Current location:style >>
Letter from China: Exploring culturally rich Beijing along central axis
style4941People have gathered around
IntroductionAncient architectural buildings at the Temple of Agriculture in downtown Beijing have recently opene ...
Ancient architectural buildings at the Temple of Agriculture in downtown Beijing have recently opened to the public after years of renovation, and this cultural cluster, of the same age as the Forbidden City, is sure to become a new tourist magnet.
Located five kilometers south of Tian'anmen Square and approximately 800 meters west of the Temple of Heaven, the architectural marvels known as the Divine Granary Complex in the temple compound contribute to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage along Beijing's Central Axis, a vertical axis of Beijing's urban layout that can be traced to the 13th century.
The restoration work of the Temple of Agriculture reflects the municipal government's efforts in the preparations for the UNESCO World Heritage nomination for Beijing's Central Axis, dubbed Beijing's "dragon vein."
The Beijing Central Axis is 7.8 kilometers long, starting from the Yongding Gate in the south of the city and ending with the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north. Most of the major old-city buildings of Beijing are along this axis.
The No. 8 Line of Beijing's metro network threads the important cultural sites along the Central Axis.
The metro line starts from the Olympic Park station on the northern extension of the Central Axis. On its way south, passengers can hop on and off to visit the commercial streets of Shichahai and Qianmen, and the cultural sites such as the Drum Tower, Jingshan Park, the Palace Museum, the Temple of Heaven, and now the Temple of Agriculture.
The temple is also known as Xiannongtan Temple, with Xiannongtan meaning the Altar of the God of Agriculture.
The worship of Chinese ancestors who developed agriculture is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. As a Chinese traditional saying goes, "The country takes agriculture as the foundation, and food is the first necessity of the people."
Passing by vermilion walls, towering arches and lush trees, I proceeded through the north gate to enter the temple.
Inside, lies an intriguing spot: a small farming plot measuring 1 mu and 3 fen, roughly about 866.77 square meters. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), emperors personally plowed the land every spring as a solemn ritual to worship the agricultural god and pray for good weather to achieve bountiful harvests.
The major buildings inside the temple include the Divine Granary, a milling house and a barn, a grain harvesting pavilion and a courtyard used for drying grains. The indoor spaces now host exhibitions showcasing the historical functions and cultural significance of the buildings, highlighting the ancestral wisdom in agricultural development.
The barn features a skylight and colored paintings adorning the walls and beams, created with painting materials containing pest-resistant realgar and minium, aimed at preserving grains by keeping them dry and preventing decay.
However, I was told that the current layout of the temple has not been fully restored to its original state. A middle school now occupies a portion of the space that was once part of the temple.
"In the near future, more areas of the temple will be open to the public after relocation and renovation work," said Xue Jian, director of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum.
Chinese authorities have planned to recommend the Beijing Central Axis as China's 2024 world cultural heritage application project, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration.
Since 2011, Beijing has been committed to promoting the comprehensive protection of the old city's appearance, leveraging the world heritage application program to propel this endeavor forward.
"The opening of the restored Divine Granary complex showcases the achievements of Beijing's old city protection efforts," said Chu Jianhao, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Signals news portal”。http://czechrepublic.frequencymodulation.net/html-78e899087.html
Related articles
Missouri candidate with ties to the KKK can stay on the Republican ballot, judge rules
styleJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A longshot Missouri gubernatorial candidat e with ties to the Ku Klux Kla ...
【style】
Read moreElection 2024: Biden campaign embraces TikTok despite President signing law that could ban it
styleWASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden showed off his putting during a campaign stop at a public ...
【style】
Read moreChina calls for strengthened flood control in Yangtze, Taihu Lake basins
styleBEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chen Min, vice minister of water resources, on Tuesday called for acti ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- The German chancellor tours flooded regions in the southwest in a show of solidarity
- Stock market today: Asian benchmarks mostly slide as investors focus on earnings
- New Godzilla x Kong film continues to lead Chinese box office
- Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department becomes Spotify's most
- Haiti violence: Haitians struggle to bury loved ones as killings surge
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gets emotional during 'life
Latest articles
Chinese foreign minister holds talks with ROK counterpart
Rebuilding Sharks fire coach David Quinn after 2 disappointing seasons
How a pheromone perfume could make you irresistible to the opposite sex
Authorities confirm 2nd victim of ex
China's Tang Qianting betters Asian record for women's 100m breaststroke
Zendaya dazzles on Variety cover with her Challengers co
LINKS
- India urges pro
- Argentina labor unions' 1
- UK's little
- King Charles was 'delighted' and 'playful' at garden party at Buckingham Palace
- Revealed: It costs £42,000 to support a child through 3 years of university
- Ministry of Defence is slammed over death of 'model son' soldier shot in back of the head on night
- I'm a vet and you should beware of these 4 garden plants that are harmful to dogs
- India says Canada yet to provide evidence of its involvement in the killing of a separatist leader
- Hunger in Gaza: What are the latest obstacles to bringing aid?
- Japan Fisheries Agency proposes allowing commercial catching of fin whales