There are three main buildings on the Temple grounds (270 acres). The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a triple-gabled circular building built on three levels of marble stone base. It's completely wooden, no nails were used in construction. The Imperial Vault of Heaven is a single-gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone base. The Circular Mound Altar is an empty circular platform on three levels of marble stones, each decorated by lavishly carved dragons.
The entire Temple Park contains a great deal of symbolism. Centered on the main idea that Earth is square and Heaven is round, the whole park has the shape of a square surmounted by a semicircle in the north. The temples and altars are round and stand on square bases. Inside the Hall of Prayer are 28 huge posts. The four posts along the inner circle represent four seasons; the 12 posts along the middle circle represent the 12 months; and 12 posts along the outer circle represent the Chinese day (12 Shichens = 2 hours). The roof is covered with black, yellow and green glaze representing the heavens, earth, and everything on earth.
During the dynasties, twice a year, the Emperor and his retinue would move from the Forbidden City through Beijing to encamp within the Temple complex. Ordinary citizens were not allowed to view the procession or the ceremonies. The Emperor would pray to Heaven for good harvests. The ceremony had to be perfectly completed; the smallest of mistakes would constitute a bad omen for the whole nation for the coming year.
I was fascinated by the local people who used the park grounds for various social activities. Many were practicing Tai Chi, playing various board games, playing badminton, etc. The most interesting observance was a flamboyantly -dressed middle aged couple, probably from the northern region who danced energetically as a crowd of admiring bystanders surrounded them.
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