Live Your Best Lives
On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the establishment of Baijiahao, we came to the Huabin Manor in Nankou Town, Beijing to participate in the "Wilderness Camping Assembly" and "City Life Home" activities, exiling ourselves from nature and letting go for two days.
At 1:00 p.m. on October 21, 2021, we took a bus from Zhichun Road Metro Station to Huabin Manor in Changping District, Beijing. We arrived at our destination an hour and a half later. The manor is located at the foot of the Great Wall. We camped on the open grassland of the manor. Everyone worked together to set up tents, set up dining tables, put chairs, and place various cakes and drinks.
Wouldn't it be more pleasant to have afternoon tea in a different setting, on an open meadow?
You've had afternoon tea before, but have you ever had it outdoors? Compared to having afternoon tea in a luxurious star-rated hotel, isn’t it more refreshing and interesting to have afternoon tea on a lawn in the suburbs?
The warm setting sun,
The faint scent of grass,
A horse a hundred meters away,
The faint smell of cream,
The inexplicable little emotions,
Disintegrated in the taste,
The greedy little thoughts,
Nowhere to escape.
A small dessert can dispel fatigue and heal the recent low mood. Who doesn’t love such afternoon tea?
The plating is pleasing to the eye, paired with savory and sweet snacks, and any photo taken will be a hit. No girl can resist such temptation.
A piece of dessert and a cup of fragrant tea, refreshing the heart and spleen, outline an elegant and comfortable afternoon.
What happened? Do horses also have afternoon tea? Who can resist such beauty? Even the horses came to join us for tea.
Put down your phone and play board games, just like a child, having fun playing cards. You can also take a rest in the tent, which is so relaxing.
You can also hide in the tent and rest, which is so healing.
Some people also come to show off their love, which makes me jealous. Do you still remember the time when you were a child, sitting on a small stool in front of the screen on the drying yard in the center of the village, watching open-air movies?
Come on, Reignwood Pine Valley allows you to relive the good old days of your childhood~
When night falls, set up a screen outdoors and return to the days of open-air movies. This is nowadays the most popular way to relax.
Under the starry sky, on the grassy lawn, let's explore the moving moments of light and shadow together~
The films screened included the classic Chinese animated film "Mulan" and the globally popular "Harry Potter." A circle of spectators had already formed before the films even began. From the moment the films began, everyone watched intently. The vibrant, high-definition projections captured everyone's emotions as the plot unfolded, leaving them deeply moved and inspired. Together, they experienced the charm and uplifting spirit of classic cinema, allowing us to be moved together before the screen.
Which hot pot restaurant in Beijing is the best? Of course, it’s Yangfang Shengli!
Shahe Town in Changping District is actually full of mutton restaurants, each with its own unique secrets, whether it’s authentic mutton, unique dipping sauce, or even both. Among the numerous hot pot restaurants, there is one that is recognized by foodies as the best: Yangfang Shengli. Yangfang Shengli has three branches in town. That evening, we went to the Shahe branch, just 100 meters east of the town government. They have two unique features: they simmer the mutton in clear water—the owner says they only use clear water for good mutton. And they serve the mutton rolls on a long bench—or rather, a long board. How long? Over a meter, almost as long as a person, a stark contrast to the round plates used by other restaurants. The water is Nongfu Spring Spring from Changbai Mountain, the sheep are milk-fed sheep shipped from Inner Mongolia, and the sauce is "Cixi sesame paste." These three ingredients complement each other perfectly, making it absolutely amazing. Michelin can't even beat them!
The mutton hot pot alone wasn't enough. We ordered a bunch of other dishes, including shrimp balls, premium fresh tripe, and sesame cakes. They were also served with vermicelli noodles, cabbage, lotus root slices, potatoes, etc. As for the taste, there's no doubt about it. To know how delicious it is, you should go and try it yourself.
In the evening, check in to the Vienna Hotel, right in Tianyue Plaza.
