| The Temple of Heaven was initially built in Yongle | | | | ear close to the wall, it is so clear that it is like |
| year 18 of the Ming Dynasty (in 1420). Situated in | | | | talking on the phone. Do you want to know why? |
| the southern part of the city, it covers the total | | | | This is possible because the wall is round and |
| area of 273 hectares. With the additions and | | | | hermetically constructed with smooth, solid bricks, |
| rebuild during the Ming, Qing and other Dynasties, | | | | so the sound wave can transmit to the other side |
| this grand set of structures look magnificent and | | | | via the extremely smooth inner circle. |
| glorious, the dignified environment appears solemn | | | | 2. The sound of the Dialogue Stone - If you |
| and respectful, it is the place for both Ming and | | | | speak while standing on the 18th stone in front of |
| Qing Dynasty's Emperors to worship Heaven and | | | | The Imperial Vault of Heaven, the sound can |
| pray for good harvest. The northern part of the | | | | clearly pass to the northeast corner of the north |
| Temple is circular while the southern part is | | | | side hall and the northwest of the west side hall |
| square, implies "sky is round and earth is square" | | | | that are both 36 meters away. The sound can be |
| to better symbolize heaven and earth. The whole | | | | heard just as well on the stone when speaking |
| compound is enclosed by two walls, dividing the | | | | from the corners of these two side halls, this is |
| whole Temple into inner and outer areas, with the | | | | what we call the "Sound of the Dialogue Stone". |
| main structures enclosed in the inner area. The | | | | 3. Repeating sounds of the Triple-Sound Stone - |
| most important constructions are the Hall of | | | | In front of the steps leading away from the hall is |
| Prayer for Good Harvest, the Circular Mound | | | | the Triple-Sound Stone. If you stand on the first |
| Altar, Imperial Heaven, The Imperial Vault of | | | | stone and call out or clap your hands, the sound |
| Heaven, Heaven Kitchen, Long Corridor and so on, | | | | will echo once; on the second stone, the sound will |
| as well as the Echo Wall, the Triple-Sound Stone, | | | | be heard twice; and on the third stone, the sound |
| the Seven-Star Stone and others of historic | | | | will repeat three times. Hence it inherited the |
| interest and scenic beauty. The Temple of | | | | name. This is because the distances that the |
| Heaven is a comprehensive expression of the | | | | sound wave reflected from the round wall to the |
| unique construction techniques from Ming and Qing | | | | stone are different, the number of echo is also |
| Dynasties, it is China's most treasured ancient | | | | different. Take a guess which flagstone is at the |
| architecture, it is also the world's largest | | | | center of the Echo Wall's? The third one. The |
| architectural complex for worship heaven. In 1998, | | | | echo actually gets repeated more than 3 times, |
| it was included in the "list of the world heritages" | | | | it's just the sound is too weak to be heard after |
| by the United Nation's Educational, Scientific and | | | | the 4th echo. |
| Cultural Organization. | | | | 4. The hollow of the Heaven's Center Stone - |
| Do you know? There are four wonderful sounds | | | | There is a stone plate in the center of the |
| in the Temple of Heaven! It's worth your time to | | | | Circular Mound Altar called the Heaven's Center |
| study the four wonderful sounds. | | | | Stone. Shouting aloud standing above, you will |
| 1. The echo from the Echo Wall - There is a | | | | hear the reverberation of the echo. This is due to |
| circular wall around The Imperial Vault of Heaven, | | | | the refraction of the sound. |
| this is the famous Echo Wall. One person's mere | | | | Note: You may freely republic this article hereby |
| whisper at any point close to the wall can be | | | | given author bio and active hyperlinks are kept |
| heard clearly on the other side if you draw your | | | | active. |