Beijing - Tanzhe Si Temple

While the Temple of the Consecrated Altar is known for its pine trees, the Tanzhe Si Temple, situated 8km/5mi further to the west on the Tanzheshan, is known for the temple pond. The foundations of the sacred building were laid in the 3rd C, although the temple we see today did not come into being until the 14th C. The temple's name derives from the words ''tan'', which is taken from the word ''Longtan'' (dragon pond), and ''zhe'' which comes from ''Zheshu'', the trees which grow on the mountain and were once used for silkworm breeding.

The complex, which lies on a north-south axis, has its entrance in the south. Passing through the Gate of Honor (Pailou), taking the path lined with pines we reach the Mountain Gate (Shanmen). After the Hall of the Kings of Heaven (Tianwang Dian) and the sumptuous Hall of the Great Hero (Daxiong Baodian) the Vairocana Pavilion (Pilu Ge) stands at the far end of the complex's central axis; from here there is a good view of the whole area.