The final attraction where we visited in this Beijing trip was Temple of Heaven (天坛公园). Nestled in the heart of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven stands as one of China's most iconic cultural and architectural treasures. More than just a beautiful park or historical site, this sprawling imperial complex offers a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual and political life of ancient China. Originally built in the early 15th century during the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed sacred rites to Heaven, praying for good harvests and the prosperity of the nation. Covering over 270 hectares (667 acres), it is even larger than the Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven is a masterpiece of ceremonial architecture. It reflects the deep-rooted Chinese philosophy of harmony between heaven and earth, expressed through meticulous design, symbolism, and layout.
We took the metro from Nanluoguxiang to Tiantandong station, where the east entrance to the park is located. We first walked along a path through the park.
Then we came to The Long Corridor (丹陛桥), also known as the Sacred Way. This raised path runs along the north-south axis and connects the major ceremonial structures. In ancient time, the emperor would walk this path during rituals, representing a sacred journey between Earth and Heaven. The north end is higher than the south, symbolizing the ascent toward Heaven.
Soon, we arrived at Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿), the most iconic structure in the Temple of Heaven and arguably one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Beijing.
It is a striking triple-gabled circular building, 38 meters high and 36 meters in diameter, built entirely of wood, without a single nail. The round shape symbolizes heaven, and the building rests on a three-tiered marble terrace, each layer representing ascending levels of heaven.
This was where emperors came during the winter solstice to pray to Heaven for a bountiful harvest in the coming year. The entire structure is precisely aligned with the cardinal directions and incorporates numerology with 4 inner pillars, 12 middle pillars, and 12 outer pillars, representing the four seasons, 12 months, and 12 traditional Chinese hours.
Next to Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is Hall of Imperial Zenith (皇乾殿), where the tablet of the God of Heaven and the tablets of the emperor's ancestors to be displayed and worshipped during the ceremony held at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests were kept here. On the day before the ceremony, the emperor came here in person to burn incense sticks and perform the divine greetings for the transference, and then the officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices transferred the tablets to their appropriate places in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. With a wudian roof (five-ridged hip roof) covered with blue glazed tiles, the hall was first built in the 18th year of Emperor Yongle's reign (1420).
From the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, we walked on a long path and came to the Echo Wall (回音壁). Surrounding the Imperial Vault of Heaven, this circular wall is one of the most fascinating acoustic marvels in ancient architecture. Thanks to the perfect circular shape and smooth brickwork, a whisper spoken at one end of the wall can clearly be heard at the other end which is about 65 meters away.
Comparing to Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇) is a smaller but equally elegant circular structure, built on a single-tier marble terrace. This housed the spirit tablets of Heaven and the past emperors during the ceremonies.
Walking further south, we arrived at Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛). This is the southernmost structure in the complex and perhaps the most spiritually profound. This was the actual site where the emperor performed sacrifices during the winter solstice. It was considered the closest point between Earth and Heaven. It is a completely open-air, three-tiered marble altar. The number 9, which symbolizes imperial power and celestial perfection, is used extensively here, such as in the nine rings of stone slabs and sets of balustrades.
At the top tier of the altar, we saw a line of people taking turns to stand on the middle stone and pray in all 4 directions. That spot is considered the Center of Heaven, where one's voice will be amplified, symbolizing direct communication with Heaven.
Beyond the grand structures, the Temple of Heaven is also a serene park filled with ancient cypress and pine trees, with some over 500 years old.
In 1998, Temple of Heaven was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique architectural beauty and cultural importance.
The Temple of Heaven is more than just a tourist site. It's a living piece of ancient Chinese cosmology, a place where emperors once bowed to Heaven, and today, where modern life still quietly breathes under ancient trees.
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