The Temple of Heaven is one of those marvellous sites that provide an oasis of peace, almost in the heart of Beijing. The site is obviously of great historical importance, but do take the time to enjoy it in the way the local people do. There's the charming wooden archway of which the greatest attraction is, in my opinion, the crowd of people playing music or singing, chatting, playing cards, or simply enjoying the beauty of the architecture and nature. The temple is (fascinating) history, but at the same spot one can find the most beautiful and friendly aspects of Chinese culture well alive, simply by sitting down, listening, watching. Last time I was there, a septuagenarian invited me for a game of badminton - one kind invitation to communicate, and enjoy a couple of minutes togeter. Afterwards, I sipped my cup of green tea, and listened to someone playing the erhu. It might sound all too much like a commonplace, but let's just be very glad it still exists. Modest, but heavenly...