Temple of Heaven: Best Guide of Altar of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is the largest and highest-ranking ancient Chinese sacrificial architectural complex that still exists today, with an area four times that of the Forbidden City. If you take a close look at the top of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, you'll find it resembles the hat worn by ancient Chinese officials.
After 1913, no more sacrificial ceremonies were held at the Temple of Heaven. Now, this place, which was once dedicated to sacrifices, has become a park.
Facts on the Temple of Heaven
- Location: Dongcheng District, Beijing
- Area: 273 hectares
- History: Built in 1420, it has a history of over 600 years.
Open Hours of the Temple of Heaven
| Period | Opening Time | Last Admission Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1st - October 31st | 6:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 |
| November 1st - March 31st | 6:30 | 21:00 | 22:00 |
Ticket Price of Temple of Heaven
| Attraction | April 1st - October 31st | November 1st - March 31st |
|---|---|---|
| Temple of Heaven Park | CNY15 | CNY10 |
| Temple of Heaven Park (including attractions within the park) | CNY34 | CNY28 |
| Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests | CNY20 | |
| Echo Wall | ||
| Circular Mound Altar | ||
Temple of Heaven Inside Perspective
The Temple of Heaven is divided into two main areas: the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar. The southern enclosing wall of the complex is square, symbolizing the Earth, while the northernmost enclosing wall is semi-circular, representing the heavens.
The overall architectural layout slopes downward from north to south, not only expressing the natural concept of the heavens being high and the earth being low but also ingeniously embodying the ancient Chinese philosophical idea of "the heavens being round and the earth being square."
Inner Altar
The Inner Altar primarily consists of 3 ancient architectural complexes: the Circular Mound Altar, the Prayer Hall for Good Harvests, and the Hall of Abstinence. Among them, the Circular Mound Altar, also known as the Altar for Heaven Worship, serves as a dedicated venue for grand ceremonies to offer sacrifices to heaven.
The Prayer Hall for Good Harvests is where the emperor prayed to heaven for bountiful crops, favorable weather, national tranquility, and the well-being of the people, reflecting a profound reverence for deities and nature. Three days before the Heaven Worship Ceremony, the emperor would reside in the Hall of Abstinence to fast and purify his mind and body, demonstrating his utmost devotion.
1. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest 祈年殿
In the northern part of the Temple of Heaven, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest was originally constructed in 1420. It is the main building within the temple and the earliest and most worthwhile one to visit. The emperors in ancient times worshipped heaven there every year, praying for favorable weather and a good harvest.
The building is 32 meters in diameter and 38 meters in height. It is a circular hall with triple eaves and a golden dome, supported by 28 nanmu pillars. The eaves are covered with blue glazed tiles, also symbolizing the sky.
2. Circular Mound Altar 圜丘坛
The circular Mound Altar is the place where the emperor held a winter ceremony to worship the heavens. Built in 1530, the whole altar is an open-air, three-story, round stone terrace with white marble panels.
Standing on the round stone in the middle of the uppermost layer of the altar, your voice will sound loud even if you whisper. Therefore, when the emperor spoke there, his loud voice was like one from heaven, making the ceremony solemn and mysterious.
People in ancient times believed that the number 9 represented the ultimate of all positive numbers, signifying supreme power. They believed that the emperor was the Son of Heaven, so the entire Circular Mound Altar used a multiple of 9 to represent the authority of the emperor. All the numbers of the decorations of the altar, like slats and steps, are 9 or multiples of 9, implying the imperial throne.
3. Imperial Vault of Heaven 皇穹宇
Also built in 1530, the Imperial Vault of Heaven was the venue to consecrate the gods of the Circular Mound Altar, where the spirit tablets were stored and used in the worship of the heavens.
It is a round, single-spire structure with a sliding roof. The roof is covered with blue glazed tiles, symbolizing the sky. With 15.6 meters in diameter and 19.02 meters in height, the main hall is supported by 8 golden columns and 8 eave columns. The three-story sunk panels are ingeniously layered and constructed.
4. Echo Hall 回音壁
The Echo Wall is the enclosure of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. With a height of 3.72 meters, the wall is built of brick and covered with blue glazed tiles. The radius of the wall is very regular, and the surface is extremely smooth, which helps the refraction of sound waves. If two people stand against the wall in the east and west, respectively, and speak northward, they can make the other hear clearly even when whispering. The drawn-out sound creates the mysterious atmosphere of “interaction between heaven and mankind”, hence it’s called the “Echo Wall”.
Outer Altar
The Outer Altar area of Temple of Heaven Park is designed as a lush forest zone, densely planted with a variety of trees that create a vibrant expanse of greenery. On the southwestern side of the Outer Altar stands the Divine Music Administration, a dedicated venue for rehearsing ceremonial music and dance performances.
It was an institution during the Ming and Qing dynasties dedicated to the royal heaven-worshipping ceremonies. It was in charge of playing ancient music during these ceremonies and specifically served to train personnel for the ceremonial music and dance performances.
