Wisteria blooms at the Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven, originally named 'Temple of Heaven and Earth', is located at No. 7 Tiantan Neili, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, and was renamed 'Temple of Heaven' in the 9th year of the Jiajing reign. It served as the site for 'heaven worship' and 'prayer for good harvests' by emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Covering a total area of 273 hectares, it is the largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings in China. On January 1, 1918, it was opened to the public as the Temple of Heaven Park. Every April, the wisteria flowers in the park bloom profusely, symbolizing the auspicious 'purple qi coming from the east', and the fragrance of the flowers attracts many visitors to come and admire them.