Day 102: Beijing - Temple of Heaven

"What? Crazy price"
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Our final day in Beijing sees us off to the one remaining ‘must see’, the Temple of Heaven. In short it’s a large park just south of Tian’an Men Square containing a series of temples, largely focused on worship for a good harvest. The main tower like temple, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (told you), is very impressive, as are they all really but we may be getting a little temple fatigue now.

After a couple hours wandering around here the cold’s getting to us so we agree to pay the ridiculous (by Chinese standards) price of £4 each for sandwiches in a coffee shop a few blocks away and next to the Pearl Markets. I say ridiculous as they were selling Subway sandwiches with a 60% mark up, telling us to wait 15 mins and then sending someone out to get them. Didn’t even unwrap them and stick them on a plate for their commission! Oh well, at least it was warm.

Lower!
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Back into the markets, this time one next to the Pearl Market, for some more haggling – this time with the specific aim of getting me some ‘brand name’ trainers.

After much haggling, where it seemed they adopted a tag team approach with up to 5 of them versus me at some points, we settled on 140 RMB (about £12-13) for a pair of Timberlands and a pair of Nikes; but not before they feigned hardship over my offers and suggested for that money I could only buy the baby booties thrust in my hand.

Gardens at Temple of Heaven
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Picked up a few other trinkets and then off to the airport, next stop Xi’an (pronounced chee-an if you’re wondering).