Lantern Viewing Pole

Lantern Viewing Pole

To the southwest of the Circular Mound Altar stands a pole which was used to hang a cylindrical bamboo-woven lantern. The pole is 29 meters (95 feet) high. It has a lever and pulley for raising and lowering the lantern. There used to be three poles, but the other two were destroyed. The Lantern Viewing Pole is not only a sign of the location of the worshipping ceremony, but also a sign of the starting time and finishing time.

Divine Kitchen Courtyard

Divine Kitchen Courtyard is the general name for the Divine Kitchen, the Divine Storeroom and the Butcher Pavilion. The Divine Kitchen is a specialized kitchen that prepared more than 30 kinds of offering, such as cereals, wines, jade, silk objects and sacrificial cattle. The Divine Storeroom is where the offerings were stored. The Butcher Pavilion is a place for slaughtering ritual sacrifices.