Temple of Heaven

I love the way that light plays with the architecture in World Showcase after sunset. If you pay attention to the lampposts around the lagoon, you’ll notice as you make your way that they change to fit each country. And here, beyond the lighting in the foreground, the domineering presence of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests—a replica of the original in Beijing, part of the Temple of Heaven complex and twice the size of our version In EPCOT.  A little history on the original: The Temple of Heaven was first built between 1406 and 1420 under the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty—also known for starting construction of the Forbidden City. It was made entirely of wood, using no nails at all—a circular building on a square base, the circle representing heaven and the square representing earth. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would visit each year to offer prayers of thanks and hope for the current year’s harvest and that of the upcoming season. The building was fully rebuilt aft