Echoes from the Temple

Why not indulge your spiritual side for a few hours at the Temple of Heaven ('tiantan'). The Temple of Heaven (the Temple) claims to possess both the most famous temple (The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) and the largest heaven worship architectural complex in the world. Initially constructed under the reign of Emperor Yongle (1420), The Temple is most famous for practicing Taoism, but the site has also been used for other ancient beliefs to encourage abundant harvests. These reasons alone should convince any traveller that this place is an obvious stop-off on a Beijing Tours route with some excellent China Hotels nearby. In days gone by, emperors would enter the Temple from the Forbidden City via the South Gate Street, cross the Heavenly Bridge through the streets and then reach the restricted area of the Temple. Nowadays, anybody can access the complex. The most recognised attractions are the The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (The Hall), The Circular Mound Altar and the Echo Wall. The Hall itself sits on three layers of a white marble altar with the diameter of the bottom layer being 91 metres and The Hall standing at 32 metres high. Around The Hall visitors will have a splendid location to take photos and admire the views over Beijing city. At the back of the Imperial Vault of Heaven is the Echo Wall (or 'Sound Spreading Wall'). The theory dictates that when people face north and speak towards the wall, the sound waves will echo and spread. The sound is meant to be so clear from one part of the wall to another that it is apparently like speaking on the telephone. If you want to see if this works, then you can visit the Wall and try this out with a friend. Another activity to try is standing on the 'Heavenly Centre Stone' on top of The Circular Mound Altar. Here, it is said that people are able to listen to the divine heavens. Despite being a holy site, visiting the Temple does not have to be a serious affair. This is largely due to the fact that the temple complex encompasses an area of 273 hectares, which in turn also acts as a park for local Beijiners. Amongst other things, the Temple complex provides quite a lively and interactive atmosphere. Upon entering the Temple grounds, for instance, you will be met by avenues of ancient cypress trees. These trees certainly stimulate the imagination as they twist in many directions. One particular tree is called the 'Wentian Cypress' and has a branch which points towards the sky which has been interpreted as an interrogation towards the heaven. The relaxed environment around the park is also noticeable by the very fact that locals (and foreigners alike) can be seen playing games together (such as skipping and cards). The park is also a place to buy souvenirs such as shawls from local sellers. When buying tickets at the entrance to the complex, there is the option of purchasing an artistic guide around the Temple of Heaven. The guide costs 10RMB, but it provides a fair amount of information about the place and is also a great souvenir! Access to the Temple of Heaven can be reached from the park's East Gate at Tiantan Dongmen Station via subway line 5. In addition, note that there are separate admission fees depending on your china travel visit to the Temple. from China Travel Blog http://blog.chinatraveldepot.com

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