Temple
of Heaven , the first of the five sacrificial temples in Beijing, is situated
south of Beijing city. It was first built in 1420, along with the construction
of the Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven covers an area of 273 hectares.
It is the best preserved and largest sacrificial building complex in
the world. Laid out precisely according to pattern the building structures
of the Temple of Heaven are unique in the art of architecture. The
whole complex, gorgeously painted and set off by thousands of pine
and cypress trees, provides a harmonious atmosphere for sacrificial
ceremony as if heaven and earth are integrated into one.
Function
Temple of Heaven was the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties
(about seven hundreds years ago) came to perform worship to the God
of Heaven and pray for good harvests. Discover
more...
The
World Heritage Committee inscribed the Temple of Heaven on the
World Heritage List on the basis of criteria:
- The
temple of Heaven is a masterpiece of
architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates
a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world's
great civilizations.
- The
symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound
influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries.
As famous
as the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, it is a "must"
for every visitor.
Beijing Tour Routes covers Temple of Heaven:
Photo of Temple of Heaven
     
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