Soggy Moose Travels : A TEMPLE AND MORE ICE

Harbin 1/20

Jile Temple

The Jile Temple was built in 1923. It consists of the Mountain Gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Hall of Mahavira, the Hall of Three Saints, Scriptures-storing Tower, Side Hall, Chanting Hall, Shifang Hall, Anyang Hall and the monks' cells. A seven-story pagoda dominates the temple, measuring over 30 meters (98 feet) tall.

The Jile Temple strictly follows the traditional Chinese Temple style. It is a magnificent and resplendent architectural complex. Every house was built of blue bricks and glazed colored tiles. Facing south, it can be divided into three courtyards on the left, middle and right. The Mountain Gate was built to resemble the Chinese character "山" (mountain in English), thus the name "Mountain Gate". The front hall is the Heavenly King Hall, followed by the Hall of Mahavira, the Hall of Three Saints and Scriptures-storing Tower according to priority.

Back at the hotel we decided to get lunch here at the hotel. We had received several coupons when we checked in and decided to use them. The Buffet here was amazing and very diverse in the offerings which were mostly Asian. There was Hot Pot, Sushi, Peking Duck, Steak, etc etc and a great desert bar. There was also access to the beer tap, and Harbin beer was in order. I found it light yet full flavored. I almost forgot, I was able to have some Red Harbin Sausage, I thought it was a very tasty meaty sausage.

About 3:00pm (1500) we asked the bell desk to get us a cab. They tried to no avail and finally gave us direction as to which local bus to take, but we had to walk to the bus stop. Before knew it we had made our way to Central Street and one block over was Zhaolin Park. I would guesstimate the distance at almost a couple miles. Our reward for the walk were candied covered strawberries on a stick.

Zhaolin Park is also 'must see' during the Harbin Ice Festival because it has a traditional program that shows the most excellent ice lanterns. With water, lights and the natural ice from the Songhua River running through this city as the material, the ice lanterns are made by freezing water, piling up ice or snow, then carving, enchasing, decorating, etc. The Ice Lantern Garden Party has been held here annually since 1963. There are numerous pieces of ice artworks in the park arranged in groups according to different themes depicting Chinese classic masterworks, European folktales and customs and so on. A great variety of objects such as buildings, gardens, flowers, waterfalls, European-styled churches, lions, tigers, dragons are carved from ice. In the daytime, the ice sculptures are magnificent and verisimilitude. Moreover, with the interspersion of the sparkling colored lights embedded in the sculptures at night, the park becomes an amazing ice world.

Zhaolin Park is the first park in the city, built in memory of the General Li Zhaolin. Set up in 1900, it was originally named "Daoli Park" and changed to present name "Zhaolin Park" in 1946.