Beijing Culture

Beijing has a long history with an abundance of historical and cultural heritage that represents treasures from the city's civilizations.
A) Temples and Religions
Beijing has many temples. Through them you can learn about the development of different religions in Beijing.
Tanzhe Temple, the largest of all the Buddhist temples in Beijing, has a long history dating back as early as the 3rd century AD (Jin Dynasty).
The largest Taoist temple in Beijing is the White Cloud Temple. Built during the Tang Dynasty, it was once the Taoist center of North China.
Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to Beijing before the Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD). Tibetan Buddhist temple (Lama temples) have been built in Beijing since that time. White Dagoba Temple is one of the earliest Lama temples in existence, and dates back at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty. The Yonghe Lamasery is the city's largest Lama temple, serving as the upper court of the Yellow Sect Lamaism. It was built in the Qing Dynasty.
B) Arts
1. Beijing Opera
Beijing Opera is the most popular of all the opera styles in China. It developed from classical singing and dance styles dating from the Ming Dynasty and gradually merged by the late 18th and early 19th centuries into the Beijing Opera we see today.
2. Acrobatics
Acrobatics are a combination of folk art forms the started from about 2,000 years ago.
C) Handicrafts
Beijing is famous for handicrafts. Well-known handicrafts produced in Beijing include cloisonn? Glassware, ivory sculptures, carpets, and snuff bottles with painting inside.