I started with the central Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, where Ming and Qing emperors would make sacrifices to the gods for the year's crops. The round tower was impressive, with intricate architecture similar to the Forbidden City (built by the same emperor), but close to nothing could be seen beyond the structure itself. I crowded with the rows of tourists around the fence to peer into the darkness but could only catch a glimpse of the ancient sacrificial altars.

It was maddening to be that close to something so ancient and not even get a good look at it, a feeling that continued as I made my way through the park to the Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar. The cold structures were like the skeleton of a museum, stripped of its plaques and guides. Like the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the lack of context drained much of the park's historical significance. Among centuries of history, the best sights were not the cultural relics but the well-kept greens and vivid flower patches that dotted the walkways. In a city choked by traffic and pollution, it's something we could use much more of.

Author:Orr Shtuhl