Page 19 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) ❮❮ 17

Echo Stones
6 Temple of Heaven TIAN TAN
(Tian Tan)
There are three
rectangular stones at 0 2 1 8 The Hall of Prayer for
the foot of the staircase Good Harvests, or Qinian
leading up to the Dian, which is the iconic
Imperial Vault: stand structure at the heart of
on the first and clap to the complex, is often
hear one echo; stand incorrectly called the
on the second stone Temple of Heaven. There
and clap once for two is, in fact, no single
echoes; clap once on the temple building and the
third for three echoes. name, which in Chinese
is Tian Tan – a more
literal translation of
which is Altar of
Heaven – refers to
the whole complex.
5 3 7 4 6 9
Marble 8
Platform
The Hall of Prayer for
Good Harvests sits atop
three tiers of marble that
form a circle 300 ft (90 m)
in diameter (right). The
balusters on the upper
tier are decorated with
dragon carvings that
signify the imperial
nature of the structure.
Red Step Bridge
9
A raised walkway of marble and stone that
runs along the north-south axis of the complex,
the Red Step Bridge (below) connects the Hall of
Echo Wall
7 Prayer for Good Harvests with the Round Altar.
The Imperial Vault is
enclosed by the circular
Echo Wall, which has the
same sonic effects found in
some European cathedrals,
where even a whisper trav-
els round to a listener on
the other side.
Hall of
NEED TO KNOW Adm ¥35 (to temple), ¥15 0
Abstinence
(to park), audio guides
MAP F6 • Tian Tan Dong A red-walled compound
Lu (East Gate), Chongwen ¥40, plus deposit of ¥100 surrounded by a moat
• 6702 8866 • Subway: • There are snack kiosks spanned by bridges,
Tian Tan Dong Men in the park grounds. this hall resembles
• www.tiantanpark.com
• Just as fascinating a mini Forbidden City.
Open Park: 6am–10pm as exploring the temple This is where the
daily. Temple: 8am– is observing the many emperor would spend
5:30pm daily (Jul–Oct: Chinese who come to the the last 24 hours of his
to 6pm daily; Nov–Feb: park to dance, exercise, three-day fast prior to
to 5pm daily) sing opera, and fly kites. partaking in the Temple
of Heaven ceremonies.

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