Altar of Prayers to Heaven

Altar of Prayers to Heaven

At the highest point of the ancient city in Lanxi City, on Tianfu Hill, there stands a temple shrine facing southwest on the southern peak, known as the Altar of Prayers to Heaven, also called “Wangqu Pavilion.” It was built during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty by descendants of the Zhao family to commemorate their ancestor Zhao Ding.

Zhao Ding, courtesy name Yuedao, art name Qingxian, was a native of Hengzhou and a renowned literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty. During the Jingyou era, he served as an imperial censor at the palace and was known for his integrity and uprightness. As an official, he was incorruptible, recommended virtuous individuals regardless of their social status, and feared no powerful figures, earning him the title “Iron-Faced Censor.” He was later promoted to the position of Vice Chancellor. Every night, after attending to state affairs during the day, he would dress formally, burn incense, and report his deeds to Heaven. In the Ming Dynasty, when one of his descendants served as the magistrate of Lanxi County, a shrine was constructed on Tianfu Hill and named the “Altar of Prayers to Heaven.” Because it faces the direction of Hengzhou, it is also called “Wangqu Pavilion” (Pavilion Looking Toward Hengzhou). The pavilion was destroyed during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty and was rebuilt in the ninth year of the Republic of China.

The Altar of Prayers to Heaven is 9 meters high, built with red strip stones all around, featuring corridors on three sides. Forty-four steps wind upward, and the stone balustrades and pillars are adorned with bas-reliefs and openwork floral patterns. On the platform stands a main hall with three bays, covering an area of 100 square meters. With its soaring upturned eaves, bracket sets, and hip-and-gable roof, the interior features interlocking diagonal beams—a structure that is among the typical examples of Ming Dynasty architecture in southern China.