4 TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
Jump in a taxi and ask the driver to take you the three miles to the entrance of the Temple of Heaven in Tiantan Park (ask your hotel in advance for a card with the destinations you want to go to marked in Chinese). From here, follow the tree-lined path straight to the circular tri-tiered temple, with glazed blue tiled roofing and remarkable handpainted exterior.
This Taoist place of worship – representing harmony between nature, humanity and the universe – is part of a complex built in the 15th century. It was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and is similar in style to that of the Forbidden City. It’s common to see local people practicing
or dancing among the trees in the park, and the lush grass offers a pleasant place to rest before moving on. more than pearls. The ground floor is crammed full of electronic goods and watches, though if it seems the prices on those Rolex, Tag Heuer or Breitling timepieces are too good to be true, it’s because the merchandise is probably not authentic.
The second floor has aisles of“designer”handbags, shirts, tailor-made suits, wallets and suitcases, though bear in mind that most, if not all, branded items will be imitations – from Ralph Lauren polo shirts to Ray Ban sunglasses.You should also haggle – the asking price could be ten times more than it should be so knock them down wildly before putting in your bid. find Da Dong Roast Duck a restaurant with a reputation for the best duck in town. When you enter the chaotic waiting area, look up and you’ll see rows of awards, one of which proclaims Da Dong as“Best for Impressing Visitors.”
The duck here has a sweet, crispy shell and is not at all the fatty bird one might have expected. A little tour through the bustling kitchen will give you some notion of what it takes to prepare one of these magnificent golden birds. Da Dong has plenty of other tasty dishes on the menu, but the duck is the star.
Da Dong Roast Duck International Plaza, 22A Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District 86-(0)10-5169-0329. BT