It was built in 1420,
the 18th year of the reign of Ming Emperor Yongle and was where
emperors went to worship heaven for good harvests.
There are two parts to the temple-the inner altar and outer
altar. The main buildings are in the inner altar, on the north-south
axis. At the southern end are the Imperial Vault of Heaven and
the Circular Mound Altar. On the northern end
are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and
Huangqian Hall. The structures at both ends are connected by
a 360-meter-long walk. There is also the Hall of Abstinence
inside the West Heavenly Gate which was where the emperor fasted
for three days and bathed before prayer.
The temple's main building is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests,
where the emperor prayed for good harvests. The round hall,
38 meters high and 30 meters in diameter, has triple eaves and
a cone-shaped deep blue tile roof crowned with a gilded knob.
Surrounding the hall is a six-meter-high spacious circular stone
terrace on three levels, each edged by a balustrade of carved
white marble.
