From Pingguoyuan, near the Taijian Museum, my brother and I walk up a mountain, on paths littered with garbage, towards the building of a temple half way up. Oddly Bees buzz in the crisp air, coming from a stack of hives sitting in the forest.  

It is early November and just getting cold, the leaves are bright red and we are enjoying the fresh air on the mountain edge of the city. At the top is a temple, Fahaisi (法海寺), which was founded in 1443. By the time we reach the temple is about to close and dusk is falling. We look at the famous murals inside and stand at the top of the hill, looking out over Pingguoyuan. We can see the large smokestacks of Shougang, sending out smoke. But here the air is clean and the mountain is peaceful. 

We descended the mountain in the deeper dusk and head back to Beijing. . .