The Temple of Heaven
- Chinese name:天坛公园
- Foreign name: Temple of Heaven
- Location: No.1, Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing
- Location: 北京市东城区天坛路甲1号
- Opening hours: April 1st-October 31st 06:00-21:00
- Attraction level: AAAAA level
- Ticket price: 15.00 yuan
- Area: about 2730000 m²
- Construction time: 1420
- Suggested play time: 1-2 hours
- Official Website: http://www.tiantanpark.com/
- Tel:(+86) 010-67012483
- Virtual Tour: https://v.visitbeijing.com.cn/pano/1_1/index.html
The Temple of Heaven
Discover Harmony and Heritage at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven
Step into a world of architectural splendor and spiritual significance at the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most revered landmarks. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a masterpiece of Ming and Qing dynasty design, offering a fascinating glimpse into China’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions.
A Sacred Space of Imperial Worship
Built in the 15th century, the Temple of Heaven was where emperors performed rituals to pray for good harvests and harmony between heaven and earth. The complex is meticulously designed, with every element symbolizing cosmic balance and the connection between the human and divine realms.
Must-See Features
- The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: This iconic circular structure, built entirely of wood without nails, stands as a symbol of ancient Chinese craftsmanship.
- The Circular Mound Altar: Known for its acoustic marvels, this platform was used for sacrifices and rituals.
- The Echo Wall: A fascinating feature where a whisper travels audibly along the curved wall, showcasing ancient architectural ingenuity.
Why Visit the Temple of Heaven?
Beyond its historical significance, the Temple of Heaven is surrounded by a sprawling park filled with century-old cypress trees. It’s a popular spot for locals practicing tai chi, playing traditional instruments, or engaging in morning exercises, offering visitors an authentic glimpse of daily life in Beijing. Whether you’re drawn to its architectural beauty, spiritual history, or serene surroundings, the Temple of Heaven promises an enriching and memorable experience.
Don’t miss this iconic site on your journey through Beijing—immerse yourself in the harmony and heritage of the Temple of Heaven!
The Temple of Heaven Photo
The Temple of Heaven Tourist Map
The Temple of Heaven Video
The Temple of Heaven
Things To Do
Experience Royal Dim Sum Breakfast Restaurant Afternoon Tea
Fuyan Restaurant （福宴餐厅）
When you come to the Temple of Heaven, you must try breakfast at Fuyan!
Go straight from the west gate into the park, and when you are almost to the left of the second west gate, you will find the Tiantan Fuyan Restaurant.
- Breakfast service time: 6:30-9:30
- Breakfast types: Youbing, Youtiao, Baozi, Tofu Brain, Mung Bean Porridge, etc., basically 10 yuan for a full and good meal! Eating breakfast in the Temple of Heaven Park, this price is too good!
- Afternoon Tea: Dim Sum + Beijing Cuisine +Roast duck ，Royal Style，Ralax Time
Temple of Heaven Cultural and Creative Souvenirs
The cultural and creative souvenir shop on the west side of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven has launched many new cultural and creative products, each of which is beautiful to the heart…
Especially the necklaces, bracelets and plush pendants of the Ruyi series, which are so exquisite that people can’t put them down and are very suitable as souvenirs for relatives and friends.
The Temple of Heaven Travel Guide
Regional Quick Facts
The inner altar is divided into two parts by the palace wall, the north and the south. The north is the “Prayer for Grain Altar”. Gate, Divine Kitchen, Sacrifice Pavilion, Seventy-two Corridor, etc.
In the south is the “Circular Mound Altar”, which is an open-air three-story circular stone altar. It is the place where the emperor worships heaven on the winter solstice. .
Connecting the two altars is a masonry platform with a length of 360 meters, a width of 28 meters and a height of 2.5 meters. long road.
The exquisite design of the three-tone stone
When visiting the Temple of Heaven, in addition to admiring the exquisite architecture of the various halls and following the grand scenes of ancient emperors offering sacrifices to heaven, the ingenious designs such as the Echo Wall and the Three-tone Stone also make people marvel at the wisdom of the ancients.
On the stone road from the front of the Emperor’s Vault of Heaven to the middle of the gate, the three stone slabs from north to south are called Sanyin stones. When the doors and windows of the Imperial Vault of Heaven are closed and there are no obstacles nearby, if you stand on the first stone slab and clap your hands, you will hear a single echo; Clap your hands, and you can hear three echoes.
Learn about the culture of worshiping heaven
A simple visit may not always have a specific concept of the ancient emperor’s ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven. It doesn’t matter, the Etiquette Hall of Worshiping Heaven, located in the West Side Hall of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, introduces the evolution process of Chinese rituals for worshiping heaven in detail, focusing on the etiquette of the ceremony of worshiping heaven in Qing Dynasty, including various ritual vessels and procedures for worshiping heaven, etc. Among them, “Picture of the Thirteenth Year of Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty” shows the style and appearance of the Chinese royal guard of honor for the first time, which is especially wonderful and should not be missed.
The Jitian Music and Dance Hall located in the East Side Hall of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests uses chime bells, chime chimes and other musical instruments of Zhonghe Shaoyue in the Qing Dynasty, combined with text and pictures, to comprehensively introduce the history, music and dance system, management organization and The music scene during the praying valley ceremony enables visitors to have an intuitive and comprehensive understanding of the music and dance for offering sacrifices to heaven.
team tour guides
The scenic spot provides team tour guides in Chinese and English, located at the south gate of the park. 100 yuan for less than 5 people in Chinese; 200 yuan for more than 5 people in Chinese;
An additional 50 yuan will be charged for the English explanation on the basis of the Chinese fee.
Need to book two days in advance.
