In Beijing, China there is a landmark called the Temple of Heaven. It has an area of 2,700,000 square meters (2,952,760 square feet), which includes many buildings and gardens, enclosed by a wall.

One of the buildings is the three-layered ‘Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.’ It is an ornate palace that was built in 1420, during the Ming dynasty and was used by Ming and Qing emperors to pray to the God of Heaven for good harvests. They usually came twice a year, on the 15th day of the first lunar month and on winter solstice. In years of drought, they would visit a third time to pray for rain on the summer solstice.

The three-tired building in “China” at Epcot is a half-scale model of the ‘Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.’ (At Disney World, it contains the theatre showing “Reflections of China.”) The roof of the ‘Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest’ has three layers of eaves, which are covered with black, yellow and green-glazed tiles representing the heavens, the earth and everything on earth. It is currently being repaired behind the screen you see here.

Gardens

You’ll find the traditional Chinese gardens to be serene and not overly structured. The grass is not mowed, so has a tufted, natural appearance rather than the “velvet carpet” look that North Americans aspire to.
You’ll find plants that are native to China like bamboo, weeping mulberry and tallow trees. There is a mandatory water feature as well.

More about China:

• Attractions and Exhibits
  

• Entertainment
  

• Dining




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