The most magnificent buildings include the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qiniandia), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiu). The Altar of Prayer for Good Harvest is where the emperors offered sacrifices to Heaven. The Imperial Vault of Heaven was originally built in 1530 and rebuilt in 1752 and used as a repository for tablets of the imperial ancestors. It is enclosed by a circular wall of polished bricks known as Echo Wall (Huiyinbi) for its amazing ability to transmit even whispered voices the length of its radius. The Circular Mount Altar was built in 1530 and rebuilt in 1794 and is the spot from which the emperor prayed to heaven on the winter solstice. In the middle upper terrace lies a round stone surrounded by nine concentric rings of stones. It is called the Center of Heaven Stone (Tianxinshi). Speaking from this stone causes an almost surround sound echo.
The Temple of Heaven is also famous for its more than 60,000 ancient cypress trees. A park was built circling the Temple where Beijing residents do morning and evening exercises, play various ball games and take leisurely walks.
Name:Beijing Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Gongyuan)
City:Beijing
Address:Yongdingmen Street,Chongwen District
Admission:CNY15
Hours: 06:00 am -08:00 pm
Tel: 0086-10-6702 8866
Admission: CNY10 (Mar-Nov)
CNY15 (Apr-Oct)