• Beihai Park
  Beihai Park, situated to the northwest of Palace Museum, is a typical imperial garden dating back to more than 800 years ago. Buildings are clustered around the famed White Pagoda on Qionghua (Jasper Flower) Island on the lake in the park's bosom. The island provides a vantage point for observing the landscape of Beijing. Major attractions are Circular City, Painted Boat Studio, Studio of the Tranquil Heart, Nine-Dragon Screen Wall and Five-Dragon Pavilions. Source : China Tourism Bureau

• Temple of Heaven
  China's largest temple and altar are found in Temple of Heaven, part of a 273 hectare park in Chongwen District today. Built in 1420, it was where Ming and Qing monarchs prayed for good harvests. Major structures are hall of Prayer for good Harvest, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Circular Altar, and Abstinence Palace. UNESCO endorsed Temple of Heaven as a world cultural heritage site in December 1998. Source : China Tourism Bureau

• Echo Wall
  The echo wall is the circular surrounding wall of the celestial warehouse. The hard and smooth wall in a perfect circumference constitutes an excellent reflecting body for the sound waves, the sound waves travel along the wall surface by continuous reflections of two persons stand by the wall behind the east annex hall and the west annex hall respectively and speak with their face toward north, they can hear each other's voice clearly. Calls and responses or asks and answers constitute a wonderful conversation. Source : Guide plate

• Heavenly Center Stone
  As the surface of the uppermost terrace of the circular mound is paved with nine concentric rings of stone slabs, the round stone slab in the center is called the heavenly center stone. It is surrounded by 9 stones in the first ring, 18 in the second, up to 81 in the 9th ring, symbolizing the nine heavens. If one speaks standing on the heavenly center stone, one's voice will become particularly resonant and sonorous. Source : Guide plate

Beihai Park is an imperial garden which has 700,000 m2 area. Both Lake and island are artificial.		White pagoda is a Lamaism Buddhist temple and was constructed in 1651.
Bell tower of Eian temple.	Stairs to the white pagoda	Buddha statue.	Willow is planted all over surroundings of the lake.
There are a lot of greens in the Temple of Heaven.	Hall of Prayer in Temple of Heaven built in 1420.	Stone relievo of dragon on the emperor-only passage.	Emperors prayed for good harvest in the hall.
A beautiful coloring is given under eaves. Beam and ridgepole was not used	4 columns for 4 seasons & 12 columns for 12 months.	Big square of the Gate of Prayer.	There is a treasure house in the plaza.
32m in diameter and 38m in height. Nail is not used.	It is built on round stone base of three steps.	Long bridge continues from the hall.	Gate to the Imperial Vault of Heaven.
Imperial Vault of Heaven is a place where emperor's memorial tablet is enshrined.		Echo wall is circular wall reflecting sound perfectly	Circular Altar is circularly mounded.
No buildings on the Altar because to talk directly with heaven on the stone.	Top terrace of the Circular Altar is paved with 9 stone rings in center of "heavenly stone center" to symbolize the 9 heavens, and it is said to talk with heaven when speaking standing on the central stone.
Entering from the White Stone Gate.	Four gates on the Altar.	Emperors only could use here.	Rain water drops from the dragon mouth.

2005/05/01