First built in 1420 covering an area of 270 hectares (670 acres), the Temple of Heaven was visited yearly by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties who performed intricate rituals to insure a good harvest for the whole nation at ancient times.

The construction of the temple followed the ancient Chinese belief that heaven is round and the earth is square, thus the temple halls, seen from above, are round and the bases are square, while the northern end of the park is semicircular and the southern end is square. The round ,40-meter (130-ft) high Qinian Dian (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) is an exquisite example of Chinese wooden architecture without the use of a single nail. The Yuanqiu (Circular Mound Altar) and the Echo Wall are famous for its acoustics.