Hey guys! If you’re in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is an absolute must-visit – it’s a soul-stirring feast of history and culture! Today, let’s step into this ancient imperial garden~
First built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420), the Temple of Heaven was the venue where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for a good harvest. It’s the largest existing ancient heaven-worshipping complex in the world. Covering a total area of 273 hectares, the temple grounds are round in the north and square in the south, symbolizing the ancient Chinese concept of "heaven is round, earth is square". It was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1998.
Must-See Attractions
- Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: Where ancient emperors held ceremonies to pray for abundant grains and favorable weather. It’s a circular wooden structure with three eaves, built on a platform. The 28 golden nanmu pillars are divided into three layers, representing the four seasons, 12 months, and 12 two-hour periods of the day respectively.
- Imperial Vault of Heaven Circular Mound Altar: An open-air three-tiered circular platform for worshipping heaven on the Winter Solstice. The "Heavenly Heart Stone" in the center has an echo effect – your voice will be reflected back when you speak there.
- Echo Wall: The surrounding wall of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, a masterpiece combining ancient Chinese architecture and acoustics. Whisper softly at one end, and the sound can be clearly heard at the other.
- Fast Palace: A special palace for emperors to observe fasting before rituals, built in 1420. Its Beamless Hall gets its name from using brick arches for load-bearing instead of beams.
- Double-Ring Longevity Pavilion: Composed of two nested double-eave circular pavilions, it was built by Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother’s 50th birthday.
Ticket Information
- Peak season (April 1 - October 31): 15 RMB (main entrance only), 34 RMB (combined ticket).
- Off-season (November 1 - March 31): 10 RMB (main entrance only), 28 RMB (combined ticket).
- The combined ticket includes key attractions like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, and Circular Mound Altar – highly recommended!
Transportation Guide
- East Gate: Subway Line 5, Tiantan East Gate Station, Exit A1.
- West Gate: Subway Line 8, Tianqiao Station, Exit C.
- North Gate: Subway Line 7, Qiaowan Station, Exit C.
Tips
- Attractions like the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests are closed on Mondays. Seniors over 60 can enter for free with their ID cards.
- On Fridays and Saturdays, some areas are lit up with municipal lights – the night view is absolutely stunning.
- There are free stamp-collecting spots in the park, including the North Gate Visitor Center, Circular Mound Altar & Echo Wall, and Red Wall Bridge.
The Temple of Heaven is like a thick historical book, with every building carrying memories of the past. Come experience its unique charm for yourself!
