Chinese-style carnival! Guides for Snake Year temple fairs in Beijing(5)

Yuanmingyuan Temple Fair

Dates: Feb 10-16, 2013

Venue: Yuanmingyuan (Garden of Perfect Splendor), 28 Qinghua West Rd, Haidian district

Price: 10 yuan

Subway: Take Subway Line 4 to Yuanmingyuan

Buses: Take 365, 432, 498, 656, 664, 717, 743, 814, 982, 963, Te 4, Yuntong 105 or Yuntong 205 to the East Gate of the park, or 319, 320, 331, 432, 438, 498, 628, 690, 697, 696, 801, 826 or Te 6 to the South Gate of the park.

Features: This temple fair is well-known for its strong "imperial" flavor. Activities include skating and football on ice, as well as wrestling, a lantern exhibition, folk fair and operas. The ice shows, which date back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), will be re-staged here, with professionals invited to perform acrobatics and figure skating on the ice to help visitors experience the grand scenes and customs of the royal family during the Spring Festival.