Beijing Xiannongtan and Ancient Architecture Museum in the Spring Rain

Number of days: 1 day
With whom：a person

Spring in Beijing has been raining less and less, while cloudy days, smog, and dust seem to be increasing. One weekday in March, a light rain began to fall outside, and I thought it was a good time to take a walk. Where should I go? I decided to go to the Xiannongtan Temple and the Ancient Architecture Museum alone! Relaxing without interrupting work :-)

Xiannongtan Temple In front of the Xiannongtan Temple

The Xiannongtan Temple, now located within the Ancient Architecture Museum (Beijing's South Second Ring Road), is part of the museum's outdoor area. In the early years, the area of Xiannongtan must have been larger than it is now: now the museum is surrounded by residential houses, street parks, schools, stadiums, etc. Of course, some buildings have become workplaces and are not open to the public...

Xiannongtan

Xiannongtan Part of the working area

In front of the museum gate, there is a screen wall with the words "Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum" inscribed in large characters. Walking south around the screen wall and through a short cypress forest, you'll suddenly see a clear view: a small square altar nestled among the green grass. This is the Altar of Agriculture (not large or high, but square). Built during the Yongle reign, the Altar was a place where emperors would worship the God of Agriculture. However, now anyone can ascend the altar, this is the change of history :-)

Xiannongtan

Xiannongtan Burning the sacrificial furnace src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/01004120008i8y8z9864A_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" /> Xiannongtan This is the altar: Xiannongtan

Xiannongtan This is the altar: Xiannongtan

Xiannongtan

Xiannongtan Xiannongtan: Summer

Although the Qing Dynasty rulers were cavalrymen, they attached perhaps the highest importance to agriculture in history. Not only was there a Xiannongtan in Beijing, but similar "altars" were also built across the country to highlight the importance of agriculture. Next to the Altar of Agriculture is the Altar of the Earthly Gods, a group of stone tablets dedicated to China's famous mountains and rivers. Deities of mountains and rivers can be seen, such as the Five Sacred Mountains (East, West, South, North, and Center), and the Four Seas (East, South, North, and West). Historically, this Altar of the Earthly Gods was surrounded by a wall, but this has long since disappeared. Xiannongtan Xiannongtan Xiannongtan Dijitan Xiannongtan Dijitan: Summer

To the east of Dijitan is the Jufudian (Jifudian) built during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (almost everywhere there was an altar, this building was used to store clothing and various sacrificial props). Inside, the hall explains the importance of agriculture throughout Chinese history and the stories of rulers personally cultivating the land. It's worth a look.

Xiannongtan Jufu Hall

Xiannongtan Jufu Hall: The seats occupied by various departments in the Qing Dynasty In front of the Jufu Hall stands a small square altar/platform built during the Qianlong reign. It was called "Guan Geng" (Observing the Farming): The emperor would watch his civil and military officials plowing the fields from this platform. Where was the land cultivated? It was a small vegetable patch in front of the platform, known as "one mu and three fen." The emperor would usually plow the fields himself first (before any farm work, he would change clothes in the Jufu Hall), then return to the platform to watch his officials plowing.

Xiannongtan Guangeng Terrace

Xiannongtan Guangeng Terrace and Jufu Hall

Xiannongtan One Mu and Three Fen

Xiannongtan Next to the Observation Platform

The core of the Museum of Ancient Chinese Architecture is the worship hall complex (primarily consisting of the worship hall (in the south), east and west side halls, and the Tai Sui Hall (in the north). It showcases and introduces various knowledge and exhibits related to ancient Chinese architecture. This reveals that in ancient times, even rulers could only live in trees in the summer and underground caves in the winter (the continuous development of architectural technology has truly benefited hundreds of millions of people). Xiannongtan Worship Hall Complex Xiannongtan Worship Hall: In the Spring Rain Xiannongtan Xiannongtan Xiannongtan Xia Dynasty Royal City The Ancients' Ideal Royal City Xiannongtan Worship Hall: Summer Day

In the Worship Hall and Taisui Hall, there are introductions to caisson ceilings. Caisson ceilings are the concave domes often seen in palaces and temples, often decorated with intricate patterns. Due to their beauty, their use was strictly regulated in ancient times, and ordinary households were prohibited from using them. This exhibition focuses on the caisson ceiling of Beijing's Longfu Temple. Because Longfu Temple was an imperial temple during the Ming and Qing dynasties, its caisson ceiling is carved from golden nanmu wood (it's just that the lighting inside the hall was too dim, so I didn't get a satisfactory photo). Xiannongtan Caisson Ceiling

The Taisui Hall, built during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty, was originally where emperors worshipped the gods Taisui and Twelve Monthly Generals. Besides showcasing the caisson ceiling, the hall also displays and explains various items related to ancient architecture. Take glazed tiles, for example. They come in yellow, green, and black. Yellow was used by the royal family, green by princes, and black by religious sites. The glazed animals on the roof eaves also have different meanings and requirements.

Xiannongtan Taisui Temple: Spring Rain

Xiannongtan Taisui Temple: Summer

Xiannongtan In front of the Shenchu Courtyard

Xiannongtan Shenchu Courtyard

Xiannongtan Well Pavilion

Xiannongtan Ancient Well

Xiannongtan Shenchu Courtyard

Xiannongtan Shenchu Courtyard Inner Hall

Xiannongtan, Shenchu Courtyard: Two Well Pavilions

Xiannongtan, God of Agriculture

If you want to learn about ancient Chinese architecture, this is a good place to visit. The last time I was here, it was summer, and the sun was shining brightly. However, both last time and this time, there seemed to be few visitors.

Xiannongtan

Xiannongtan 一角

A corner of Xiannongtan

When I first arrived, the rain wasn't heavy, just a few drizzles. Then it started to really rain, and I definitely couldn't do it without an umbrella! After this spring rain, the green will surely be even more vibrant, and summer isn't far off!