more than 2000 years of his life. Qin Shi Huang feared the defeated spirits that awaited him in the afterlife, or hoped, as most archaeologists believe, that his death reign would continue as it had in his lifetime. However, the guardians of his tomb date back to the 3rd century BC. – Today we offer some of the greatest insights we have of the ancient Chinese world. The discovery of an army of warriors was entirely accidental. In 1974, while drilling a well, a farmer discovered an underground vault that eventually yielded thousands of terracotta warriors and horses in battle formation. Over the years, the place became very famous and many of its unusual features are known today. Especially the fact that no two soldiers have the same face. The on-site wraparound theater provides an overview of how the characters were formed. You can hire a guide (low season/high season 150/200 yen) or you can try audio his guide (40 yen + deposit 200 yen). You can then visit the sites in reverse order to build the most impressive pit worthy of the finale. Start with Pit 3, the smallest pit with 72 warriors and horses. It is believed to be the army headquarters, as many dignitaries have been unearthed here. Interestingly, the north room was used to make offerings before battles. Pit 2 is next, with about 1,300 warriors and horses, and a closer look at five soldiers.A kneeling archer, a standing archer, a cavalryman and his horse, a lieutenant general and a general. The level of detail is extraordinary.Everything from the expression, hairstyle, armor, and profile of the shoes is unique. Pit 1, the largest pit, is the most impressive. Housed in a building the size of an airplane hangar, it is said to house 6,000 warriors (only 2,000 are on display) and horses, all facing east and ready to fight. The vanguard of 3 rank archers (both crossbows and longbows) follows a main body of soldiers originally armed with spears, swords, dagger axes, and other long-shafted weapons. The infantry was accompanied by his 35 chariots, but these wooden chariots had long decayed. The two bronze chariots and horses unearthed 20 meters west of the Qin Shi Huang Tomb are as amazing as the soldiers. These are now on display in a vast modern museum called the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Cultural Relic Exhibition Hall (Qǐnshǐhuángdìlíng Chénliètīng), along with some of the original weapons and an up-close look at the lieutenant general. . . You can take pictures, but signs prohibit the use of flash (mostly ignored) or tripods. Among the more kitschy souvenirs, you can personalize your warrior statue with your own face (¥100) or have your picture taken next to a fake warrior (¥10). Gifts in the theater building In his shop, you can also buy all kinds of terracotta ornaments, from warrior paperweights to life-size statues. There is also a friendly store for jade, jewellery, etc. The Terracotta Army is easily accessible by public bus. Take air-conditioned bus 914 or 915 (8 yen, 1 hour) from Xi’an Railway Station. Buses depart every 4 minutes from 6am to 7pm. I will go to the end by bus. The bus also goes to Huaqing Hot Springs and Qin Shi Huang’s Tomb (belonging to the Terracotta Army). The parking lot is a 15-minute walk from the site, but electric buggies (5 yen) are also available. There is a good cafe in the theater building if you want to eat here. Take the exit back to the car and bus parking lot and take another route past various restaurants and fast food including McDonald’s. The bus will take you back to town from the parking lot.
Temple of Heaven Park
An oasis of orderly Confucian design, the 267-acre Temple of Heaven Park is unique. It was originally a huge stage for the emperor (literally “son of heaven”) to pray for a good harvest on the winter solstice and perform solemn ceremonies to seek God’s redemption and atonement. Since 1918, this private imperial estate has been open to the public who still gather daily to practice tai chi, spin the gymnastic bar and sing revolutionary songs profusely. Do not expect worshipers to pray. This is not a temple, but a place of esoteric, Confucian-inspired national technology. The emperor, the Son of Heaven, visited his Temple of Heaven twice a year, with the more important ceremonies taking place on the winter solstice. Royal entourages moved quietly from the Forbidden City to the Emperor of Heaven, while citizens were instructed to close all windows and stay indoors. It contained a long line of aristocrats, officials and musicians. The imperial palanquin was 12 m long and 3 m wide and employed 10 porters. Although there are four main entrances to the park (East and West gates are the most convenient for visitors; no transfer tickets can be purchased after 4pm), access to the Imperial Palace was through the Shoyokomon gate in the south. A circular altar led. On this open pedestal, ceremonies to heaven performed personally by the Emperor each winter solstice were performed according to solemn protocol. Arranged in three rows, the circular altar revolves around the emperor’s number 9. Odd numbers were considered sacred in imperial China. Nine (ninth) is his largest single-digit odd number and a homonym for longevity. The altar is arranged on his three tiers, and on the top tier are his nine stone rings arranged in multiples of nine. Stairs and railings are also multiples of 9. North of the round altar is the Palace of Heaven, surrounded by a low circular wall known as the echo wall. Despite its grandiose appearance, the vault of heaven was a storeroom in which spirit plates of the gods and other materials needed for ceremonies on the circular altar were kept. , the base is square. This pattern comes from the ancient Chinese belief that the heavens are round and the earth is square. The 65m diameter Echo Wall is named for its unique acoustic properties. A few meters from the wall, you’ll hear a soft word or two on the other side of the circle (but the chatter of other tourists may drown it out!). Starting from the Imperial Vaults of Heaven, the majestic 360-meter-long Red Stairway Bridge is the Imperial Road that leads to the magnificent center of the Temple of Heaven, a place of prayer for good harvests. A much-photographed icon, the three-winged Hall of Good Harvest is made entirely of wood without the use of nails, with a heavy roof supported by 28 wooden pillars. Built around 1420, it was destroyed by lightning in 1889. The following year, a faithful replica was constructed using Ming construction techniques, using timber imported from the United States, as there were no trees large enough for this work in China at the time. Rich in esoteric symbols, the central four largest pillars represent the seasons, the next ring’s twelve pillars represent the months, the outermost twelve pillars represent the day, each representing twelve hours of two hours. It is divided into “clocks”. A vivid dragon and phoenix relief depicting the emperor and empress writhe on the ceiling. The Animal Slaughterhouse, which is connected to the Prayer Hall for Good Harvest by an ornate long corridor, was the place where cattle, sheep, deer, and other animals were slaughtered and prepared before being sacrificed to the gods.Copper on display To see the cauldron and septic tank, you need to show your passport. On the west side of the park, the Music Station of the Gods is where drummers, flutists and bell-tollers gather before imperial ceremonies. It is now a museum, with exhibits focused on the imperial court’s ceremonial music, Zhongxiaolu, and a gallery dedicated to ancient Chinese musical instruments. The Lenteng Palace, adjacent to the west side of Heaven’s Gate, is where the Emperor crouched in preparation for the winter solstice ceremonies and refrained from all earthly pleasures for a day or two. It resembles a miniature Forbidden City, surrounded by a moat and with its own drum and bell tower. A passport is required for entry. Since 1918, Temple of Heaven has been opening its doors to Beijing’s ancient “hundreds” – literally ordinary people. Amid nearly 4,000 gnarled cypress trees, locals perform Tai Chi, Kung Fu his routines, dances, or impromptu choirs and orchestras, enthusiastically performing old revolutionary songs You can see that The driving range to the northeast of the park offers some of the best people-watching in Beijing. Here you might see his 70s on gymnastic bars and other sporting feats.