Temple of Heaven

Built in 1420, the Temple of Heaven is where Ming and Qing emperors came each year to pray for good harvests - the largest ancient sacrificial complex on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The triple-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, all blue tiles and gold finial, is its centerpiece.

Walk the corridor the emperors used, test the Echo Wall, and finish at the Circular Mound Altar - the exact center of heaven and earth in imperial cosmology. Come early for the morning light and the tai chi crowds in the park.