In Beijing, there are altars in each direction: the Temple of Earth in the north, the Temple of Heaven in the south, the Temple of the Sun in the east, and the Temple of the Moon in the west. Among these, the Temple of Heaven stands out as the most magnificent and awe-inspiring. The Temple of Heaven was first constructed in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420) and was completed during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. It served as the site for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship heaven during the winter solstice and to pray for a good harvest in spring. It is the foremost among Beijing’s altars for “Heaven, Earth, Sun, and Moon,” with an area more than twice the size of the Forbidden City.
The architectural layout of the Temple of Heaven is in the shape of a “回” (hui) character, divided into the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar. The Inner Altar features the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests in the north and the Circular Mound Altar in the south, connected by a 360-meter-long Red Stairway Bridge. The main buildings are concentrated at both ends of this bridge. The southern walls are square while the northern walls are round, symbolizing the ancient Chinese belief in a round heaven and a square earth. The Outer Altar is a forested area densely planted with trees, with the Divine Music Administration in the southwest, where ritual music and dance were rehearsed and performers were trained during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Additionally, the Temple of Heaven is known for its four acoustic wonders: the Echo Wall’s reverberation, the Dialogue Stone’s echo, the Triple Sound Stones’ overlapping sounds, and the Celestial Heart Stone’s hollow resonance.
Travel Information about Temple of Heaven
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets:
- During the peak season (April to October), the entrance ticket is 15 RMB, and the combo ticket (including the entrance, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, and Circular Mound Altar) is 34 RMB.
- During the off-season (November to March), the entrance ticket is 10 RMB, and the combo ticket is 28 RMB.
Park Gates Opening Hours
- During the peak season, the park is open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
- During the off-season, it is open from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Temple of Heaven is in the spring and autumn seasons.
How to Get There
- Location: No. 1 Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District.
- Subway: Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantan East Gate Station or Subway Line 8 to Tianqiao Station.
Scenic Rating
- Culture: ★★★★★
- Uniqueness: ★★★★★
- Recreation: ★★★★
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Excitement: ★★
Visitor Information
- Audio Guide Rentals: Electronic audio guides in multiple languages are available for rent at all four park entrances. The rental fee is 10 yuan for Chinese and 40 yuan for other languages, with a deposit of 100 yuan. Rental hours are from 8:00 to 17:00.
- Group Tour Guide Services: Group tour guide services are available at the south gate of the park. For Chinese tours, the fee is 100 yuan for groups of up to five people and 200 yuan for groups of more than five people. English tours have an additional charge of 50 yuan on top of the Chinese tour fee. Services are available from 8:00 to 17:00 and need to be booked two days in advance.
- Free Guided Tours: Each pavilion and scenic spot offers free guided tours every 20 minutes, with the frequency increased during high visitor traffic.
- Souvenir Shops: Inside the Temple of Heaven, there are several dedicated shops selling a variety of souvenirs such as business card holders, stamps, paperweights, copper fasting figures, pen holders, and folding fans. These make great mementos.
- Temple of Heaven Ice Cream: The park has a dessert shop that offers a Temple of Heaven-themed ice cream. Shaped like the iconic temple, this treat is perfect for a photo op before enjoying its unique taste.
Highlights of Temple of Heaven
Circular Mound Altar
The Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛) was the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties conducted the winter solstice ceremonies to worship Heaven. Its main structures include the Circular Mound itself, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the subsidiary halls, the Divine Kitchen, the three Treasury Halls, and the Butcher Pavilion. Additionally, there are auxiliary structures such as the Robe Terrace and the Lantern Viewing Pillar. The Circular Mound is round, symbolizing heaven. It has three tiers and stands 5.17 meters high, with the lower tier measuring 54.92 meters in diameter and the upper tier 23.65 meters in diameter. The center of the upper tier is marked by a circular stone surrounded by nine concentric rings of fan-shaped stones, each ring consisting of multiples of nine, symbolizing the heavenly number.
The courtyard of the Imperial Vault of Heaven is located north of the Circular Mound Altar’s outer wall. It faces south and is enclosed by a circular wall. The main buildings within this courtyard include the Imperial Vault of Heaven itself and the East and West Subsidiary Halls, which house the spirit tablets used in the worship ceremonies at the Circular Mound Altar. The Imperial Vault of Heaven is supported by 16 surrounding columns, and its unique bracket and caisson structure is unparalleled in ancient Chinese architecture. The East Hall contains spirit tablets for the gods of the Ming Dynasty (the Sun), the Big Dipper, the five planets (Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn), and other celestial deities. The West Hall houses spirit tablets for the gods of the Night (the Moon), clouds, rain, wind, and thunder.
