Built between 1409 and 1420, the Temple of Heaven is one of Beijing's most impressive parks in terms of architecture and significance. The Temple was used as a huge communication terminal for the Emperor to communicate directly with Heaven.
Several times a year, the Emperor would come here to pray for good harvests. The construction of the Temple is based around the number nine, the largest of the single digits, which is divine in Chinese numerology. The Temple consists of four basic parts: the Round Altar, the Echo Wall, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Hall of prayer for Good Harvests.
The Round Altar is where the Emperor would report on the status of the country to Heaven. The Altar is constructed in the middle and can amplify sounds many times so that the emperor's voice sounds like that of a whole nation. The Echo Wall is a round structure which if you whisper along the inner wall, your voice can be heard all the way around the other side. Supposedly the Emperor would use this method to secretly confer with Inner Court members. The Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests are both used for worship. To the west of the complex is the Hall of Abstinence, where the emperor would prepare to spend a night fasting. If you go to the Temple of Heaven early in the moing, you can see groups of people practicing kung fu and Tai Chi. Its great for the body and soul so join in!