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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Altar of Heaven where emperors worshipped at the winter solstice.\u00a0 It consists of a marble\u00a0floor atop 3 levels of marble balustrades and surrounded by a low wall.\u00a0 The number and arrangement of\u00a0 the marble pavers was significant.<\/p>\n
The Imperial Vault of Heaven where the emperors ancestral tablets used to reside.\u00a0 There were two temples on either side of the circle.<\/p>\n A section of the interior.\u00a0 The complex underwent renovations which finished a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n The echo wall\u00a0\u00a0with a circumference of 193 metres\u00a0around the Imperial Vault of Heaven.\u00a0 A sound made at one end is reported to be heard at the other end.<\/p>\n Elevated path which the emperor and his retinue walked between areas of worship.<\/p>\n Seating and path through the park.\u00a0 It is well covered with cypresses, many being hundreds of years old.<\/p>\n The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.\u00a0 It and the Vault of Heaven have rooves of blue tiles signifying their relationship with heaven.<\/p>\n Interior.\u00a0 No nails were used in its construction and the placement and number of columns is symbolic.<\/p>\n This is known as the Long Corridor and when I walked past it about half an hour later it was thronged with people socialising.<\/p>\n This was one of several middle aged groups exercising in the park.\u00a0 They are playing jianzi, a game where the aim is to keep a small weighted feather object in the air using feet only.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n