The circular wall surrounding the courtyard of the Imperial Vault of Heaven is approximately 3.72 meters high and 0.9 meters thick, constructed from finely polished bricks from Linqing, Shandong, with a top covered in blue glazed tiles. This wall is famously known as the “Echo Wall.” When people stand close to the wall behind the East and West Halls and speak softly, they can clearly hear each other’s voices, despite the distance between them. This acoustic phenomenon, created by the wall’s smooth, circular surface that effectively reflects sound waves, demonstrates the ancient Chinese understanding and application of acoustic principles over 500 years ago.
Related Details:
In front of the Hall of Imperial Vault of Heaven, on the paved pathway, there are three stone slabs known as the “Three Echo Stones.” When you stand on the first stone slab from the north and clap your hands, you will hear a single echo. Standing on the second stone slab and clapping your hands produces two echoes. Finally, standing on the third stone slab and clapping your hands results in three continuous echoes. This unique acoustic phenomenon is why these stones are called the “Three Echo Stones.”
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈谷坛) is the site where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held the grand ceremony to pray for good harvests during the first month of spring. The primary structures in this area include the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the East and West Annex Halls, the Gate of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Divine Kitchen, the Slaughter Pavilion, and the Long Corridor. Additional structures include the inner and outer precinct walls, the Dressing Terrace, and the Danbi Bridge.
The altar in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a round building that combines both altar and temple elements, based on the ancient concept of “sacrificing to the Emperor under a roof.” The altar has three levels, with a height of 5.6 meters. The diameters of the levels are 91 meters for the lower level, 80 meters for the middle level, and 68 meters for the upper level. The hall itself is round, with a height of 38 meters and a diameter of 32.7 meters. It has three tiers of blue glazed tiles and a round roof with a gilded pinnacle.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is supported by 28 large golden nanmu pillars arranged in a circular pattern. The four central dragon well pillars symbolize the four seasons of the year. The twelve inner pillars, slightly thinner than the central ones, are called golden pillars and represent the twelve months of the year. The twelve outer pillars are called eave pillars and symbolize the twelve two-hour periods of a day. Together, the 24 pillars of the inner and outer circles represent the 24 solar terms of the Chinese calendar.
Located north of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇乾殿) is a grand hall with a hip-and-gable roof covered in blue glazed tiles. This hall houses the spirit tablets of the “Emperor of Heaven” and the ancestors of the emperors. The tablets are placed in shrine-like niches, and on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, officials from the ritual administration are sent to dust and offer incense.
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Between the Circular Mound Altar (圜丘坛) and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈谷坛) lies the Danbi Bridge (丹陛桥), serving as the central axis connecting these two significant altars. The bridge spans 360 meters in length and 30 meters in width. It features three stone pathways: the central one is the Divine Road (神道), the eastern one is the Imperial Road (御道), and the western one is the Royal Road (王道). The bridge is higher in the north and lower in the south, giving the impression of ascending towards the heavens when walking northward. This symbolic design enhances the feeling of approaching a celestial realm and provides a unique experience for visitors.
Divine Music Administration
The Divine Music Administration, located in the western outer area of the Temple of Heaven, served as the practice venue for ritual music and dance during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was considered the highest institution of ceremonial music and dance in these periods. Initially built in the 18th year of Emperor Yongle’s reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420), it was originally named the Shenle Temple. In the 8th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1743), it was renamed Shenle Institute, and in the 19th year of Qianlong’s reign (1754), it was officially named the Divine Music Administration.
The main hall of the Divine Music Administration, an ancient single-eaved building with a hip-and-gable roof, was used for practicing ritual music and dance. Facing east, it has six columns and five bays, with passageways on the east and west sides. The hall covers an area of 600 square meters. Today, it has been transformed into the Zhonghe Shaoyue Performance Area, where ancient ritual music and dance performances are held. Additionally, it serves as the primary exhibition hall for Zhonghe Shaoyue instruments such as bells and chimes.
