Imperial Ancestral Temple Xiangdian

The Xiangdian Hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was the main place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held ancestor worship ceremonies. It was built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420). It is comparable to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City and is one of the main buildings of the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Beijing. The Hall of Enjoyment is located on a three-story white marble Xumizuo, with a height of 32.46 meters. It is eleven rooms wide and six rooms deep. It is 2 meters higher and 4 meters longer than the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. It was the place where the emperor held major sacrificial activities. The Xiangdian has a unique architectural style, with double eaves on the verandah roof, and the roof is covered with yellow glazed tiles. Under the eaves, there is a Kowloon plaque with the word "Ancestral Temple" written in both Manchu and Chinese characters. The temple enshrines the shrines of emperors of all dynasties. These shrines are arranged neatly and solemnly, representing the achievements and glory of the emperors. There are 68 golden nanmu columns in the Xiangdian, each with a diameter of 1.2 meters and a height of 13.32 meters. Among them, the thickest 6 on the front are decorated with lotus bases, demonstrating the royal dignity and luxury. The Imperial Ancestral Temple Xiangdian is not only a treasure of architectural art, but also a vivid history textbook. It embodies the superb skills and wisdom of ancient Chinese architecture. It adopts the traditional symmetrical layout of the central axis, with rigorous architectural structure and exquisite craftsmanship. From the form of the roof to the carving of beams and columns, from the decoration of doors and windows to the paving of the ground, every detail reflects the wisdom and artistic attainments of ancient craftsmen. The Xiang Hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple has not been open for many years. When you walk in for the first time, you will be shocked. For a hall of this size, we will have the same feeling in the Taihe Hall of the Forbidden City and the Changling Ming'en Hall of the Thirteen Tombs. In terms of opening hours, the opening hours of the Imperial Ancestral Temple Xiangdian are 06:30-19:30 in spring and summer, 07:00-17:30 in autumn and winter, and the Xiangdian 9:00-16:30. In terms of tickets, the park ticket is 2 yuan, and you need to purchase additional tickets for the exhibition in the front hall (Xiangdian). The combined ticket is 15 yuan in the peak season and 10 yuan in the off-season.