Home to a historical evolution second to none, the People’s Republic of China has borne witness to the rise and fall of some of the greatest kingdoms, empires and dynasties of world history. The Qing, Yuan and Ming dynasties are only some of them and during these periods, Emperors and Kings alike have left their mark on history in the form of monuments, structures and other markers.
The city of Beijing is home to multiple such monuments and structures and is a haven of historical artefacts for the discerning traveller. The most famous of such monuments include the Great Wall of China; built over 2000 years ago and at present is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as one of the seven World Wonders. Others include the Temple of Heaven, a Taoist Temple created by Emperor Yongle and the Forbidden City, a Chinese imperial palace built by the same Emperor.
The Lidai Diwang Miao temple in Beijing is another structure reminiscent of the great empires that existed in historical China yet one that is not so well known. This temple is also known as the Temple of Past Emperors and its name betrays its true purpose. Said to have been built in the 16th century in the place of a former Buddhist temple, it served as a place where reigning emperors could visit and pay homage to previous emperors.
Throughout history, emperors and most often, their representatives were dedicated in ritualistically making sacrifices for previous rules. Structurally, the temple is made in the imperial style and originally composed of three marble bridges outside its entrance which were later demolished in the 20th century. Though other elements of its structure retain its original identity, such as parts of the ceilings, many other elements were destroyed during war, revolution and restoration. However, the structure that remains is still magnificent in nature and echoes of both historical and architectural importance.
When selecting a Beijing hotel to stay at during the course of your visit to the city, Raffles Beijing hotel would be an ideal choice for not only is one of the best Beijing luxury hotels but is also conveniently located in a central area which makes most of these historically important monuments easily accessible.
