Introduction of Beijing Temple Fair:

The "temple fair" (Miao Hui) began as groups of vendors who did business near temples when many pilgrims came to pay tribute to the gods during traditional festivals. The practice grew, gradually turning into a regular event. Now temple fairs are an important and joyful destination for Chinese people during festivals, most especially the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year.
The temple fairs in Beijing date back to around 1000 AD, when they were called "Spring Outings", steadily booming throughout the following three dynasties of the Yuan, Ming and Qing emperors. Nowadays, going to temple fairs has become a Spring Festival routine for residents in Beijing. This year, nine local temple fairs will add more joy to your holidays.

1,Changdian Temple fair:
Changdian has the longest history. The temple fair here first started during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Its location, Liulichang Street, is one of the main reasons for its success. Liulichang Street was once a flourishing cultural center during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). This was where scholars, painters and calligraphers gathered to purchase materials, exchange ideas, compose poetry, write books and paint. In the modern age, the street has been transformed into an antique market that resembles a Chinese village. So, Liulichang and Changdian became the most flourishing downtown streets during the Spring Festival until the sixties.

2,Ditan Temple fair
One of the city's busiest temple fairs since 1985. Ditan Park is the site of the altar where sacrifices were formerly offered to the earth god. This year's fair will climax with a performance reenactment of a Qing Dynasty sacrificial ceremony.

3,Baiyunguan Temple fair
This is the grandest temple fair of west downtown. Baiyunguan is a Taoist temple that is more than 1,000 years old and now hosts the only fair actually held within a temple.

4,Longtanhu Temple fair
Fair events here are very similar to those in Ditan. There will be various interactive competitions inviting visitors to join in arm-wrestling, rock climbing and chess playing. This year's temple fair in Longtanhu will also be highlighted by the "2008 Beijing Olympics" theme.

5,Dongyue Temple fair
Dongyue is one of the oldest temple fairs in Beijing, starting during the Yuan Dynasty and having its heyday during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Culture of "Good Fortune (福)" has been the essence of this temple fair for three centuries. Performances of lion dances and Dongyue temple music will be featured this year.

6,Daguanyuan Temple fair
This temple fair will be held at Grand View Park, a replica of the magnificent Daguanyuan garden of an imperial family described in the well-known Chinese novel A Dream of Red Mansions by Qing Dynasty writer Cao Xueqin (17l5-l763). Besides the traditional temple fair events, there will be shows of folk arts, extreme sports, Chinese kong-fu, Kaifeng Pan Drums as well as the "Two-people show" (Er Ren Zhuan) from Northeastern China.