If you happen to be visiting Beijing, China’s magnificent capital, the Temple of Heaven Complex is a ‘must see’ site. This is the place where emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasties conducted ceremonies to worship heaven and being ‘sons of heaven’ displayed their connection to heaven through prayers and sacrifices offered during the winter solstice and in spring for a good harvest. While the symbolic layout of the complex and design of the temples with the 667 acre surrounding park is to be admired, the most interesting object in the complex is the echo wall that encircles the Imperial Vault of Heaven Temple in the complex. This smooth tightly constructed brick wall is said to be able to transmit sound over a fairly long distance. If you stand in any place along this circular wall and speak into it in a normal voice, apparently it can be heard by someone standing further away or at the opposite side. It sounds truly amazing.
Perhaps one could carry out a conversation this way if it was not in such a busy place full of noisy tourists. Rules seem to apply to make this work. The two people having the conversation should face north and should stand by the two side chambers on either side of the Imperial Vault of Heaven temple. Still the noisy tourists seem to be in the way. The story goes that the wall which is 193 m long, 3.72 m high and 90 cm thick was built to magnify the emperor’s prayers for a bountiful harvest.
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