The Circular Mound Altar, Temple of Heaven

Located south of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar is where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed the winter solstice Heaven Worship Ceremony. It is separated from the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests by the Danbi Bridge. The altar opens at 8:00 am, and there are usually very few visitors at this time. The altar surface, paved with wormwood-green stones, shimmers with a cool light. White marble railings surround the altar, their delicate textures clearly visible in the morning light. Standing on the Heaven's Heart Stone, you can feel the tranquility of the early morning, with the towering China Zun in the CBD echoing the ancient site. The Circular Mound Altar was expanded in the 14th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1749), and its architectural structure holds deep secrets. The railings have 72 balusters on the top layer, 108 on the middle layer, and 180 on the bottom layer, all multiples of nine. Shout from the Heaven's Heart Stone at the center, and you'll hear a loud echo. Around the Heaven's Heart Stone, nine rings of smooth fan-shaped stone slabs are neatly laid out, with nine slabs in the first ring and multiples of nine in the subsequent rings. Near the Heaven's Heart Stone, you can often see tour guides enthusiastically explaining to visitors, vividly describing the scene of the ancient winter solstice Heaven Worship Ceremony, where emperors in magnificent robes performed devout rituals amidst solemn music in the cold wind, making you feel as if you've traveled through a thousand years. Recently, there have been fewer visitors to the Temple of Heaven, making it quiet and comfortable in the morning. You can arrange to visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar together, as tickets for both are included in the combined ticket.