The most beautiful temples in China and Tibet

Temple of Heaven, Beijing © © eyetronic - Fotolia.com

Whether Buddhist, Taoist or Confucian, Chinese temples, havens of peace and harmony, are conducive to introspection. They are found throughout China , on top of mountains, in caves at the end of narrow streets, perched precariously on a cliff side or in the center of cities.

Temple of Heaven Běijīng

The Temple of Heaven Běijīng - which is not quite a temple - was the place of worship of the Ming and Qing emperors. It embodies the Confucian order and symmetry principles, and harmony between Heaven and Earth. This park of 267 hectares is surrounded by a long wall pierced with a door at each cardinal point. Frankincense or faithful in that temple, whose name translates in Mandarin "heavenly altar." The Son of Heaven (the emperor) was celebrating propitiatory rites, dedicated to promoting the harvest or to seek divine mercy.

His order is typical of Chinese parks, where imperfections, bumps and irregularities of nature are largely erased and the visible hand of the man in very straight lines and regular amenities. The effect is accentuated by the Confucian objectives, which the human intellect is essential to the natural world and creates order and symmetry. The balance and harmony that result have a haunting beauty - but slightly oppressive. Police are circulating in electric vehicles while walkers strolling among the temples and groves of old trees in the middle of birdsong. Approximately 4,000 gnarled cypress (some older than 800 years, their branches supported by posts) soar skyward.

Putuo Temple Zongcheng, Chengde © groucho

Pǔníng Temple, Chengde

On a clear day, the temple stands on the hills surrounding Chengde. In Mahayana room, the statue of Guanyin 42 arms, 22 meters high - the incarnation of Buddhist benevolence - is probably the most amazing statue of China. The temple was built in 1755 in anticipation of Qianlong's victory over Mongol tribes in western Xinjiang. Modeled after the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery (Samye), but the first part is obviously Chinese. Tibetan buildings are located at the rear.

You may be able to access the first gallery (10 yen) to admire Guanyin closer - flashlights are provided for the stairs. The upper galleries, which allow a true head-to-head with the goddess, are almost never open to the public. To mount, preferably in the morning just because it is often impossible to get a ticket in the afternoon. Expect also that the gallery or simply closed. As in other religious sites should be calm and respect the Pǔníng temple, maintained by friendly llamas. Ticket price includes entrance to the temple Pǔyòu. It is served by the # 6 bus departing the Mountain Villa Hotel.

Engravings in the Confucius Temple in Qufu © Jim Gourley

Temple of Confucius, Qufu

The old three-room house of Confucius became the second architectural ensemble of Imperial China after the Forbidden City. After his death in 478 BC. AD, the duke of the state of Lu spent his modest home. Everything inside, including his clothes, his books, musical instruments and a crew was perfectly preserved. The house was rebuilt for the first time in 153, and suffered in the centuries that followed a series of repairs, additions and renovations. In 1012, it had four courses and over 300 rooms. A wall of the imperial palace style was added. After a fire in 1499, it was rebuilt to its current size.

Like all Asian temples dedicated to Confucius, it is more of a museum than a place of worship. Over 1,000 steles compiling imperial gifts and sacrifices from the Han Dynasty, and examples of calligraphy and high reliefs in stone carefully preserved are kept on site. Do not miss the Bixi, mythical tortoise stele bearing the Cheng Huà dedicated by Emperor Ming in 1468, Confucius who rents a particularly neat handwriting. Registrations are so perfect that copies were made to teach writing. The temple houses 120 shengji famous paintings of the Tang Dynasty describes the life of Confucius, originally carved in wood, which were immortalized in stone on the walls and inserted under the Qing.

Labrang Monastery, China © Franck Zecchin

Labrang Monastery, Xiahe

Grinding endless prayer wheels (3 km), circling vultures, Tibetan trumpets echoed from the surrounding mountains: Labrang Buddhist monastery is the ultimate. Besides the chapels, residences, temples with golden arches and neighborhoods monks, Labrang also houses six Tratsang (monastic colleges or institutes) teacher esoteric Buddhism, theology, medicine, astrology and law. The amber glow lamps with yak butter, very fragrant extract fuel from large tanks, sheds light on many corridors chapels. It emerges from the monastery and its fervent devotees a deep sense of spirituality.

Labrang is one of the six largest monasteries of the order of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat school). At its peak, Labrang hosted nearly 4,000 monks, but the Cultural Revolution in diminished ranks. Increasing, its workforce is now 1,800 monks from the Qīnghǎi of Gansu, Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa

The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is the spiritual center and the holiest place in Tibet. All Tibetan Buddhist must make a pilgrimage there at least once in his life. Wearing a golden roof, this temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. 1300 years old, it attracts waves of pilgrims who prostrate themselves before him, testifying to his timeless appeal. Originally, the Jokhang was built to house a Buddha image reported in Tibet by the Nepalese wife of King Songtsen Gampo. But the other wife of the king, the Chinese Princess Wencheng, substituted it with a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (Shakyamuni Jowa). It is the latter that the Jokhang owes its name and its spiritual power: indeed, Jokhang means "Chapel of Jowo" and the golden Buddha is the most revered in Tibet.

Come preferably in the morning to visit the Jokhang 2 levels, although this is not always obvious to the crowd of pilgrims making offerings of yak butter. One can reach the temple in the afternoon by the side entrance, but the interior chapels are so often closed and there are no pilgrims.

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Ahmed Khalidi

My name is Ahmed, I'm 23 and I'm passionate about travel. I try to travel regularly while continuing my study. I created this blog to share my travels, my tips and my travel tips. Feel free to comment on my articles or contact me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer you. Follow and join us in Fb : fb.com/traver24trip in Google+ : +AhmedKhalidi1 .

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