The Temple of Heaven, constructed in 1420, served as a sacred space for Ming and Qing emperors to pray for bountiful harvests. Recognized as the world's largest ancient sacrificial complex, UNESCO granted it World Cultural Heritage status in 1998. Its design symbolizes the traditional Chinese cosmology of the universe with a round sky and square earth. In this episode of "Beijing: More Than Meets the Eye," Zhao Chengwei, a renowned sanxian performer, introduces this ancient musical instrument, h

The Temple of Heaven, originally built during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, is a sacred site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for good harvests. This ancient building complex spans 273 hectares, making it the largest existing ancient sacrificial site in China. Its architectural design reflects the belief that "the sky is round and the earth is square." The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests stands out as a landmark in Beijing, featuring