Beihai Park, up those steps!

On my first visit to Beijing in 2011 we visited Beihai Park, had our lunch in a Restaurant by the lake, and then I wanted to explore the steps going up towards the White Dagoba. Unfortunately we were running out of time on that visit, but I was determined to see where those steps led to one day.

After our wonderful Mother's Day lunch we walked along to Beihai Park, my last opportunity to finally find out where those steps led to.....my daughter had told me that they led up to the Dagoba, but there was a better way to get up there. We arrived in the park quite late in the afternoon, paid our entrance fee and asked if we could have tickets to go up to the Dagoba, the answer was that it was too late in the day :(

Undeterred by that answer we went to the entrance to the Jade Flower Island inside the park leading up to the Dagoba, and my daughter managed to get tickets for us. Finally I would be able to get up the hill, and see where those steps led to :)

As it was late in the day we virtually had the place to ourselves, we both love sightseeing that way! It was so pretty and very, very peaceful as we climbed up to the Dagoba. Beautiful courtyards surrounded with buildings with Buddhas in, little shops, and surprises every where we looked.

Going up :)

The beautiful little pagodas in the side courtyards.

Looking back the way we had come,

but getting closer to the top :)

The roofs of many of these buildings had beautiful dragon decorations, all a bit worn but simply amazing to see.

Roof furniture close up :)

Amazing Buddhas :)

Getting closer....

closer still....

and finally there we were right underneath the Dagoba :) The Dagoba itself was not open, but I was very happy to get this close :)

The view from the top looking out over the lake and some of Beihai Park.

We had time enough to have a good look round, then a bell rang and we were asked to make our way down the hill to the exit. 

We were not rushed, but slowly made our way back down the steps.

Most people had already gone by this time, it was lovely :)

Looking out over The Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square in the distance.

Going down....

but still time to look back up to the top.

Back down to street level, I am so pleased that I finally got up to the top of the hill, it was an amazing place to visit, made nicer by the lack of lots of people!

That day with the special lunch, followed by the climb up to the  Dagoba has got to be one of the most special days I had in China, it was just amazing :)