Why the
Temple of Heaven
is special

The Temple of Heaven is an architecturally splendid set of religious buildings used for sacrificial ceremonies and prayers by the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Temple of Heaven
tips and insights

House of Prayer
for Good Harvest

The most famous and beautiful of the Temple of Heaven buildings is the House of Prayer for Good Harvest (see photo).

Esteemed

This masterpiece of Ming architecture is widely considered to be the finest of China's many outstanding temples. It is praised for its perfect proportions, its intricately painted ceiling, and its triple conical roofs adorned with glazed blue tiles symbolizing heaven.

Misnomer

It is sometimes erroneously referred to as "The Temple of Heaven" but that term defines the entire temple-and-park complex.

Construction

Tiantan (Chinese name for the Temple of Heaven) was built in the early 15th century and was later renovated and enhanced several times.

National monuments

In the mid-20th century it was designated a public park and the buildings were declared national monuments.

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