The snow-capped Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the largest building in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, is seen in this photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
Snow-enveloped imperial religious buildings in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing are seen in this photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
A view of the snow-capped Temple of Heaven in Beijing is seen in this photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
Snow-enveloped imperial religious buildings in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing are seen in this photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
Snow-enveloped imperial religious buildings in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing are seen in this photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
People visit the snow-capped Temple of Heaven in Beijing on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
People visit the snow-capped Temple of Heaven in Beijing on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
A view of the snow-capped Temple of Heaven in Beijing is seen in this photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023. /CGTN
After the first snowfall of winter in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven – where the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty emperors prayed to heaven for good harvests – has become more peaceful and mysterious, attracting crowds of tourists and shutterbugs. Covering an area of more than 270 hectares, this complex of imperial religious buildings surrounded by historic pine woods was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1998.