Baoguo Si: the front gate

Baoguo Si, or Compensate the Country Temple, has undergone many ups and downs during past history.

Initially built in the Liao Dynasty, Baoguo Si was a Buddhist temple. During the Ming Dynasty, it was used to house a member of the royal family. By the early Qing dynasty, the temple had already become a popular bazaar for books and flowers.

Today, it has expanded to include an antique market, a souvenirs and gifts market, and a stamp collection market. Traders there sell miscellaneous items: jade, coins, Buddha statues, calligraphy works and paintings, to name but a few.

Though fake antiques are a sight at the bazaar, it is not hard to find the ‘genuine ones': look for princely high price tags. The vendors are enthusiastic and sometimes pushy, so hold your pocket tightly closed and feel free to only admire!

There are also some carts just outside the temple, serving a variety of traditional Beijing snacks quite popular among the locals. Don't miss the chance to sample some, as soem are becoming rare in Beijing.