Beijing's Monkey Year temple fairs guide

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Changdian Temple Fair

Dates: Feb.8-Feb.12

Venue: Taoranting Park, Xicheng District

Admission: 2 yuan

The Changdian Temple Fair in Xuanwu District is a favorite outing for Beijing residents during the lunar New Year (Spring Festival). Changdian is a small street, but each year at the Spring Festival it, along with the adjacent areas, becomes a large market.

The Changdian Temple Fair formed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and became prevalent in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, trade in antiques at the fair increased markedly. With the downfall of the Qing dynasty, former residents of the imperial palace, as well as princes, nobles and descendants of deposed officials whose wealth and position were declining, came to sell off their treasures. After 1949, the fair continued to operate each year during the Spring Festival.

Nowadays, the Changdian Temple Fair draws people from all parts of the city to buy and sell paintings and calligraphic works, antiques, articles for daily use, children's toys, food products and seasonal fruit and vegetables. In addition, entertainment is provided at the fair in the form of acrobatics, conjuring and operas.

This is one of the temple fair sites particularly enjoyed by foreigners.