Beijing CityWalk's 'Pear Blossom' Ceiling at 'Zhihua Temple'

Beijing has many lesser-known temples scattered and hidden deep within the hutongs. Although small, these temples contain a universe of their own, and Zhihua Temple is one of them. Zhihua Temple is located at No. 5 Lumicang Hutong in Dongcheng District, Beijing, and was founded in 1444 during the Ming Dynasty. Zhihua Temple is the most intact and largest Ming Dynasty temple existing in Beijing, renowned both at home and abroad for its exquisite ancient architecture, Buddhist art, and the ancient 'Beijing music'. The two pear trees at Zhihua Temple have a long history; their trunks resemble the weathered elders, while their canopies are like huge umbrellas, sheltering people underneath from wind and rain. The blooming pear blossoms adorn the treetops, forming an enormous invincible umbrella. The pear blossoms of Zhihua Temple, paired with the ancient architecture in the courtyard, seem to allow one to hear the sounds of history, to hear those forgotten voices in the river of time. It's a great spot for photography. The pear blossoms of Zhihua Temple, combined with the distant Galaxy SOHO, create another kind of scene. On one side is the ancient and lingering sound, and on the other is modern innovation, astonishing people with how harmoniously unified these scenes are.