[Beijing] Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty is a known Casanova who had many concubines, but he was also a caring father (to most of his children). Today along Zhang Zizhong Road (张自忠路), you will see a simple looking door with ancient Chinese features, it used to be the residence of Princess Hejing (固伦和敬公主) after she was married. Princess Hejing was the daughter of Emperor Qianlong and Empress Xiaoxian (孝贤皇后) and was given the highest rank among princesses. According to the imperial system, there were 2 grades of titles for the emperor’s daughter, if her mother is the empress, she would be given the first grade, and if she is born to a concubine, usually she will be given the second. Of course those that were born to princes, dukes and marquises would have lower ranks. Princess Hejing was married to Monglian prince Septeng Baljur, it was clearly a marriage of convenience, to secure the support from the Mongolian royals. As part of the arrangement, the Princess would follow her husband back to Mongolia but the Emperor missed her so much that he bent the rules and allow the couple to live in Beijing, thus the residence along Zhang Zizhong Road. Today, the Princess’ residence has been converted into a 3-star hotel, history buffs might want to consider put up here as it is also nearby several other princes’ mansions, which also indirectly indicated how much Emperor Qianlong has doted on her. 📍Beijing, China. 中国北京。🇨🇳 . . . #china #beijing #forbiddencity #travelthroughthelenses #nonmainstream #ancientchina #travelgram #igchina #history #chinahistory #chinagram #lovebeijing #lifeinbeijing #beijinger #chinese #chinesearchitecture #citygrammers #oldplaces #chinaexplorer #discoverchina #createexplore #historicalplace #instatravel #sihantravels #igdaily #instabeijing #notatourist #中国 #北京 #帝都

[Beijing] Built in 1443 during Ming Dynasty, the Fahai Temple (法海寺) is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Cuiwei Moutain, Beijing’s outskirt. Historians believed that although the Temple was built by Li Tong, a powerful Ming eunuch, ostensibly to show his indebtedness to Emperor Yingzong (明英宗), Li had his own agenda, as his tomb sits just a few hundred meters away down the slope. For those who had read enough about the evils of the Ming eunuchs, you would know collectively, history -official and unofficial – has long painted them as a highly corrupted and greedy group, capable of not much except endless manipulation and incrimination of loyal officials. Many historians also blamed them for the fall of the Ming dynasty. Today, the Temple is more famous for its beautiful wall murals from the Ming dynasty, which include marvellous paintings of Bodhisattvas and heavenly deities. Visitors who wants to look at these paintings would be required to put on shoe gloves and will be given a torchlight as the hall with these murals are in complete darkness. It will be a very special experience and definitely worth the long car ride and some hiking in the mountain! 🔦 📍Beijing, China. 中国北京。🇨🇳 . . . #china #beijing #forbiddencity #travelthroughthelenses #nonmainstream #ancientchina #travelgram #igchina #history #love #chinagram #seetheworld #bitesize #beijinger #chinese #chinesearchitecture #citygrammers #oldplaces #chinaexplorer #discoverchina #createexplore #winter #instatravel #sihantravels #igdaily #instabeijing #notatourist #中国 #北京 #故宫

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 🥮 How do you celebrate? This is the second most significant Chinese holiday celebrated after Chinese New Year! There are many legends surrounding the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival aka Moon Festival but my favorite one is about an archer and his wife who became the moon goddess… Once upon a time there were 10 suns in the sky which devastated the land with drought and fires. A skilled archer was summoned by the emperor to shoot down 9 of the 10 suns, leaving the one we have today. As a reward he got an elixir for immortality that he wanted to share with his wife and they kept it in the house. One day while he went hunting, a thief tried to steal the elixir and the wife ends up drinking the entire bottle herself, and ascended to the moon with immortality. The husband came back to find his wife gone and only visible on the moon at night with a companion that is a Jade Rabbit 🐇. There are so many versions of this legend and so many legends out there as well 😂 On this observed day according to the lunar calendar, the moon is especially beautiful and bright. Families enjoy moon cakes together as they admire the moon. Hanfu costume and wig: @aliexpress Picnic blankets and table: @amazon Fake flowers @dollartree Moon cakes and snacks: @99ranchmarket Basket and tea set thrifted from @goodwillofsv 📸: boyfriend tripod + edit by me @lifebyvivien Check out the bts in my stories! swipe to see which snacks I photoshopped in from when I took the test shot two weeks ago and then the food was eaten before I did this actual shoot yesterday😅 #mooncakes #mooncakefestival #midautumnfestival #chineseholiday #mooncakefestival #hanfu #hanfudress #hanfucostume #traditionalchinesedress #hanfugirl #midautumnfestival2021 #chinesemooncake #chinesemoonfestival #midautumnmoonfestival #changemoongoddess #moongoddesschange #moongoddess #中秋節 #中秋節快樂 #月餅 #中秋節月餅 #嫦娥