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History of Divine Music Administration
There were 300 royal musicians and dancers when the Ming Empire (1368 - 1644) moved its capital to Beijing in 1420, so the Divine Music Administration was set to manage them. The officials and performers in the administration were all Taoists....
There were 300 royal musicians and dancers when the Ming Empire (1368 - 1644) moved its capital to Beijing in 1420, so the Divine Music Administration was set to manage them. The officials and performers in the administration were all Taoists. Their number soon increased to about 600 people. The administration reached its peak in the reign of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, when the number of the performers totaled an amazing 2,200.
At that time, this was also a resort for the civilians to entertain themselves. Every year, the officials who accompanied the emperor to worship the heavens, would rent houses near the Divine Music Administration, thus making the area livelier. The Taoists planted many popular flowers and herbs. Drugstores were set up and they held a prosperous temple fair.
To keep the security and dignity of the imperial ritual site, the temple fair was disbanded during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Only several popular drugstores remained. At that time, about 500 performers of the sacred music remained.

Resting Palace and Belfry
Resting Palace...
Resting Palace
The Resting Palace is at the back of the Beamless Hall. The main room has tables, porcelains, and other ornaments in it. There is a Study Room in the palace, where bookshelves, tables and “the four treasures of study” (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper) are set. The bedroom has a couch especially for the emperor. In the north and south parts of the palace, there are five rooms for preparing meals, tea and fruit. At the back, there is a palace for princes to fast.
Belfry
At the northeast corner, a double-layered bell tower facing the south, named the Bell of Supreme Harmony, was built to house a gigantic bell cast in Yongle’s reign during the Ming Dynasty. The bell has a large, thick body with a height of 2.8 meters (9 feet), a thickness of 0.1 meters (0.3 feet), and a diameter of 1.55 meters (5 feet). Its body is carved with beautiful pictures. The bell can be heard far and wide when struck. Before the ritual started, the bell was struck to announce the departure of the emperor from the Palace of Abstinence, his arrival at the altar, and the ending of the ceremony. Today, visitors can personally strike the bell to pray for good fortune and happiness.

Beamless Hall
Beamless Hall...
Beamless Hall
Located in the center of the Hall of Abstinence, the Beamless Hall is the main hall, where ceremonial rituals were held on the arrival and departure of the emperor. It was built in 1420. Its name is derived from the fact that the hall is supported only by the walls and a brick dome. There are no beams. A placard board on the lintel bears the inscription 'Admirable as Heaven’ in Emperor Qianlong’s handwriting. The hall originally had seven rooms. Four of the rooms have been converted into exhibition halls: the Architecture Exhibition, showing the history and evolution of the architecture; the Abstinence Ceremony Exhibition displaying the sacrificial relics as well as introducing features of the abstinence system and rituals during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911); the Official's Abstinence Exhibition, depicting the officials fasting; and the Emperor Abstinence Exhibition showing pictures of twenty-two emperors who came to the Temple of Heaven for the Worshipping Ceremony including thirteen Ming emperors and nine Qing emperors. After visiting this exhibition, you will have a general idea about how much emphasis each emperor put on the importance of worshipping heaven.
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Pingyao Highlights Walking Tour
Pingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour
With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!
Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.
...Read morePingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour
With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!
Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.
First we will visit the 700 years old City wall, We will climb up from south gate and have a walk on the wall. We are not sure how many km we can walk, because of the renovating of the wall. Normally we will walk from south gate to the Yunlu Exit.
Then visit the Confucius temple, there is a old building named Dacheng Hall which is over 840 years old. From outside, we can see the big wood joints to lift the big roof around the building which is named Dougong. Due to this design, there are less columns inside the hall for giving the big space for the statues and the prayer. We have chance to see the Confucius statue and learn the philosophy of Confucius. If you like, you can pray for you and your children to get better study.
There is the Paper Cutting master named Wentao nearby the exit of Confucius temple. She is very smart and create the new style paper cutting with much more details and good wishes on it. Her products are made by hanks. It is worth to visit and buy as a souvenir from Pingyao. From the table standing and wall hangings. Please remember, take the red one because of red is the traditional and happy color. But the white one is the best. It is really difficult to choose, because of all of them are really nice.
Then you can have coffee break or tea break if you need at Chummy coffee, after this, visit the City god temple (ChenghuangMiao) which is most beautiful temple inside the wall. Because of the roof is covered by the colorful glazed tiles. There is not only city god and also the three money gods, Now you know why pingyao was the financial center.
Next we will visit the Ancient government building, to see the pingyao politics center in the ancient time. It is the complete building with officials bed room, kitchen and private garden. Follow the guide to look the official’s life from the 250km far away from the hometown.
Have a stroll in the alley to the Rishengchang exchange bank, which is the first bank all of china.You can not miss it.
After lunch, walk to the Ming and Qing street, this is the shopping street full of the stores on the both side of street. You can find alot things here , from post card to lacquered boxes, and wall panels. One more place to see, it is the Armed escort agency also named security and transport service for the business man before the bank founded.
Inlcusions
1.private english speaking tour guide servcie
2.bottle water for the tour

