Temple of Heaven
Beijing, China
The Temple of Heaven is a brilliantly ornate construction that also holds the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And if that doesn’t pull you in, then the fact that it is a religious place purposefully built larger in size than the Forbidden City will definitely get your attention. Within, during the Ming and Qing eras, the reigning emperor would hold precisely timed, important ceremonies for heavenly deities to ensure bountiful crops in the upcoming year. It is a fascinating glimpse into the oriental culture.
The #1 temple in all of China can be accessed pretty seamlessly through Beijing’s public transport network. While all four gates are served by public buses, the East Gate is just a stone’s throw from Tiantan Dongmen station of Line 5. There is a meager admission ticket of RMB15 (RMB10 off-season) and then a further charge of RMB20 if you want to get close and personal with the Circular Mound Altar, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (a must) or the famous Echo Wall at the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Don’t forget to take your passport along!
Back in the day, the Emperor would start the ceremonial procession from the South Gate and progress systematically to the Prayer Hall, which lies to the north of the complex, performing rituals in the designated buildings that laid in a south to north alignment. So if you really want to follow in Imperial footsteps, make an effort to get up early and come through the South Gate, check out the Circular Mound Altar, proceeding to the Imperial Vault of Heaven and ultimately wind up at the aforementioned Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The crowds are thick from April-October and on public holidays and weekends. But if you do end up here at any of those times, get a timely start (park opens at 06:00) to feel the serenity of the Temple, although attractions inside don’t open until 08:00.
Perhaps the most magnificent and picture-worthy is the Prayer Hall, which is not only a treat to behold but is also quite heavy on the symbolism. The perfectly circular building and the significance of the 12 inner and outer pillars plus 4 main ones (28 total) inside never fail to impress visitors. The Imperial Vault of Heaven is a mastery of acoustics, built to amplify sound so it could reach the heavens. A cool experience is to have a friend stand at the opposite end of the Echo Wall (the north-facing one) from you and have a whispered conversation since sound carries so perfectly there. It won’t work in too much noise and crowds unfortunately. The Circular Altar Mound, built of marble is another important construction.
But the place isn’t only worth visiting for the history. There are splendid gardens with many plant and tree varieties and walkways like the Long Corridor or the Danbi bridge that will delight your senses and provide the ideal opportunity to witness locals practicing Taichi, playing cards or even bursting into song.
Other Attractions In Beijing
Beijing Workers' Stadium
Also referred to as the Gongti or Gong Ti, the Be…
Beijing World Park
The most visited tourist attraction in China is t…
Beijing Zoo and Aquarium
Hailed as the largest zoo in China, the place dat…
Bird's Nest - Beijing National Stadium
The mammoth structure of the Beijing National Sta…
Blue Zoo Aquarium
Also called the Gongti Richina Underwater World, …
Capital Museum
The Capital Museum in Beijing is a frequently vis…
CCTV Tower
Referred to as the CCTV Tower, the CCTV Headquart…
Chang Ling Ming Tomb
Having a long history, the Chang Ling Ming Tomb i…
Cuandixia
Just 56Kms from downtown Beijing is the beautiful…
Ding Ling Ming Tomb
Just 45Kms north of downtown Beijing is the impre…
Dino Dream Park
The Dino Dream Park is part of the Chaoyang Olymp…
Dongyue Taoist Temple
Considered the largest temple of Taoism in China,…
Fahai Temple
The Fahai Temple in Beijing has the finest exampl…
Fenghuang Ling Scenic Area (Phoenix Hill Scenic Area)
With its splendid greenery and awesome panorama, …
Forbidden City
A glimpse in to the extravagant lives of Chinese …
Fragrant Hills Park
The 12th century Fragrant Hills Park lies just 28…
Great Hall of the People
Great hall of the people
Great Wall of China at Badaling
Millions of tourists flock every year to Badaling…
Great Wall of China at Gubeikou
The Great Wall of China at Gubeikou has seen a lo…
Great Wall of China at Huanghua
The Great Wall of China at Huanghua is not as cro…
Great Wall of China at Jiankou
The Jiankou Great Wall is considered the most tre…
Great Wall of China at Jinshanling
