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The Temple of Heaven was the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed ceremonies to "worship heaven" and "pray for harvests." Covering a total area of 273 hectares, it is one of China's largest surviving ancient sacrificial architectural complexes. The structures throughout the site showcase the unique artistic symbolism and allegorical techniques of ancient China. A remarkable feature of the Temple of Heaven is its ingenious integration of architecture with acoustics. The Echo Wall, Triple-Sound Stones, and Yuanqiutan all demonstrate sophisticated applications of acoustic principles, fully reflecting the advanced level of ancient Chinese architectural craftsmanship.
The Temple of Heaven is the general name for the Qigu and Yuanqiutan altars. It is surrounded by two layers of altar walls, dividing the altar area into inner and outer parts, both of which are round in the north and square in the south, symbolizing the concept of "heaven is round and earth is square."