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.

朋克中国

Writer and cultural enthusiast sharing authentic stories about China with the world.