Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple is the largest in China outside Qufu, the philosopher’s birthplace in Shandong province. The alley leading to the temple has a fine pailou (decorative archway), few of which survive in Beijing. First built in 1302 during the Yuan Dynasty, the temple was expanded in 1906 in the reign of Emperor Guangxu. It is a tranquil place that offers respite from the city’s bustle. Around 200 ancient stele stands in the silent courtyard in front of the main hall (Dacheng Dian), inscribed with the names of those who successfully passed the imperial civil service exams. Additional stele are propped up on the backs of bixi (mythical cross between a tortoise and a Loong), within pavilions surrounded by cypress trees. On a marble terrace in the main hall are statues of Confucius and some of his disciples.

Dong Yue Miao

On Beijing’s eastern side near the Workers’ Stadium, the mesmerizing Dong Yue Miao takes its name from the Daoist Eastern Peak, Dong Yue, also known as Tai Shan. It is fronted by a fabulous glazed Ming dynasty paifang inscribed with the Chinese characters “Zhisi Daizong,” meaning”offer sacrifices to Mount Tai (Tai Shan) in good order.” This colorful and active temple, dating to the early 14th century, was restored at considerable cost in 1999, and is tended by Daoist monks. The main courtyard leads into the Hall of Tai Shan, where there are statues of the God of Tai Shan and his attendants. The greatest attractions here are over 70 “Departments,” filled with vivid Daoist gods and demons, whose functions are explained in English captions. In Daoist lore, the spirits of the dead go to Tai Shan, and many Departments dwell on the afterlife. The Department for Increasing Wealth and Longevity, for example, offers cheerful advice.

Cow Street Mosque

Beijing’s oldest and largest mosque dates back to the 10th century. It is located in the city’s Hui district, near numerous Muslim restaurants and shops. The Hui, a Chinese Muslim minority group mainly from Ningxia Province, are now scattered throughout China and number around 200,000 in Beijing. The men are easily identified by their beards and characteristic white hats. The Cow Street Mosque is an attractive edifice, with Islamic motifs and Arabic verses decorating its halls and stele. Its most prized possession is a 300-year-old, hand-written copy of the Koran (Gulanjing). Astronomical observations and lunar calculations were made from the tower-like Wangyue Lou. The graves of two Yuan dynasty Arab missionaries engraved with Arabic inscriptions can be seen here. The courtyard is lush with greenery, making it an idyllic escape from Beijing’s busy streets. Visitors are advised to dress conservatively. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the prayer hall.

Fayuan Temple

A short walk east from Cow Street Mosque, the Fayuan Temple dates to AD 696 and is probably the oldest temple in Beijing. It was consecrated by the Tang Taizong emperor, to commemorate the soldiers who perished in an expedition against the northern tribes. The original Tang era buildings were destroyed by a succession of natural disasters, and the current structures date from the Qing era. The temple’s layout is typical of Buddhist temples. Near the gate, the incense burner is flanked by the Drum and Bell Towers to the east and west. Beyond, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings (Tianwang Dian) is guarded by a pair of bronze lions, and has statues of Milefo (the Laughing Buddha) and his attendant Heavenly Kings. Ancient stele stand in front of the main hall, where a gilded statue of Sakyamuni (the Historical Buddha) is flanked by bodhisattvas and luohan- those freed from the cycle of rebirth. At the temple’s rear, the Scripture Hall stores sutras, while another hall contains a 16 ft Buddha statue. The grounds are busy with monks who attend the temple’s Buddhist College.

White Clouds Temple

Home to the China Daoist Association, the White Clouds Temple (Baiyun Guan) was founded in AD 739 and is Beijing’s largest Daoist shrine. Known as the Temple of Heavenly Eternity, it was one of the three ancestral halls of the Quanzhen School of Daoism, which focused on right action and the benefits of good karma. Built largely of wood, the temple burnt to the ground in 1166, and since then has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The structures that survive date largely from the Ming and Qing dynasties. A triple-gated Ming pailou (decorative archway) stands at the entrance. It is believed that rubbing the carved monkey on the main gate brings good luck. The major halls are arranged along the central axis, with more halls on either side. The Hall of the Tutelary God has images of four marshals who act as temple guardians, while the Hall of Ancient Disciplines is dedicated to the Seven Perfect Ones, disciples of Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen School. The Hall of Wealth is popular with pilgrims who seek blessings from the three spirits of wealth, while the infirm patronize the Hall of the King of Medicine. The temple grounds are full of Daoist monks with their distinctive topknots. It is most lively during the Chinese New Year, when a temple fair (miaohui) is held.

Miaoying Temple White Dagoba

Celebrated for its distinctive Tibetan-styled, 167-ft white dagoba (stupa or funerary mound) designed by a Nepalese architect, the Miaoying Temple (Miaoying Si Bai Ta) dates to 1271, when Beijing was under Mongol rule. In addition to its conventional Drum and Bell Towers, Hall of Heavenly Kings, and Main Halls, this Buddhist temple has a remarkable collection of small Tibetan Buddhist statues in one of its halls. Another hall has a collection of 18 bronze Luohan.

Great Bell Temple

Home to a fascinating collection of bells, the 18th-century Dazhong Si follows a typical Buddhist plan, with the Heavenly Kings Hall, Main Hall, and the Guanyin Bodhisattva Hall. Its highlight is the 46.5 ton bell - one of the world’s largest - that is housed in the rear tower. The bell was cast between 1403 and 1424, and brought here from Wanshou Temple in the reign of the Qianlong emperor. Buddhist sutras in Chinese and Sanskrit embellish its surface. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the bell was struck 108 times to bring in the New Year, and could be heard for 25 miles. The gallery above has a display on bell casting, and visitors can toss a coin into a gap at the top of the bell for luck. Hundreds of bells from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing eras can be seen in a separate hall on the west side.

Tanzhe Temple

This enormous temple dates back to the 3rd century AD, when it was known as Jiafu Si. It was later renamed Tanzhe Temple, after the adjacent mountain Tanzhe Shan, which in turn got its name from the nearby Dragon Pool (Long Tan) and the surrounding Cudrania (zhe) trees. It has a splendid mountainside setting, and its halls rise up the steep incline. The temple is especially famous for its ancient trees, among which is a huge ginkgo known as the Emperor’s Tree. A slightly smaller tree close by is called The Emperor’s Wife. The most fascinating sight, however, is the Stupa Forest Temple (Talin Si) near the parking lot, with its marvelous collection of brick Stupas hidden among the foliage. Each stupa was constructed in memory of a renowned monk. The towering edifices were built in a variety of designs, including the graceful miyan ta or dense-eave stupa, characterized by ascending layers of eaves. The earliest among them dates from the Jin dynasty (1115-1234).