The next morning, we'll move to Baiguo Manor in Xiaotangshan Town, where you'll enjoy exciting archery competitions, with both sides facing off in a perfect re-creation of an ancient battlefield. Everyone once dreamed of being a martial artist. Hitting the target through the 100-step arrow was a childhood goal. Now's your chance to achieve it! Play archery in the suburbs of Beijing. Show off your prowess with a game of attack and defense. Before the match, the instructor gave everyone a detailed explanation of how to use and wear bows, arrows, goggles, and armbands, as well as safety tips and precautions.
Put on goggles and a pad on your left arm, and use primitive cold weapons to show the passion of the sport. The goal is to annihilate all the opposing team members or shoot down all the dots on the target in the opponent's position within the time limit. At the beginning of the game, each player carries 4 arrows. The players are scared before going on the court, but after entering the court, they all show bravery and strength, cross-screen, echelon rescue, round-robin attack, and both offense and defense. It is very exciting. All the charm required for sports can be found in this game.
Attack and defense archery has been a rapidly growing activity in recent years. Combining a dodging game with safely designed bows and arrows, participants feel as if they are on an ancient battlefield, competing with each other using primitive archery skills. This thrilling activity is sure to make you fall in love with it and never tire of it!
The "modern-day Mulan" takes the stage, firing her arrows and hitting her opponent. At this time, a teammate was playing with his mobile phone and saw a piece of news that there was a positive case in our town. We were scared. We hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of food in the manor and quickly evacuated.
On the morning of the third day, I went house hunting and had lunch at Jindingxuan. I chose this place simply because it's right at the entrance to Ditan Park. Jindingxuan's exterior is Chinese-style, and the shop is quite large. The interior is decorated in an antique style, very Chinese. It also displays clay sculptures by Clay Man Zhang. Judging by the photos on the wall, many celebrities have been there. The cuisine is quite diverse, with Shandong cuisine, Northeastern cuisine, and Sichuan cuisine.
After lunch, I was eager to enter the park.
[The emperor went there once a year, and Shi Tiesheng went there every day. Where did they go?]
The Temple of Earth may not have the royal grandeur of the Forbidden City, nor be as magnificent as the Temple of Heaven, but it is a special place in Beijing. The square-shaped Temple of Earth, opposite the circular Temple of Heaven, symbolizes "the sky is round and the earth is square." The altar at Ditan Park is as majestic as the Circular Mound at the Temple of Heaven. Shi Tiesheng's poem "I and the Altar of Earth," found in middle school textbooks, further enhances the cultural atmosphere of the Temple of Earth.
More than 30 years ago, a gaunt young man would wheelchair to the then-deserted and dilapidated Ditan Park almost every day, staying there from morning until sunset.
"I've been under every tree in Ditan Park, and my tire tracks are on almost every meter of its grass."
Unfortunately, Shi Tiesheng's legs were disabled, and he fell into a low point in his life. His body and mind would often lose control, sometimes suddenly shattering the glass in front of him, and sometimes violently throwing objects at the wall... From the onset of his illness to paraplegia, he attempted suicide three times, only surviving due to a short circuit in the electrical wiring. God refused to take him. A young man in his early twenties, in the prime of his life, suddenly lost both legs. How could he possibly lead his life?! At that moment of despair, inferiority, loneliness, and confusion—no earlier, no later, at that perfect moment—he entered the Temple of Earth in a wheelchair. Admission to Ditan Park is cheap these days, practically free. Beijing's attractions are the least willing to charge tourists. Ditan Park has four entrances: east, west, north, and east. I entered through the south gate, but the west gate is the main entrance.
The most important affairs of a country are sacrifices and wars. Since ancient times, emperors have had the custom of offering sacrifices throughout the year: on the vernal equinox, they offer sacrifices to the sun; on the summer solstice, they offer sacrifices to the earth; on the autumnal equinox, they offer sacrifices to the moon; and on the winter solstice, they offer sacrifices to heaven. Each ceremony is very ritualistic. During the Jiajing period, the emperor abruptly split the Temple of Heaven and Earth and built a new one in the northern suburbs of Peking, the Fangze Altar, which is today's Ditan Temple. From then on, sacrifices to heaven and earth were conducted separately.
