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Temple of Heaven
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.
Popular Activities at Temple of Heaven
You could comfortably spend a whole afternoon at Temple of Heaven. The list below provides a nice selection of the activities you can try here:
- Beijing Top Highlights Group Tour
- Skip The Line Forbidden City, Beijing Private Tour, and Temple of Heaven
- Private Tour: Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven
- Private Temple of Heaven & Hongqiao Market Tour
- Private Emperor for a Day-ForbiddenCity,TempleHeaven,Summer
- 2 Days Tour to Emperor for a Day & The Classic Great Wall
If you're seeking more options, have a look at our Beijing things to do page.
Guide to Exploring Temple of Heaven
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Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao
1 Chong Wen Men Xi Da Jie, Beijing, BeijingLocated in Downtown Beijing, this spa hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Dongcheng Dongjiaomin Lane, Beijing New World Shopping Mall, and Beijing Shengmi E'er Catholic Church. Wangfujing Street and Qianmen Street are also within 1 mi (2 km). Chongwenmen Station is only a 4-minute walk and Wangfujing Station is 14 minutes.
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The Emperor Tiananmen Beijing
No.87 Xianyukou Street, Qianmen Business Street, Dongcheng Dist, Beijing, BeijingLocated in Downtown Beijing, this luxury hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Beijing Qianmen Street and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. Lao She Teahouse and National Museum of China are also within 15 minutes. Qianmen Station is 11 minutes by foot and Chongwenmen Station is 17 minutes.
pentahotel Beijing
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Capital Hotel
3 Qianmen East Street, Beijing, BeijingLocated in Downtown Beijing, this luxury hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Dongcheng Dongjiaomin Lane and National Museum of China. Tiananmen Square and Qianmen Street are also within 1 mi (2 km). Qianmen Station is 10 minutes by foot and Chongwenmen Station is 11 minutes.
Grand Hyatt Beijing
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Beijing Hotel Nuo Forbidden City
33 Chang An Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, BeijingLocated in Downtown Beijing, this luxury hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Tiananmen Square and Tiananmen. Wangfujing Street and Forbidden City are also within 1 mi (2 km). Wangfujing Station is 8 minutes by foot and Tian'anmen East Station is 12 minutes.
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No. 89 TianTan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing, BeijingLocated in Downtown Beijing, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Temple of Heaven and Hongqiao Market. Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and Wangfujing Street are also within 2 mi (3 km). Tiantandongmen Station is 9 minutes by foot and Ciqikou Station is 11 minutes.