China Travel China City China Tour China Hotel China Flight Testimonial About us  Site Map

The Imperial Vault of Heaven

Temple of Heaven Index | Tour | Sceneries | Architecture | Function | History | Ritual
Beijing tour | Beijing Hotel | Beijing Photo | Beijing attractions

Function:
The Imperial Vault of Heaven was used to house the tablet of the God of Heaven and the tablets of the emperors' ancestors. The tablets had to be removed to the open air before the emperor came to pray, and replaced back to the original shrine when the ceremony was over.

Architecture:
The Imperial Vault of Heaven was first built in 1530 and then rebuilt in 1752. It was a circular structure, covered with blue titles and topped by a gilded ball, covered with blue tiles and topped by gilded ball. The building is 19.5 meters high and 15.6 meters in diameter and looks like an umbrella parachuting vertically from the sky. The whole structure is supported by 16 pillars, eight of which are posts propping the eaves and another eight inside are gilded one. The dome is so constructed as to taper little by little and result in a vault.

• Echo Wall: The wall around the buildings is the well-known Huiyinbi (Echo Wall). If one person speaks or even whispers at one side of it, another would be able to hear rather clearly on the opposite side. Discover more...
• Triple-sound Stone: In front of the marble terrace is Sanyinshi (the Triple-sound Stone). If one person speaks on the third stone three echoes will be heard. Discover more..

Temple of Heaven Photo