Visitors trade cash for luck at World Heritage site

Visitors toss notes and coins onto a marble stone platform in a bid to attract good luck at the Temple of Heaven, a popular tourist attraction in Beijing, on Oct 3. The platform, known for its lavishly carved dragon decorations, is one of the iconic scenes at the UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to heaven for a good harvest. Bad behavior from tourists has often made the headlines during the seven-day National Day holiday as many scenic spots come to their peak season with visitors flooding in. [Photo/IC]