A woman stretches out on the Temple of Heaven's Danbei Bridge. (CRI Online)

The Temple of Heaven Park

A man screams in the distance. A long, sorrowful bellow. Then there's silence. Minutes later a woman's shriek can be heard coming from another direction. Two women playing cucurbit flutes barely pause before continuing their sad and strange song.

Everyday, busloads of tourists follow tour guide's waving flags towards the Temple of Heaven's central focus. They chatter across the echo wall and briefly peruse the other structures before being whisked off to Beijing's other must-sees. They may snap the requisite photo of the temple's circular rooftop, but they do miss one of the best places to take in Beijing local culture.

The 267 hectare park is large enough to avoid crowding. A massive network of geometrically planned pathways, it offers walkers and runners countless routes, while tai chi practitioners stake out their spots amongst the trees.