Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and described as a masterpiece of architecture and landscape, the Temple of Heaven was the first historical monument I had visited in China. I was in a guided tour in Beijing with my friend Antoine. The other travellers in the tour were all a large Chinese-Canadian family that lived in Montreal as well. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven, and later remained a symbolic layout and design that had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries.

As I entered the Temple of Heaven’s territory, I noticed the large garden that surrounded the area with people who rehearsed Tai chi near the entrance. There were more people nearby that were dancing tango while expressing dramatic looks on their faces with a little Chinese attitude. Some dancers were so good that for a moment I felt like I was in China Town somewhere in Argentina!

You had to walk a few minutes to arrive near the Temple. The premises were surrounded by many equally beautiful buildings that were demonstrating the Chinese architecture of the time. The grey skies prevented enjoying and photographing the colourful walls and roofs of the buildings. But I felt that the pollution was a major cause of the bad weather.

The Temple of Heaven itself was higher than all other buildings. People had to climb the stairs to reach the monument. I could see many tourists taking photographs and a few locals sitting down, isolated or by groups, all lost in meditation. When I reached the doorway of the Temple, I looked aside and saw a Buddhist priest coming from far. As if he was coming out of a grey cloud, a scene similar to that of a dream, the divine man with his red tunic appeared before me. I quickly pointed my camera towards him and clicked several times.

But as he approached me, I noticed with surprise that the Buddhist priest was holding a bottle of Sprite in his hands! He also had what looked like a bag of candies. He probably needed refreshments between meditation sessions. I giggled quietly.

Source: About China
In French: Apparition du prêtre bouddhiste