Temple of Heaven Overview

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As visitors travel to Beijing, there are many beautiful temples that at one time served as the focus for religious life. Temple of Heaven, as famous as Lama Temple, is the largest group of structures in the country dedicated to rituals that pay homage to heaven. In imperial times, twice a year a magnificent ceremony was conducted when over 1,000 eunuchs, ministers and courtiers would leave the Forbidden City for the Temple of Heaven. The emperor would fast and remain celibate and sleep overnight in the Palace of Abstinence before carrying out traditional ceremonies and sacrificial rites in the morning. There are two amazing acoustical spots here. On the top of the tri-leveled round altar (originally built in the 1500's) there is a spot where your words reverberate around you. You can easily imagine the power that temporal rulers felt as their prayers for abundance echoed as if they issued down from the heavens. The other is at the Echo Wall that partially encloses a circular courtyard that is 65 meters (213 feet) in diameter. Words whispered at one end travel along the wall and can be heard clearly by someone listening at the other end. The entire temple complex is a treasure of ancient Chinese architectural design and art. Symbolic shape combinations and various mystical numbers are the basis for much of the design work. The temple structures themselves are stunning works of art. All of this and more is set in the midst of a beautiful park, the place itself is not to be missed by any Beijing Vacationsvisitor.