Temple of Heaven Park

The Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing is an outstanding example of ancient Chinese royal sacrificial architecture and an important part of the World Cultural Heritage site. This magnificent building complex, which was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1420), has been expanded and renovated during the Ming and Qing dynasties and has a history of more than 600 years. The Temple of Heaven Park covers an area of about 273 hectares, which is more than three times the area of the Forbidden City. The entire building complex is arranged in a "return" shape, surrounded by inner and outer altar walls, which embodies the ancient Chinese concept of the universe as "round sky and square earth." The most representative building is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. This triple-eaved round hall is 38m high and 32m in diameter. It is entirely supported by 28 nanmu pillars and does not use a single nail, demonstrating the superb architectural skills of ancient craftsmen. The Circular Mound Altar is another important building in the Temple of Heaven. This three-story white marble round altar is where the emperor offered sacrifices to the heavens during the winter solstice. The fan-shaped stone slabs on the altar surface are arranged in multiples of nine, and the center of the highest level is the "Heavenly Heart Stone." Standing on it will produce a wonderful echo effect. Connecting these two main buildings is the Danbi Bridge, which is 360m long. This 4m-high walkway above the ground is called the "Sacred Road." In addition to these iconic buildings, the Temple of Heaven Park also has a large ancient cypress forest. There are 3,562 ancient trees in the park, more than 1,000 of which are over 300 years old. These ancient cypresses, with their vigorous and upright posture, complement the ancient buildings with red walls and blue tiles, creating a unique landscape. As a material carrier of ancient Chinese sacrificial culture, the Temple of Heaven not only has extremely high architectural and artistic value, but also carries rich cultural connotations. Every winter solstice, an ancient sacrificial performance is held here to allow tourists to directly experience the solemn atmosphere of ancient royal sacrifices. In 2006, the Temple of Heaven was included in the "World Heritage List" and became a common cultural treasure of all mankind. Today's Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing is not only an important historical and cultural heritage site, but also a place for citizens to relax and exercise. In the early morning, you can often see citizens practicing Tai Chi, walking birds, and flying kites here. The ancient buildings and modern life coexist harmoniously, showing the continuation and vitality of Chinese civilization.