概览
天坛位于北京中轴线东侧，始建于明永乐十八年（1420 年），是明清两代皇帝祭天、祈谷的场所，占地约 273 万平方米，约为故宫的四倍。坛域北圆南方，象征「天圆地方」，内坛以祈谷坛、圜丘坛两组建筑为核心，由丹陛桥相连。1998 年被列入世界文化遗产名录。[2]
历史沿革
天坛初建时名「天地坛」，合祀天地，明嘉靖九年（1530 年）实行天地分祀后改称天坛，专祀皇天上帝。清乾隆年间大规模改建，将祈年殿三重檐统一为蓝色琉璃瓦，形成今日面貌。光绪十五年（1889 年）祈年殿遭雷击焚毁，此后按原样重建。1918 年天坛辟为公园，结束了近五百年的皇家禁地历史。[2]
看点
祈年殿高 38 米，三重檐圆形攒尖顶覆蓝色琉璃瓦，殿内二十八根楠木大柱暗合四季、十二月与二十四节气；圜丘坛三层台面石板皆以九或九的倍数铺砌，呼应「九重天」观念；皇穹宇外的回音壁和三音石以声学奇观闻名；丹陛桥、斋宫、神乐署与六百年古柏林也值得细看。[1]
参观贴士
公园面积很大，建议由南门或东门进入，沿圜丘—回音壁—丹陛桥—祈年殿一线游览，全程约两小时。祈年殿等坛庙建筑需另购联票，局部区域周一可能关闭，以官网公告为准。清晨园内常见市民晨练、唱戏，是观察北京市井生活的好时候；冬季雪后的祈年殿尤为出片。祈年殿北侧的皇乾殿与七十二长廊也可顺道一游。[1]
Overview
The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 just east of Beijing's central axis, is where Ming and Qing emperors worshipped Heaven and prayed for good harvests. Covering about 2.73 million square meters — roughly four times the Forbidden City — its round northern and square southern walls echo the ancient belief in a round heaven above a square earth. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a 38-meter triple-eaved circular hall roofed in deep blue glazed tiles, rises on a triple marble terrace, its 28 great columns symbolizing the seasons, months, and solar terms. Along the Vermilion Steps Bridge to the south, the Circular Mound Altar is paved in multiples of nine, and the Echo Wall by the Imperial Vault of Heaven is famed for its acoustics. First named the Altar of Heaven and Earth, the complex took its present name in 1530; the main hall was rebuilt after an 1889 lightning fire, and the grounds became a public park in 1918.
Enter from the south or east gate and follow the classic axis — Circular Mound, Echo Wall, Vermilion Steps Bridge, Hall of Prayer — in about two hours. The altar buildings require a through ticket beyond park admission. Early mornings bring locals practicing tai chi among ancient cypresses, and snow turns the blue-roofed hall into one of Beijing's most photogenic scenes.
