Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) |
I was reminded of the story of "the partying monks who were a donkey and a cow in their previous lives" when I entered the barriers of the temple park. The park is populated by locals who were practicing their calligraphy, playing cards, Chinese chess, knitting, etc. It's almost like a market.
The most important structures are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿), the Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇) & the Echo Wall (回音璧), and the Altar to Heaven (圜丘). The bundled ticket is recommended and students get a discount when the student ID is presented. The parameters of the temple is huge so make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes when visiting this place.
Even with the Beijing smog, I still recommend heavy sunblock, a hat, and an umbrella when you visit the Temple of Heaven. |
The temple is heavily decorated. |
Next to the 祈年殿 is the 皇乾殿 |
皇乾殿 is where they worship the reigning Emperor and the ancestral tablets of the previous Emperors. |
This door is especially built to allow the elderly aristocrats to worship as everyone has to walk inside the temple ground |
the nine statues on the roof signifies this is a temple of the Emperor grade |
The "firewood stove". For cow offerings. It is ironic that people need to offer a "life" to the gods. At least they are not offering a human... |
This place is freaking huge... I later found out it's 6 times bigger than the Forbidden City. seriously!?!? |
a list of things that are not "allowed" in the park we all know what happens when there is a sign that tells you what you can't do... |
was tempted to buy this (only RMB20) but I don't have the time to put it together and I don't have a place to put it... |
Everyone was fighting to stand on that stone in the middle It's no regular stone, it's the Heavenly Centre Stone... |
The temple is very nice and I highly recommend it to anyone who is visiting Beijing! Just be sure to bring umbrella / hat, sunglasses, sunblock, and wear comfy shoes.
Official website: http://www.tiantanpark.com/cn/
A good English website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/heaven/
Official website: http://www.tiantanpark.com/cn/
A good English website: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/heaven/
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