Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Gongyuan)

Originally built in 1420 at the same time as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven was one of the four sacrificial temples of the emperors. Not only were sacrifices made to appease the heavens and to bring prosperity to the empire, but to ensure good crops in the coming year.

Built according to strict religious principles, with perfect symmetry and covered in dark blue tiles representing heaven, every detail of the architecture is built in nines – the number that represented the emperor. Aside from the magnificent altars and temples, the Pavilion of Longevity and Long Corridor are well worth a visit. It’s here that one can spend several hours watching the improvised performances of Peking Opera, huge crowds singing classical Chinese songs from printed song sheets, musicians playing the stringed erhu and old folk playing cards and mahjong. Early in the morning the park is packed with tai chi practitioners too, creating a more authentic Chinese atmosphere than almost anywhere in the city.