3- Day Popular Tour In Zhangjiajie
Day 1 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Full day trip to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park,take Bailong Elevator up Yuanjiajie,Bailong Elevator is the said to be the worlds tallest full-exposure outdoor lift,double-deck sightseeing elevator.Yuanjiajie is the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in AVATAR , Where you will also find the aptly named First Bridge under Heaven, Lover Peaks and so on.
...Read more
Day 1 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Full day trip to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park,take Bailong Elevator up Yuanjiajie,Bailong Elevator is the said to be the worlds tallest full-exposure outdoor lift,double-deck sightseeing elevator.Yuanjiajie is the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in AVATAR , Where you will also find the aptly named First Bridge under Heaven, Lover Peaks and so on.
Continuing to Tianzi Mountain, it takes you 40 minuts from Yuanjiajie to Tianzi Mountain by public bus, after arriving in Tianzi Mountain, you will have a bird’s-eye view of all the mountains and valleys of the Wuling Mountains. Visit Western Sea, Helong Park, Viewing Terrace etc.Take Tianzi cablecar down and check in hotel for a rest.
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Downtown
Day 2 Baofeng Lake & Glass Bridge
After breaking in the hotel, we head to Baofeng Lake where is the masterpiece of nature and human beings’wisdom. Baofeng Lake is pure just like a big crystal among Bao feng mountain Range.When you cruise, you can hear authentic song from Tujia minority people,you can fully understand the harmony and peace between human beings and nature.
Transfer to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, have a walking on the Glass Bridge, Glass Bridge is the highlight of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, located in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is the highest and longest transparent glass bridge with a length 430 meters and a width 6 meters. It is 300 meters above the ground level and it can bear 800 persons standing on it at the same time. (need to book the tickets in advance)
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Downtown
Day 3 Tianmen Mountain
Full day to explore Tianmen Mountain,take the longest cablecar in the world up Tianmen Mountain,have a walk on the mountain plank road built along the face of cliffs. You will feel like walking in a fairy land when the mist is still heavy.The must-visit scenic spots are: Tianmen Cave, Glass Road, Tianme Temple.
See you off in the airport and looking forward to seeing you again in Zhangjiajie.

CHENGDU, A PANDA CITY, A GOURMET CITY, A TEA CITY, LOOKING FOWARD TO YOUR ARRIVAL
Chengdu, with an area of 12,400 square kilometers and a polulation of about 14,170,000 is not just the biggest provincial capital in west China, but also the only city in the history of China whose name has reminded the same for 3,000 years since its establishment. In Chinese, "Cheng" means "success or successful" and "Du" means "big city or capital". This "Successful City" boasts a long history. It is believed that everything about Chengdu has their origin from "Sanxingdui Ruins", from where you can deeply discover the history story of Chengdu.
...Read moreChengdu, with an area of 12,400 square kilometers and a polulation of about 14,170,000 is not just the biggest provincial capital in west China, but also the only city in the history of China whose name has reminded the same for 3,000 years since its establishment. In Chinese, "Cheng" means "success or successful" and "Du" means "big city or capital". This "Successful City" boasts a long history. It is believed that everything about Chengdu has their origin from "Sanxingdui Ruins", from where you can deeply discover the history story of Chengdu.
Giant pandas definitely are the best calling card and trademark of Chengdu. Every year, million of people are attracted by giant pandas to spend their holidays here, go sightseeing here, make investment here and even settle here permanently. The reason is that for people around the world, the charm of giant pandas cannot be replaced by anything else.
Various kinds of wonderful food shall be another reason attracting you to visit Chengdu. Of the four most famous schools of culinery art in China (Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Guangdong cuisine), Sichuan cuisine boasts tongue-numbing, hot, delicate and fresh taste and a variety of flavors, as "each dish has its unique taste and no two dishes have the same flavor." Such spcial flavors as fish-flavored, gongbao (with peanuts), and water-boiled are incomparable at home and abroad.
"The teahouses in Sichuan top the world, and those in Chengdu Top Sichuan." This widespread saying not only points out the status of Chengdu's teahouses but also the inseverable ties between Chengdu culture and tea. Like bars in Paris and cafes in Vienna, teahouse add a touch of refinement and leisureliness to Chengdu, an ancient yet modern metropolis. The practice of driking tea prevailed in Sichuan as earlt as prior to the Qin and Han Dynasties.
Wish you can have a nice trip in Chengdu. You will love it.