With around a third of the Chinese population identifying as belonging to a religion, it’s clear that there is no shortage of spirituality throughout the country – especially when it comes to the city of Beijing. For New Zealanders travelling for a soul-searching experience or who are looking for something inspiring to do or see during their stay, Beijing has it all. With a rich spiritual history that’s worth exploring, it’s the perfect place to go for anyone seeking spiritual growth.
An array of spiritual experiences
While China doesn’t have an official religion, the Chinese government does recognise a total of five, including Catholicism, Buddhism, Taoism, Protestantism, and Islam, though there are also other religions present throughout the country as well, such as Chinese folk religion. With the wide variety of faiths being practised throughout the country, there is truly a diverse and spiritual culture present, and especially in Beijing. In fact, the city is home to many well-known spiritual places, as well as offering a number of spiritual experiences to take part in during your stay.
As a tourist from New Zealand, you have many options when it comes to spiritual experiences in Beijing, even if you don’t identify with a particular religion. For example, participating in Zen meditation is a great way to have a spiritual experience, and can be done at several places like the Beijing Live Zen Centre, or even in some temples. However, if you’re looking for a more Western style experience when it comes to exploring your spirituality in Beijing, then there’s no shortage of psychics in the area that may be able to help you find some answers. While some psychics can predict your future using information like your place or time of birth, others can tell you about your future regarding an array of topics in a more spiritual way through your energy. However, don’t limit yourself to only participating in spiritual discovery, as there are many places you’ll want to visit as well.
The White Cloud Temple
The White Cloud Temple is perhaps one of the most popular taoist sites in the city of Beijing, and rightfully so. Founded in the 8th century during the Tang dynasty, the temple was one of the most influential in it’s time. Today, the temple serves as an active place of worship for many, as well as the headquarters for the Chinese Taoism Association, as well as thirty residential monks. With the architecture alone being enough reason to visit, you can experience the history of the temple first hand in a unique way.
The Temple of Heaven
With such a diverse culture of spirituality, there are several places to visit during your stay. One notable example is the Temple of Heaven, located in Dongcheng, Beijing. As a complex of religious buildings, the Temple of Heaven is not only a spiritual place of worship, but an important part of the country’s history. In fact, it was the very place that emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties prayed for a good harvest. Furthermore, the Temple of Heaven park is a great place to visit for anyone looking to relax, meditate, do some taichi, or even listen to music while getting in touch with their spiritual side – proving it to be an inspiring place for any tourist to visit.
China is a country of many faiths, beliefs and religions. With that brings a major understanding of spirituality and a spiritual culture across the nation and in cities like Beijing. This brings ample opportunity for a New Zealand tourist to learn about the spiritual side of Beijing, explore their own spirituality, and ultimately bring that spiritual growth back home with them.
