Beijing Scenery (Second Series) - Temple of Heaven

Author: Wu Zhanjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Temple of Heaven was a site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held grand ceremonies for worshipping heaven and praying for bountiful harvests. It was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1420) and underwent multiple renovations and expansions until it was finally completed during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1736-1795). The Temple of Heaven is the largest and best-preserved ancient complex for heaven worship in the world. During the Ming and Qing periods, emperors would visit the Temple of Heaven almost every year to perform the rites. If the emperor could not attend in person, he would send a minister to the ceremony on his behalf. The Temple of Heaven contains over 600 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Altar of Heaven, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Bridge of Echoes, the Long Corridor, the Hall of Abstinence, and the Music Bureau of the Imperial Temple. The Imperial Vault of Heaven is renowned as the "Echo Wall" for its acoustic effects and is considered a representative work of ancient Chinese acoustic architecture. The Temple of Heaven also features historical sites such as the Nine-Dragon Cypress, the Seven-Star Stone, the Sweet Spring Well, the Lantern Watching Tower, the Bonfire Altar, and the Burial Pit. In 1918, the Temple of Heaven was opened as a park. On March 11, 1961, it was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In 1986, the Temple of Heaven was included in the "New Beijing Sixteen Scenic Spots" for its "Clanging Sounds of the Altar of Heaven." On December 2, 1998, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed the Temple of Heaven on the 《World Heritage List》. In 2001, the Ministry of Construction designated the Temple of Heaven as a 4A-level tourist attraction.