Temple of Heaven

I need to introduce you to the people that got me to these locations.  This is my driver and he doesn't speak any English.

This is Cherry, she went to a Beijing University before the 2008 Olympics and studied English and was a translator during the games.  After the games she went to work for this tour agency and is very good at it.  The rates for a private tour was really reasonable.  I spent 3 days with them and it was a great way to get to the different sights.

 A picture i took of a kitchen that we ate at.  

 This is the Temple of Heaven

 There is so much detail and color.

 The inside 

 More large doors

Afterwords we went to a Chinese tea house.  This gal gave a very interesting speech on Chinese teas, the history and what teas do what for you.  I think we spent about an hour there and just enjoyed drinking different teas.

In the picture you will see a large slotted wooden tray.  Most all Chinese homes will have this and when they make tea and spill the water goes through the spots and cought on a tray under neigh.

I ended up buying 4 different loose leaf teas and they are soooo much better than in a bag.

I think i have enough tea for the next 3 years.

Tea is number 1 with the Chinese and they don't drink that much coffee.  I found that out really fast at breakfast time every ware,  my cup was always empty and wating for a refill.

And you can't penalize your waitress for not keeping your cup full because you don't tip in China.