Temple of Heaven is bigger than the Forbidden City. It was originally constructed as a ceremonial space for emperors during the 15th century, but has been open to the public since 1918. Nowadays, the site is a gathering point for local musicians, dancers and other performers who practice their martial arts and hobbies here.
Hidden behind high walls, the Temple of Heaven park offers a welcome respite from the hectic city streets of Beijing. The northern section is semi-circular, representing heaven. The square southern part symbolizes Earth.
Explore the halls, pavilions and gardens filled with interesting architecture. You’ll get insight into the practices of ancient Chinese philosophy, history and religion.
Be prepared for a lot of walking if you set out to follow the traditional ceremonial route. Start at the Zhaoheng Gate in the south and follow the main stone pathway. You’ll soon reach the tiered Circular Mound Altar, where emperors would offer sacrifices in the hope of getting a good harvest. Ancient philosophical symbols are incorporated in the design of the temple.
Notice how the altar’s architecture is built around the number nine, a significant number in ancient Eastern culture. Count out how each terrace is constructed with stones grouped in multiples of nine.
A short distance ahead, you’ll find the round Imperial Vault of Heaven Pavilion. Inside, glance upwards at its ornate ceiling with a colorful design centered on a large gilded dragon. If you have a travel companion, try out the Echo Wall surrounding the pavilion: The acoustics of this space means that your whisper will be heard all the way at the other end.
Temple of Heaven is located in the Dongcheng District. To get there, take the subway to Tiantandongmen Station. Exit A leads to the East Gate entrance of the temple. There are additional fees to visit the various sections of the park. Electronic guides in English are available for rent.
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New World Beijing Hotel
No. 8 Qinian Street, Chongwenmen Beijing
Grand Hyatt Beijing
1 East Chang An Avenue Beijing Beijing
Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing
No. 1 Caochang Alley 10 Beijing
Manxin Temple of Heaven North Gate Qiaowan Metro
38 Xixiaoshi Street, Dongcheng District Beijing PEK
Peace Hotel Beijing
No 3 Jinyu Hutong, Wangfujing Beijing
Wanda Moments Beijing Qianmen
F2-3, No. 19, Zhushikou East Street Beijing
Nostalgia Hotel（Beijing Tiananmen Square ）
18 Xiaoqijia Hutong, Xicheng District Beijing
Holiday Inn Express Beijing Temple of Heaven by IHG
No. 36 Nan Wei Road Beijing
Wanda Yi Beijing Qianmen
19, Zhushikou East Street, Dongcheng Beijing
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Best time to go to Temple of Heaven
The best time to visit Temple of Heaven is dependent on what kind of holiday you are seeking. July is its hottest month on average. At this time, visitor numbers are average and weather is mostly sunny with moderate rain. January is its coolest month on average. At this time, visitor numbers are average and weather is sunny with no rain.
 Calendar Month |  Temperature |  Precipitation |  Cloudiness |  Occupancy |  Pricing |
| January | 26.1°F (-3.3°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Average | Slightly Low |
| February | 32.2°F (0.1°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Slightly Low | Slightly Low |
| March | 45.9°F (7.7°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Slightly High | Average |
| April | 59.0°F (15.0°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Slightly High | Slightly High |
| May | 71.6°F (22.0°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Average | Average |
| June | 79.5°F (26.4°C) | Light Rain | Sunny | Average | Average |
| July | 81.7°F (27.6°C) | Moderate Rain | Mostly Sunny | Average | Slightly High |
| August | 78.4°F (25.8°C) | Light Rain | Mostly Sunny | Slightly Low | Average |
| September | 70.3°F (21.3°C) | Light Rain | Mostly Sunny | Slightly High | Average |
| October | 57.7°F (14.3°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Average | Slightly High |
| November | 41.2°F (5.1°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Average | Average |
| December | 28.2°F (-2.1°C) | No Rain | Sunny | Slightly Low | Slightly Low |
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