The Altar for Proclaiming to Heaven

　　Situated at the highest point of the ancient city in Lanxi, known as Tianfu, on its southern peak stands a temple facing southwest — the Altar for Proclaiming to Heaven, also known as “Wangqu Pavilion.” It was constructed during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty by descendants of the Zhao family in memory of their distant ancestor, Zhao Ding.

　　Zhao Ding, courtesy name Yuèdào, literary name Qīngxiàn, 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 in the palace, known for his integrity, upright character, and clean governance. He promoted virtuous individuals regardless of their background, fearlessly confronted the powerful, and was hailed as the “Iron-Faced Censor” before being promoted to the position of Vice Grand Councilor. Every night, after conducting state affairs during the day, he would dress formally, burn incense, and report his actions to Heaven. Later, during the Ming Dynasty, when one of his descendants served as the magistrate of Lanxi County, a temple was erected on Tianfu Mountain in his honor and named “The Altar for Proclaiming to Heaven.” Because the structure also faces the direction of Hengzhou, it is also called “Wangqu Pavilion” (Pavilion Overlooking 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 for Proclaiming to Heaven stands 9 meters high and is built with red strip stones. It features corridors on three sides and 44 steps that wind upward. The stone balustrades and columns are adorned with bas-reliefs and openwork floral patterns. The platform houses a main hall with three bays, covering an area of 100 square meters. The hall boasts upturned eaves, bracket sets, and a hip-and-gable roof. Its interior features a layered-bracket beam structure, making it one of the typical examples of Ming Dynasty architecture in southern China.