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To the west of the cypress grove near the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests lies the largest lilac forest in Beijing, covering an area of 6,300 square meters. This grove contains over 200 lilac bushes, each nearly 50 years old, which are now quite rare in the city. The chrysanthemums in the Temple of Heaven are also renowned for their variety and high level of care, with famous types such as “Praying for Good Harvests in the Snow” and “Golden Lion on the Danbi Bridge.”
The Hall of Ningxi in the Divine Music Department hosts six performances daily in the Zhonghe Shaoyue Exhibition Hall. Each performance lasts 15 minutes and features live music to introduce Zhonghe Shaoyue and ancient Chinese eight-tone musical instruments.
The Altar of Abstinence
The Altar of Abstinence is located inside the west gate of the Temple of Heaven. Its roof is covered with blue glazed tiles, symbolizing humility before the heavens. In front of the hall, there is a terrace featuring the Time Stele Pavilion and the Abstinence Bronze Figurine Pavilion. The bronze figurine, dressed in traditional scholarly attire and holding a plaque inscribed with the characters “Abstinence,” is said to be modeled after Wei Zheng, a Tang Dynasty chancellor.
Behind the main hall are five rooms used as sleeping quarters where the emperor would observe abstinence before the sacrificial ceremonies. Additionally, there are auxiliary buildings such as the Tea and Fruit Pavilion, the Dining Hall, and the Equipment Room. All the rooms are arranged in sets of five, symmetrically aligned both north-south and east-west.
The main hall of the Altar of Abstinence is striking with its red walls and green roof tiles. The green tiles are said to signify that the emperor must humble himself before the heavens. This hall is an impressive example of a beamless brick structure with vaulted arches, earning it the nickname “Beamless Hall.”
Two-Hour Tour Route Recommendation
Southern Entrance Route:
- Enter from the South Gate.
- Visit the Circular Mound Altar (圜丘).
- Explore the Echo Wall (回音壁).
- See the Nine-Dragon Cypress (九龙柏).
- Walk along the Danbi Bridge (丹陛桥).
- Tour the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿).
- Exit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and head west to the Sacred Music Academy (神乐署).
- Visit the Palace of Abstinence (斋宫).
- Exit from the West Gate.
Northern Entrance Route:
- Enter from the North Gate.
- Visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿).
- Walk across the Danbi Bridge (丹陛桥).
- See the Nine-Dragon Cypress (九龙柏).
- Explore the Echo Wall (回音壁).
- Visit the Circular Mound Altar (圜丘).
- Exit the Circular Mound Altar south gate heading west to the Sacred Music Academy (神乐署).
- Visit the Palace of Abstinence (斋宫).
- Exit from the West Gate.
Visitor Guide for Temple of Heaven
Food
The area around the Temple of Heaven Park is bustling with authentic Beijing snack shops:
- Sanyuan Cold Drink Shop (三元冷饮店) is renowned for its most authentic palace cheese.
- Zuo Lin You She Yu Lian Roast (左邻右舍裕涟) offers a variety of authentic snacks, such as Yu Lian Roast, Mung Bean Jelly, Fried Sausages, Mustard Balls, and Crispy Carp.
- Old Beijing Fried Sauce Noodle King (老北京炸酱面大王) serves genuine Beijing-style fried sauce noodles.
- Old Ciqi Kou Bean Juice Shop (磁器口豆汁店) is famous for its bean juice, which is a must-try. It’s served with halal snacks like crisp dough rings and pickled vegetables, providing a unique taste.
- Hongyuan South Gate Hot Pot (宏源南门涮肉) offers great value for money and is definitely worth a visit.
Shopping
Near the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven, Hongqiao Market (No. 9, East Tiananmen Road) is a shopping complex built in the 1990s, now known as the top pearl market in Beijing. In addition to pearls, it offers clothing, electronics, and more. Many foreigners visit the market for shopping. Since the market frequently serves international tourists, both shop owners and salespeople can speak some common English. Bargaining is possible here, and with a keen eye, you can find high-quality goods at reasonable prices.
Accommodation
Near the Temple of Heaven, there are both budget-friendly hotels with excellent reputations and upscale hotels with elegant environments and top-notch service. Notable hotels in this area include Capital Hotel (首都宾馆, No. 3, East Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District) and Tai Miao Shan International Business Hotel (太姥山国际商务酒店, No. 4, Hongtong Alley, Jian Guo Men Nei Street, Dongcheng District). These hotels offer superior conditions and convenient transportation.