Situated 80Kms from Beijing City, China and const…
Great Wall of China at Juyong Guan (Juyong Pass)
Approximately 50Kms from Beijing, China is the Ch…
Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
Mutianyu is approximately 40 miles from Beijing d…
Great Wall of China at Shixia Guan
Being nearest to the city of Beijing, the Great W…
Great Wall of China at Simatai
Built during the Qi and Ming Dynasties, the Great…
Green Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built to protect the …
Guangji Temple
Although the Guangji Temple in Beijing is not an …
Hongluo Temple
The 1000-year-old Hongluo Temple is situated just…
Houhai Hutong
In Chinese, a hutong means a narrow commercial st…
Huashi Mosque
Considered one of the four biggest mosques in Bei…
Huguosi Snack Street
Established during the Yuan Dynasty, the Huguosi …
Imperial Ancestral Temple
The Imperial Ancestral Temple (Taimiao) in Beijin…
Jingdong Canyon
Situated just 85Kms from Beijing, the Jingdong Gr…
Jing Shan Park
On the Zhen Hill in Beijing city, China lies the …
Kangxi Grasslands
About 80Kms from downtown Beijing, China is one o…
Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong)
Beijing has a lot to offer tourists, being the se…
Longqing Gorge
The Longqing Gorge is one of the perennial touris…
Longtan Park
There is a superb urban recreational area in Beij…
Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge)
Supported by 281 pillars, the beautiful Lugou Bri…
Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong was the leader of China’s Communist Pa…
Mei Lanfang Memorial
Mei Lanfang was a famous opera actor in Beijing w…
Miaofeng Shan
The Miaofeng Shan Mountain to the west of Beijing…
Milu Park (Elk Park)
With an area of 11 square kilometers, the Milu Pa…
Ming Dynasty Waxworks Palace
The Ming Dynasty Waxworks Palace located in Beiji…
Ming Tombs
The Thirteen Tombs of Ming Dynasty is the burial …
Monument to the People's Heroes
In the memory of people who lost their lives duri…
Nan Luo Gu Xiang
In ancient China, narrow commercial streets were …
Nanshan Ski Resort
The Nanshan Ski Resort or Nanshan Ski Village is …
National Peking Opera Theater
Tourists can enjoy phenomenal artistic performanc…
Niujie Mosque
The Niujie Mosque is one of the most majestic mos…
Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan)
Old Summer Palace was originally built in 1709 as…
Olympic Green
The Olympic Green is the venue of the 2008 Beijin…
Panjiayuan Market
When you are looking for a place that sells a vas…
Peking Opera Art Museum
The Peking Opera Art Museum is situated in the 2-…
Poly Art Museum
For those who are in search of unusual ancient Ch…
Poly Theatre
Located on the East 2nd Ring Road, the Poly Theat…
Prince Gong's Mansion
Originally called the Prince Kung's Mansion, the …
Python Mountain National Forest Park
About 40Kms from Beijing, China is the beautiful …
Qinglong Gorge Holiday Resort
Over the years one of the resorts that have gaine…
Sanlitun
If you are looking for exciting nightlife in Beij…
Shichahai (Houhai)
Located in the northern part of downtown Beijing,…
Shidu
The town of Shidu lies in the Shidu Nature Park w…
Shihua Cave
Considered the best place for geological research…
Shijingshan Amusement Park
One of the main features of Beijing's Shijingshan…
Summer Palace
With unparalleled age-old beauty, the Summer Pala…
Tanzhe Temple
Considered the oldest Buddhist temple near Beijin…
Taoranting Park
Being a perfect blend of ancient architecture and…
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a brilliantly ornate cons…
The Great Bell Temple
The Great Bell Temple, Beijing, China was built i…
Tian'anmen Square
Hailed as one of the largest town squares in the …
Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum
Covering an area of 3160 square meters, the Tradi…
Underwater Great Wall at Panjiakou Reservoir
Imagine spending a day scuba diving under the Gre…
Wangfujing
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), several prin…
Water Cube - National Aquatics Center
The Water Cube Park is situated in Beijing, China…
Water Cube Water Park
Considered as China's largest indoor water-themed…
White Dagoba (Miaoying Temple)
A dagoba is a Tibetan Buddhist pagoda. The White …
Wofo Si (Temple of the Recumbent Buddha)
The Wofo Si temple is one of the most visited pla…
Yanqi Lake
If you are traveling in Beijing with kids you mus…
Youth Lake Park
With over 16,000 trees, the Youth Lake Park in Be…
Yunju Temple and Shijing Mountain
Also called the Temple of Cloud Dwelling, the Yun…
Home > Beijing > Beijing > Temple of Heaven