Moms Travel TipsTravel Tips and Vacation Ideas for the Whole Family

Beijing’s Confucius Temple, built for the great Chinese educator and philosopher, lies on the north side of the city, just a few minutes away from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Each day people come and visit, and pay homage to the man who was such a big influence throughout Chinese history. And no place can be better than here for you to get to know China.

As soon as you enter this ancient refuge, you will be amazed by the lush greenness of the trees. A lot of them have been standing since the day the temple was built, bearing witness to Chinese people’s veneration to Confucius throughout the centuries.

There are 198 large stone tablets on each side of a path that leads you to the main courtyard. The tablets are inscribed with the names of all 51,624 Jingshi scholars who succeeded in passing the imperial exams throughout Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

These scholars were ancient China’s social elite who ran the world’s oldest civil service system. To became a Jingshi scholar and get a government post, first one had to pass a series of Confucian exam held back in his home provinces. If they can succeed in these exams, they will enter the final and most important one – the exam to which to topic will be assigned by the emperor himself.

The promise of success was dim: Only one thousandth of scholar would succeed in passing the imperial exam, and to win the chance to enter this exam, he would have spent ten years getting himself ready. Still, more were coming to try their luck, for success in the imperial exam could mean wealth and honor of their family.

Past the tablets, and you are met with a huge gate at the entrance to the main courtyard. There are a Chinese drum and a bell under the gate. Confucius was a great supporter of harmony among people all his life. But what was the best tool to accomplish that? He suggested music, which allows one to achieve mental peace and makes him a true lover of harmony.

Once in the main courtyard, you will be immediately attracted by a large, old well. This well is like no other; it was named Yanshui by a Qing dynasty emperor. Legend has it that the water in this well can make one quick-witted in his exams. Walk around the well and you seem to be able feel the thousands of Jing-shi scholar wannabes who once crowed this place for the special water that was expected to help them succeed in the imperial exam.

The main structure in the courtyard is Da Cheng Dian – The Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment. This is where Confucius is worshipped. Tablets written by various Chinese emperors hang from the beams of the roof. One written by Emperor Kangxi says: The Eternal Mentor.

Following a thousand-year-old imperial tradition, Emperor Kangxi offer sacrifices to Confucius every year. The emperor would oversee a series of imperial rites, including a dance performed by 64 dancers. The dance was only staged in occasions such as paying homage to the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, few figures who were not royals ever enjoyed such an honor as Confucius did.

Also, you will find shrines of famous disciples of Confucius who had disseminated the knowledge of Confucius throughout China.

There are many prime hotels in Beijing near the Confucian temple, some within walking distance. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.

Looking for some fun near your hotel in Beijing? Getting ready to let your hair down? Looking for one of a kind party experience to jazz up your stay in Beijing?

Visit Beijing’s Sanlitun Street, where the capital city’s top bars, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs are located.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympic many celebrities, including swimming star Michael Phelps, movie star Vince Vaughn, and soccer star Renaldhino, made appearance at the bars here.

The street, better known as ‘Sanlitun Bar Street,’ lies in the famous embassy area near Beijing’s east 3rd Ring Road. Every day as the sun begins to set, foreign tourists, expats, and locals with extra energy to burn overflow this place.

The street comprises two parts: Sanlitun North and Sanlitun South. Sanlitun North is where you will rock until the early hours of the morning. It’s quite nearthe 4 star Beijing Taiyue Suites Hotel.

North Street is lined with several dozen cookie-cutter bars, most of which have tables outside where you can sit and enjoy a cold drink. The treat can be agreeable even in Beijing’s hot summer, because the dense trees keep you out of the sun and offer you only cool shade.

Most of the bars on the street offer liquor and beer from around the world to cater to an increasing number of international customers. Some even carry microbrews from your hometown!

Despite this, many visitors to China fall in love with local draft beers such as Yangjing and Tsingtao, which are palatable and refreshing by anyone’s taste. Each of the two beers sells around 25 RMB or 3 dollars, a little expensive by Beijing standards, but still cheaper than back home.

Another good spot for cheap drinksis the bar at the Beijing Avic hotel.

At night, many of the bars feature live performances, and it’s usually after midnight before the party reaches its climax. Party goers wiggle to the hip beats the band play, bartenders work on exhibition flair, and waitresses weave in and out of the crowds to serve your beers. The spirit might be slightly different from that back home, but at this point in the night, who cares!

Of course, if you want to keep things quiet and have an intimate conversation with your loved one, there are bars tucked in the alleyways offering just that. Lovely surroundings create cozy and romantic ambience.

Most of the bars offer salad, hamburgers, spaghetti, and soup, so you can have a quick dinner here. Otherwise, just take a short walk to Sanlitun South for a more formal treat.

Sanlitun South is home to a few restaurants serving all kinds of south Asian and European cuisines. A considerable number of ambassadors and diplomats are among the regular customers.

Alright, now you are acquainted to the street, and you are ready to set out for a great winning & dining experience while in BeijingWarning: too much drink may make you can’t get back to your Beijing hotel, and miss your Great Wall tour the next morning!

Beijing’s Confucius Temple, which is quite beautiful, lies on the north side of the city, just a few minutes away from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Each day people come and visit, and pay homage to the man who was such a big influence throughout Chinese history. And you won’t find yourself a better place to get to know China.

As soon as you step in this ancient sanctuary, you are sure to be astonished by the lushness of its trees. A lot of them have been standing since the day the temple was built, bearing witness to Chinese people’s veneration to Confucius throughout the centuries.

On each side of the path leading up to the main courtyard, you will find 198 large stone tablets. They record the 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial examinations during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

These scholars were ancient China’s social elite who ran the world’s oldest civil service system. To became a Jingshi scholar and hold a government post, first one would have to pass various Confucian exams held in his home provinces. A success in these exams will allow them to enter the final and most important one – the exam supervised by the emperor himself.

The possibility of loose was high: Only one out of a thousand scholars could succeed in passing the imperial exam, and before entering this exam, he would have spent at least ten years to prepare himself. Still, many made it to the imperial exam, and if they succeeded, that could mean wealth and honor of their family.

Just past the tablets, a huge gate stands at the entrance to the main courtyard. A Chinese drum and a bell stand under the gate. Confucius supported harmony among people all his life. But how can we accomplish that? He said music, which nurtures one’s mind and makes them lovers of peace and harmony.

Enter the main courtyard, and your eyes will immediately drawn by a large, old well. This isn’t any well; it got its name Yanshui from a Qing dynasty emperor. According to a legend, anyone who drinks water from this well will succeed in his exams. Walk around the well and you seem to be able feel the thousands of Jing-shi scholar wannabes who once crowed this place for the special water that was expected to help them succeed in the imperial exam.

The dominant building in the courtyard is Da Cheng Dian – Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment. This is where Confucius is worshipped. Hanging from the beams of the roof are tablets written by various Chinese emperors. One that belongs to Emperor Kangxi reads: the Eternal Mentor.

Like his predecessors, Emperor Kangxi paid annual tribute to Confucius by offering him sacrifices. The emperor would oversee a series of imperial rites, including a dance performed by 64 dancers. The dance was only staged in occasions such as paying homage to the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, few figures who were not royals enjoyed such an honor as Confucius did.

Also, there are rows of shrines in honor of famous Confucius disciples who had helped to bring Confucius’s knowledge to people in China’s lowest class.

You can choose among a host of prime hotels in Beijing nearthe Confucian temple, some within walking distance. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.