Re: Nightlife contest this weekend

by Ed Mon May 10, 2010 10:46 pm

Eighteen of Beijing’s greatest folk bands affiliate for two canicule of
music in the sun at Ditan Park.

Nightlife contest this weekend Moz-screenshot-4

Nightlife contest this weekend Moz-screenshot-5

Ditan Park

Ditan Park,
just north (and slightly west) of the Lama Temple outside Beijing's
north second ring
road, is a 40 acre square of towering pine and cypress trees.
It was constructed in 1530 during the Ming dynasty as a place where
emperors of both the Ming and subsequent Qing dynasties could
perform sacrifices to the gods for good harvests, auspicious
weather and a stable nation.

Ditan is the Temple of
Earth and complements the Temple of Heaven in the south
of Beijing. The altar here is square, which represents
Earth, while at the Temple of Heaven the altar is round
to represent Heaven. The emperor would offer sacrifices
to Heaven at the winter solstice and to Earth at the summer
solstice.

The alter in Ditan Park
has the name FangZeTan which means 'Square Water Altar';
there is a moat around the altar, hence the reference to
water, but it is currently unfilled.

While popular with locals
for morning exercises, one will rarely see foreign
tourists in Ditan Park. However, there is a popular
Temple Fair held here during the Spring Festival.