Temple of Heaven (天坛)

Although our last week in Beijing has arrived, it seems we still have a list of things we want to do before we leave. We can now cross off visiting the Temple of Heaven. The Temple (or Altar) of Heaven is a complex of Daoist buildings used by the Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors to pray for good harvests. Over 600 years ago, the guy responsible for building the Forbidden City also commissioned this temple. In addition to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it's a famous hangout for groups of older Beijing residents to practice everything from fan-in-hand dancing to what appears to be hip-hop dancing. Quite entertaining.

Next we proceeded to the expat-friendly bakery Sequoia. Located in the Embassy district, this delicious eatery makes the finest cinnamon rolls and sandwiches in Beijing. Well worth the trip and the 100 RMB price tag.