As the main architecture of the Temple of Heaven, the Qiniandian, also known as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, was built in 1420 in the reign of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. The building was initially named “Dasidian” (“Hall of Great Sacrifice”), later “Daxiangdian” (“Hall of Great Enjoyment”) in 1545 in the reign of Emperor Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, and was finally designated as the “Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests” in 1752 in the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty.

It, as a magnificent triple-gabled circular building, is a role model in Chinese wooden-structured architecture. Construction of its beam frame structure assembled all techniques used in traditional Chinese wooden architecture. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was visited by emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies to pray to Heaven for good harvest in lunar January.