Temple of Heaven

Built in 1420 and used for 500 years, the Temple of Heaven is where Ming and Qing emperors performed the most important imperial ritual: the annual prayer for good harvest, and the winter solstice sacrifice to Heaven. The 273-hectare park is twice the size of the Forbidden City. The three signature structures sit on a south-north axis: the Circular Mound Altar (where the actual sacrifices happened), the Imperial Vault of Heaven (with its acoustically clever Echo Wall), and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests — the iconic three-tiered round wooden temple with the deep blue roof, built entirely without nails. The surrounding park is a daily gathering ground for locals doing tai chi, ballroom dancing, calligraphy on the stone tiles, and group singing. Visit early morning to catch the locals at it. UNESCO World Heritage since 1998.