The Temple of Heaven is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be found in Beijing. This complex has been praised as a masterpiece for its architecture and landscape design.
Upon entering the gates, we found ourselves at the edge of the 267 hectare park.
Our stroll was leisurely with the lush and beautiful trees providing us shade from the dizzying heat.
The actual highlight of the medieval complex were the structures built for special prayers. These places were annually visited by Emperors for many years.
What makes the Temple of Heaven so special was that they were built following unique specifications and symbolisms from the Daoist and “Tiānyuán Dìfāng” philosophy. The use of squares, circles and dark blue roof tiles were consistent in the design.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is synonymous to the Temple of Heaven. This blue-tiled building was built on marble with a wooden body that supported a ceiling without any use of nails or cement.
That alone is an architectural feat given its height. At the same time, its beautiful design and wide roofing was also impressive. (Very good in hiding us from the sun. Haha.)
We wrapped up with a wacky photo with the iconic structure.
The Beijing 2015 Adventure
Come join me as I track back on the cultural and gastronomical adventure we had in the following blog posts…
- Beijing 2015: The Adventure & ArtBnB
- Nanluoguxiang Hutong Village and the search for the The Drum & Bell Tower
- Jingshan Park: The Hilly Park
- Da Dong: Peking Duck Goodness
- Tiananmen Square: The Square of Democracy
- Temple of Heaven: China’s Religious Complex
- Din Tai Fung: Dumpling Goodness
- Beijing Zoo: The Giant Panda Viewing
- Beijing Chaoyang Theatre & Wangfujing Road: Chinese Acrobats & Exotic Food Fare
- The Great Wall of China: The Endless Journey
- Ming Tombs: The Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty Emperors
- Hong Qiao Market & Dada Bar
- Hai Di Lao Hotpot: Sichuan’s Popular Hotpot Chain
- Summer Palace: The Most Beautiful Park in Beijing
What do you think?