Religious, Spiritual sights in Běijīng
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A
South Cathedral
Běijīng’s South Cathedral was built on the site of the house of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, who brought Catholicism to China. Since being completed in 1703, the church has been destroyed three times, including being burnt down in 1775, and endured a trashing by anti-Christian forces during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. The church is today decorated with modern stained glass, fake marbling, red carpets, portraits of the Stations of the Cross and cream-coloured confessionals, while black bibles in Chinese lie stacked about and the occasional local nun makes an appearance. All manner of crucifixes can be bought from the religious artefacts shop, near the statue of St Fran…
reviewed
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Fahai Temple
The peaceful Fahai (Sea of the Law) Temple (Fǎhǎi Sì) on the western edge of Běijīng is unremarkable apart from the Ming-dynasty murals on the walls of the Mahavira Hall (Dàxióng Bǎodiàn). Painted in their original colours (a rarity in today’s Běijīng), the frescos are shrouded in darkness to protect their 500-year-old pigments, so pack a torch (a mobile phone may work). A taxi to the temple from Pingguoyuan Station costs Y10. Fahai Temple can be tied in with a trip to Bādàchù. Not far away is the peaceful tomb of Tian Yi, a Ming-dynasty eunuch.
reviewed
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Azure Clouds Temple
Superb in the autumn, when the abundant maple leaves turn a flaming red, but great any time when the weather is right, this park snuggled in the Western Hills teems with hikers and day trippers at weekends. Make sure to check the view of Beijing available from Incense-Burner Peak – there’s a chairlift if you don’t fancy the walk – and to visit the lovely Azure Clouds Temple, which dates back to the Yuan dynasty.
reviewed
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B
North Cathedral
Also called the Cathedral of Our Saviour, this august cathedral is one of Běijīng’s four main churches and the only one located within the former grounds of the Imperial City. Built in 1887, the cathedral served as a factory warehouse during the Cultural Revolution. Despite being covered in gaudy grey, flaking paint, the cathedral is worth visiting, especially for those keen to glimpse the growing stature of Christianity in China.
reviewed
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C
Wuta Temple
It looks more like an Indian temple because this secluded, Ming-era Buddhist structure has a unique five-pagoda roof. A very narrow staircase, which is not always open, leads to the roof. At the back of the complex is the interesting Stone Carving Museum, with a collection of stone statues and stelae. The temple is directly opposite the rear exit of the Beijing Zoo.
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D
Bailin Temple
After visiting the nearby Lama Temple, walk east along Xilou Hutong to the former Bailin Temple at the bend in the alley. Its temple halls are now converted to offices and its northernmost wall is still daubed with the outline of Maoist slogans (the guard at the gate may not let you in, however).
reviewed
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E
Niujie Mosque
Beijing’s largest and most important mosque dates back to the 10th century and is a fascinating mix of Islamic and Chinese architectural styles. People here are friendly, but dress appropriately and avoid it on Friday, the Muslim holy day.
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