The Temple of Earth, the second largest of the five altars in the ancient capital of Beijing, is the largest existing altar dedicated to earth worship in my country. Construction began in 1530 AD, the ninth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty. It stands in stark contrast to the Temple of Heaven and faces the Lama Temple, the Temple of Confucius, and the Imperial College across the river.
The Altar of Earth was a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the god of the earth. The square altar was built in accordance with ancient Chinese traditional culture, such as "the sky is round and the earth is square", "the sky is blue and the earth is yellow", and "the sky is south and the earth is north". Existing ancient buildings include the Fangze Altar, the Huangji Chamber, the Slaughterhouse Pavilion, the Zhai Palace, and the God's Storehouse.
The park is home to numerous ancient and renowned trees over a century old, but you must see these three: the One-Armed General Cypress, the Great General Cypress, and the Old General Cypress.
The ancient cypress trees stand in rows, each one looking majestic and giving it a sense of history.
After passing this row of ancient cypress trees, you will directly encounter the centerpiece of Ditan Park: Fangze Altar, also known as the altar. This is the most worth seeing, so there is a separate fee for admission, but it is not expensive, only 5 yuan.
In the tenth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign (1860), the British and French allied forces invaded Beijing. The British army occupied Ditan Park, razed the low wall around Fangze Altar, and converted the altar into a gun platform. The Huangzhi Chamber is the main hall of the Temple of Earth, facing south and north. It houses deities of the Earth God and the Five Mountains, Five Towns, Four Seas, and Four Rivers. The deities are ranked according to their rank.
In the northeast corner of the park lies the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Health Culture Park, the first dedicated park in my country dedicated to TCM and health culture.
The park is divided into zones based on the five internal organs: the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. These zones are symbolized by the five elements, five colors, and five directions. Aquatic and terrestrial meridians connect the park, forming a cohesive whole.
The garden boasts nearly a hundred varieties of Chinese herbal medicines and medicinal plants, and features pavilions, corridors, rockery, and flower beds, showcasing all the elements of a classical garden and a distinct aesthetic from that of an altar.
The bell tower is square in plan, with a double-eaved, green-glazed tiled hip roof. The bell is inscribed with the characters "Made in the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty," and its tone is resonant and powerful.
The Shenmaquan was where the emperor fed his horses when he came to offer sacrifices.
The Zhaigong is fenced off and cannot be seen. It is under repair. It was the place where the emperors stayed when offering sacrifices to the earth. Facing west and east, it consists of the West, South, and North Halls. During the Qing Dynasty, Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Jiaqing all stayed here. The slaughterhouse was equivalent to the meat processing plant today, which was only responsible for slaughtering sacrificial animals, boiling water to remove the hair of the animals, and then doing some butchering work. The Shenku is a complex of small buildings consisting of four five-bay, gabled halls and two well pavilions. The main hall, called the Shenku, houses the Fengting (carriage carrying the tablet of the Emperor of the Earth) and the Longting (carriage carrying the tablets of the attendant and subordinate deities). The eastern side hall, called the Jiqiku, stores sacrificial utensils. The western side hall, called the Shenchu (kitchen), prepares sacrificial offerings. The southern hall, called the Yimusicku (instrumental instrument), stores musical instruments. The east and west well pavilions are used to fill the canal and supply water to the Shenchu.
Ginkgo trees are common in northern China, but they look different when planted in Ditan Park, seemingly holding a higher value.
Ditan Park has a Ginkgo Avenue, with over 200 sturdy and tall ginkgo trees, most of which were planted in the 1950s. Despite its name, the road is neither very wide nor very long. I came too hastily. I should have come in late October. I looked away and scanned the forest covered in autumn leaves. I unexpectedly discovered several persimmon trees. They were already bearing persimmons, which would be ready for consumption in the coming days.
A group of people has their own happiness, and an individual has his own enjoyment.
