The Temple of Heaven (天坛) in Beijing is architecturally significant — where emperors prayed for good harvests and worshipped heaven.
Architecture
Circular buildings represent heaven; square buildings represent earth. Blue-tiled roofs symbolize the sky.
Circular Mound Altar
White marble altar where emperors sacrificed to heaven on the winter solstice. The acoustics at center are extraordinary — a whisper can be heard clearly across the structure.
Explore more in our Chinese Culture Complete Guide.