Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
troyed 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 oc-
casional local nun makes an appearance. It's absolutely jammed on Christmas Eve and
Good Friday.
MIÀOYĪNG TEMPLE WHITE DAGOBA
|BUDDHIST TEMPLE
( Miàoyīng Sì Báitǎ; 6616 0211; 171 Fuchengmennei Dajie; adult ¥20; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun; Fuchengmen,
then bus 13, 101, 102 or 103 to Baita Si)
Towering over the surrounding
hútòng
, the Miàoyīng
Temple slumbers beneath its distinctive chalk-white Yuán-dynasty pagoda, which was be-
ing refurbished at the time of writing. The highlight of a visit here is the temple's diverse
collection of Buddhist statuary: pop into the Hall of the Great Enlightened One ( Dàjué
Bǎodiàn), which glitters splendidly with hundreds of Tibetan Buddhist effigies. In other
halls resides a four-faced effigy of Guanyin (here called Parnashavari), as well as a trinity
of the past, present and future Buddhas and a population of bronze
luóhàn
figures. After
you finish here, exit the temple and wander the tangle of local alleyways for earthy shades
of
hútòng
life.
|MUSEUM
LU XUN MUSEUM
( Lǔ Xùn Bówùguǎn; 6616 4080; 19 Gongmenkou Ertiao; 9am-4pm Tue-Sun; Fuchengmen)
Lu Xun
(1881-1936) is often regarded as the father of modern Chinese literature. Born in
Shàoxīng in Zhèjiāng province and buried in Shànghǎi, Lu Xun lived in Běijīng for over a
decade. As a writer, Lu Xun, who first trained in medicine, articulated a deep yearning for
reform by mercilessly exposing the foibles of the Chinese character in such tales as
Medi-
manuscripts to personal effects.
BĚIJĪNG ZOO & BĚIJĪNG AQUARIUM
( Běijīng Dòngwùyuán & Běijīng Hǎiyángguǎn; 6839 0274;
www.bjzoo.com.cn
;
137 Xizhimenwai Dajie; admis-
sion Apr-Oct ¥15, Nov-Mar ¥10, panda house ¥5 extra, zoo & aquarium adult/child ¥130/70; 7.30am-6pm Apr-Oct,
to 5pm Nov-Mar; Běijīng Zoo)
Although not as pleasant as Shànghǎi's green and wooded get-
away, Běijīng Zoo is a relaxing spot for a wander among the trees, grass and willow-
fringed lakes (it was once a royal garden), even if the creatures can be mere sideshows.
|ZOO, AQUARIUM
Zoologically speaking, the well-housed pandas are the prime diversions, especially if
you are not en route to the Sìchuān wilds. The remaining menagerie remains cooped up in
