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Hours:
Daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Price:
All-inclusive: Approx. $5; Park admission: Approx. $3
Type:
Monuments & Historic Sites
15th-century emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty built the Temple of Heaven Century to make offerings to heaven, ask for bountiful crops and good health. Nearly everything within the temple incorporates symbolism—including basic shapes (squares signify earth, circles point to heaven) and numbers (threes and nines especially, as Chinese numerology deems them lucky). Visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, an impressive three-towered tiered wooden structure known for its beautiful blue-tiled roof and spectacular craftsmanship (not one nail was used in its constructions. Figure that one out). Another piece of advice: don’t forget to look up! This is a favorite spot for flying traditional Chinese kites.