Although Ditan Park was once a place for imperial sacrifices, for some reason, today it feels very down-to-earth. It has become a sacred place for pigeons, and one doesn't have to fly to Paris Square to feed them. Afterwards, I walked to the west gate. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties entered the Temple of Earth through the west gate archway when they came to worship. The Ditan Archway is just as tall and majestic as the Summer Palace's east gate archway. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, it was called the "Tai Zhe Street" archway. During the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed the "Guanghou Street" archway. The current archway was rebuilt in 1990; the original was demolished in 1953 because it was too close to the road and obstructed traffic. (This is also quite unremarkable, so I won't comment on this.) Crossing the road west from Ditan Park, you'll reach Qingnian Lake Park.
[There is a large lake within the Second Ring Road of Beijing, known as the "Little West Lake", with 0 yuan admission fee]
There really is a lake in Qingnian Lake, they didn't lie to me. Is this park only for young people? Of course not. You see, most of the people strolling around aren't young people. So why is it named Youth Lake Park? In the 1950s, this area was just a large puddle. In 1958, over 700 students from Beijing No. 1 Middle School, No. 5 Middle School, and No. 21 Middle School responded to the call and volunteered to dig a lake. The lake was completed and named Youth Lake. Those young people who toiled to dig the lake are now gray-haired and elderly. Outside Andingmen on the North Second Ring Road, with a long bridge and rippling clear waters, Qingnian Lake Park stands like an emerald jewel amidst the community. Known as the "Little West Lake," this impressive park in the city center offers no admission fee, a truly thoughtful gesture. The vast lake is truly soothing, and a complete circuit takes about 40 minutes. It's truly rare to find such a large lake in the city.
With a lake, boating is a must. It feels like a replica of Shichahai, but with far fewer people.
This sculpture is so interesting! My kids loved it, climbing up on it without a second thought. It cheered up the adults, too. There are many similar sculptures in the sculpture park.
Behind the sculpture is a ginkgo grove, which must be beautiful in autumn.
The park is beautifully landscaped, with lush, vibrant trees. Greenery is everywhere you look, and you can stroll along the river and circle the lake ten times without getting tired of it.
After crossing the bridge, you will reach the island in the middle of the lake, surrounded by willow trees. On the other side of the island is another white stone bridge, leading to the other bank. From a distance, it resembles the twin bridges of West Lake.
In this park, adults can stroll and chat on the path beside the lotus pond, while elderly people sit quietly on chairs and art enthusiasts sketch with their sketchpads. There's no sense of urgency here, only a sense of leisure. Meanwhile, children can enjoy the children's playground, complete with bumper cars and arcade games. The park is quite large, with attractions such as Shuo Garden, Baochun Island, Lotus Pond, Shenglan Pavilion, and Yi Garden. A rockery stands on the shore, engraved with two large red characters, "Ru Jing," referring to the lake's smooth surface.
Don't just think of the Water Cube when it comes to water activities. Qingnian Lake also boasts a water world, offering a variety of water attractions, including water slides and a double dragon slide. There are also outdoor swimming pools of varying sizes, which can accommodate 1,200 people at a time, making it a great summer escape. Purchase a separate ticket for unlimited access.
Foodies all know Jubaoyuan. There’s a branch at the south gate of the park. Compared to other Jubaoyuan stores, this one doesn’t have to queue. Come quickly.
Leave Qingnian Lake Park and take a bus to the Drum Tower. After getting off the bus, you’ll see a brick tower, which means you’ve reached the Drum Tower. All set for the afternoon.
The Drum Tower isn't just about drums; it also has bells. The beating of the drum marks the shift, while the ringing of the bell tells the time. This is how the evening drum and morning bell came about. This was an ancient method of timekeeping and urban management, providing residents with time for work and daily life.
Liu Xinwu also wrote the novel "The Bell and Drum Tower." Hearing both the morning bell and evening drum here is a must-do in your life. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are located in the south and north of the square, only a hundred meters apart. The square is very popular. The ticket to the Bell and Drum Tower is 30 yuan. There is a Yongle Bell in the bell tower. We are poor, so we are satisfied with just looking at it from the outside. However, rich people can't get in. It is not open to tourists due to the mask.
There are so many newlyweds here that people are lining up to take wedding photos at the red wall without affecting each other.
Many people who like to eat dog food are not afraid of critical attacks and dare to come and check in alone.
Number of days：6 days, Average cost: 300 yuan, Updated: 2021.11.19
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