Ximending - Blog Posts

**A silent encounter in Ximen's living heart**

The day was long and tiredness had me firmly in its grip. In my hotel room, I didn't feel like going out again - but something inexplicable finally drew me into the evening streets of Ximen. The area pulsated with life: colourful lights, laughing people, the muffled sound of the city. But in the midst of this hustle and bustle, I came across an oasis of calm - a temple hidden modestly between the modern facades.

The red lanterns cast a warm light on the carved wooden gates and the scent of incense hung in the air. I paused for a moment in front of the altar with the *Mother of Heaven* (天上聖母), mesmerised by the peaceful atmosphere. Here, between the whispering prayers and the golden statues, the hustle and bustle of the city seemed like a distant memory.

I lifted the camera and captured a few details: the ornate lettering, the *"Southern Show of the Guanyin Bodhisattva "* (南燕视世音菩薩), the simple elegance of the *Huade Dehua Temple* (华治德化堂). Each picture told of a world that took its time - a contrast to the restless hustle and bustle outside.

As I left the temple, I felt light, as if this chance encounter had reminded me of something important: that there are always places of calm in the midst of chaos, if you are only prepared to see them. The evening ended with a smile - and the certainty that it had been exactly the right moment to leave the room after all.