Photos: Yin Yeping & courtesy of Ritan Park

By Yin Yeping

The Temple of the Sun, or Ritan in Chinese, located amidst the tree-lined streets of the foreign embassies, may not be as big or famous as its cousin the Temple of Heaven, but it still served as a site of immense importance for emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties since its founding in 1530. As the venue for prayers for a bountiful spring harvest, Ritan served as a kind of conduit between the Emperor and the Sun God.

Yet in more recent times Ritan has fallen into disrepair and disarray. During the chaotic early decades of the 20th century, it was rife with thieves who absconded with many cultural relics. It wasn't until 1951 that the Beijing government decided to restore order to the august historical site by establishing it as a city park. Today it stands as a well-managed national cultural relic of about 20,600 square meters.

Now the city has embarked on the biggest restoration of Ritan Park since 1949. During the park's last restoration, from 1983 to 1985, the focus was primarily on the altar; this time, other areas, including the altar gates, Jiqi House, Jufu Palace Hall, Shenku (temple for idols) and Zaisheng Pavillion (the area for animal sacrifices), the doors of Lingxing, Beitian, Xitian get the royal treatment as well.

The biggest change after this restoration is on the Zaisheng Pavilion, the courtyard where the animals were used for sacrificing. "In the historical record, here was the independent courtyard," said Dong, "now it is an open yard due to the ravages of time." When the restoration is done next year, its original look will be retained.

According to Ritan Park deputy director Dong Liang, the goal of this project is to restore as much as possible the original look and feel of the sacred areas.

Photos: Yin Yeping & courtesy of Ritan Park

"For instance, the bricks used during the last restoration in the floor of the altar were ordinary concrete," Dong said, "this time, they will be replaced by the tougher Dacheng brick," the original building material and the same bricks used in the ancient Beijing city wall.

The whole restoration is estimated to cost the Beijing municipal and Chaoyang district governments 15 million yuan. For Dong, the most pressing concern is the damage caused by tourists' foot traffic, including repeated contact between hands and the colored glazed tiles on the short wall surrounding the altar. Dong hopes that visitors will gain more awareness of the importance of preserving cultural relics for future generations.

For residents of the surrounding areas, Ritan is an ideal spot for finding a bit of green amid bustling downtown Beijing - and as one of the few city parks that is free to the public, it's a deal that can't be beaten. The old cypress trees, the stone-paved path and the soothing lake all make Ritan a perfect place for both a visit as well as regular morning exercise. The restoration will last until July 2011, at which point visitors will be able to see more of the original Ritan in all its historical glory.

The Temple of the Sun

Address: No.6 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang district 北京市朝阳区日坛北路6号

Tel: 8562-2612

Price: free