Temple of Heaven at Night
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests looks even more magnificent at night than during the day. Dazzling lights illuminate the entire structure, making its blue glazed tiles shine exceptionally bright. The lighting typically turns on around 7:30 PM on weekends and holidays, though the exact time may vary and is adjusted based on when the city's streetlights are activated for the day.
Since the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is located within a separate enclosed area of the park, it closes to visitors after 5:00 PM. However, you can still enjoy a distant view of it from within Temple of Heaven Park. The two best vantage points for viewing are the areas to the left and right of the staircase at the west gate of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, as well as the spots to the left and right of the Hall of Abstinence for Heaven.
How to Get to Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is situated in the south of Tiananmen Square and quite close to Beijing South Railway Station. There's a subway station right at the entrance of the scenic area, so taking the subway is a good and budget-friendly option for getting there. I wouldn't particularly recommend taking the bus, as Beijing's roads are occasionally subject to traffic control measures. Once these are implemented, it's hard to predict when bus services will resume, which could potentially disrupt your travel plans.
However, one advantage of taking the bus is that you get to enjoy the scenic views along the way. Here's some information on bus routes that pass by the Temple of Heaven Park for your reference:
East Gate of Temple of Heaven: Bus6, Bus34, Bus35, Bus36, Bus39, Bus41, Bus43, Bus60, Bus116, Bus610, Bus707, Bus723, Bus743, Bus958, Bus957
South Gate of Temple of Heaven: Bus53, Bus120, Bus122, Bus525, Bus610, Bus800, Bus803, Bus958
West Gate of Temple of Heaven: Bus6, us34, Bus35, Bus110, Bus106, Bus687, Bus707, Bus743
From Capital Airport to Temple of Heaven
By Subway: Take the Capital Airport Express to Beixinqiao Station, then transfer to Line 5 and get off at Tiantandongmen Station. Exit through Exit A2. The entire journey takes approximately 80 minutes and costs around CNY 30.
By Car: Taking a taxi will get you there in about 60 minutes, with a fare of approximately CNY 100.
From Daxing Airport to Temple of Heaven
By Subway: Take the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao Station, then transfer to Line 10 and get off at Songjiazhuang Station. From there, take the final transfer to Line 5 and alight at Tiantandongmen Station. Exit through Exit A2. The whole trip takes around 60 minutes and costs approximately CNY 39.
By Car: Taking a taxi will take about 50 minutes, with a fare of roughly CNY 150.
From Beijing South Railway Station to Temple of Heaven
By Subway: Take Line 14 to Yongdingmen Station, then transfer to Line 8 and get off at Tianqiao Station. Exit through Exit C. The entire journey takes about 30 minutes and costs approximately CNY 3.
By Car: Taking a taxi will take around 20 minutes, with a fare of roughly CNY 30.
Related Reading: Beijing Transportation
Get to Temple of Heaven By Private Transfer
Compared to taking public transportation, the private transfer is more convenient. We'll send a driver to pick you up from wherever you are, whether it's an airport, a railway station, or a hotel within Beijing city. After picking you up, we'll safely transport you to the scenic spot.
We'll arrange a vehicle based on the number of travelers, ensuring everyone has a seat and there's ample space, even for strollers. You can just sit back and enjoy the journey.
Heaven Worship Ceremony
Heaven Worship was the most solemn ritual of the Chinese, which originated some 5,000 years ago. It was a form of “communication” between mankind and heaven.
The ceremony was usually presided over by the “Son of Heaven”. In ancient China, emperors were regarded as the Sons of Heaven, who represented humans by offering sacrifices to heaven, expressing gratitude for the nourishment of nature, and asking God to bless the Chinese people.
The Temple of Heaven, as the name suggests, was built for these ceremonies, mostly including prayers for a good harvest. The main ceremony was at the Winter Solstice. It had to be strictly organized and perfectly completed. Otherwise, it would turn into a bad omen for the whole nation in the coming year.
What is the Temple of Heaven Used for Today
The last heaven-worshipping ceremony at the Temple of Heaven was held in 1914. In 1918, the Temple of Heaven was officially opened to the public and named Temple of Heaven Park. Subsequently, various scenic spots within the park were gradually opened to visitors and underwent renovations and maintenance. Today, the Temple of Heaven Park has become a place for citizens to relax and enjoy themselves.
The park is a popular place where local people, the elderly and retired in particular, gather to practice tai chi, to play Chinese chess and cards, mahjong, Chinese musical instruments such as the erhu, and to sing.
Temple of Heaven Tour
I suggest you book a tour package that includes the Temple of Heaven Park through China Travel. During the trip, our tour guide will tell you stories behind the Temple of Heaven.
For example, how Chinese emperors carried out the heaven-worshipping ceremony, what the purpose of such a ceremony was, how many people were involved on the day of the ceremony, and what offerings were used. After listening to the guide's explanations, you'll know the answers to these questions.