Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven refers to a large park complex that houses several buildings: a large, marble sacrificial altar, the famous three story hall of Prayer, the smaller Imperial Vault of Heaven and several smaller ancillary buildings. It is at the Temple of Heaven that the Emperor (= the Son of Heaven) would make sacrifices, communicate with the gods and pray for a good harvest. Common people were not allowed to enter the Temple during the Ming and Qing dynasties but nowadays it is a major tourist attraction. The park surrounding the buildings is crowded with local Chinese people who come to relax, to play cards, to play music, to dance, to sing, to walk, to exercise, …Of the Top 10 places to visit in Beijing (according to one of my tour guides) only two are left on my to-do-list: Bei Hai Park and the Ming Tombs. Although many local friends have told me that the latter is not too impressive. Here is the full list in no particular order: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Tian’an Men Square, Lama Temple, Bei Hai Park, Hou Hai Park, Summer Palace, 798 Art District, Ming Tombs, Great Wall of China

For sure, at the end of my stay in Beijing, I’ll have my own personal top 10 ready.