You are here: Home > guide > city >Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven was first built in 1420 during Ming Dynasty and extended and renovated during the reigns of Ming and Qing Dynasties. It served as a vast sacred space to perform ceremonial rites on behalf of the Chinese nation. The total area covers 273 hectares which is larger than the area of Forbidden City. The emperors of ancient China always believed themselves the sons of God. They worshipped the universe and the earth, so the ceremony for the universe used to be ranked above other national affairs each year.

Prior to the winter solstice, the emperor would lead a solemn procession from the Forbidden City to the Temple of heaven. At the first light on the winter solstice, after a night of fasting and ritual cleansing, the emperor would offer ritual sacrifices and make a report to heaven. He would also visit on the 15th day of the first lunar month to pray for a good harvest. The temple was vitally important to the imperial universe as it was the link between the emperor and heaven. The annual procession to the Temple of Heaven was so sacred that the people of Beijing could not cast their eyes upon it. Prior to the winter solstice, the emperor would lead a solemn procession from the Forbidden City to the Temple of heaven. At the first light on the winter solstice, after a night of fasting and ritual cleansing, the emperor would offer ritual sacrifices and make a report to heaven. He would also visit on the 15th day of the first lunar month to pray for a good harvest. The temple was vitally important to the imperial universe as it was the link between the emperor and heaven. The annual procession to the Temple of Heaven was so sacred that the people of Beijing could not cast their eyes upon it.

As the largest architectural complex in the world for rituals to pay homage to heaven, the Temple of Heaven is divided into two parts: inner altar and outer altar. The main buildings are on a north-south axis situated in the inner session of the garden. Each part of Temple of Heaven releases the particular meaning and the expression of symbolization. Let’s pass through the park along the central axis from its North Heavenly Gate to South Heavenly Gate to experience the grand worshiping ceremony.

Tourist Highlights

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

1. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

It was used to worship both earth and heaven. The hall is the main building in the compound, a lofty cone-shaped structure with triple eaves. In 1545, it was rebuilt into a magnificent triple-gabled circular building, 36 meters in diameter and 38 meters tall, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. During the ceremony, the emperor stood on the dragon-and-phoenix marble, delivered a speech and tasted the offering food. The princes stand outside the hall with the band, the dancers and officials standing on both sides.

The roof of the hall is made of blue glazed tiles. The building is not only splendid in outer appearance, but also unique in inner frame. It is completely wooden without nails and walls, only partitions of open lattice windows. The ceiling is painted with fine color drawings. On each wing of the main hall, there are subsidiary halls in which were worshipped the Gods of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, as well as the Gods of Wind, Rain, Thunder and lightning.

2. The Palace of Abstinence

The Palace of Abstinence was the place where the emperor used to observe abstinence from meat, drink, music, women and state affairs for three days before he conducted the sacrificial rites at the temple. Facing east and located to the southwest of the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Palace of Abstinence is covered with green tiles symbolizing the emperor’s obedience to heaven. The palace, which is square in shape, covers an area of 40,000 square meters. Inside the palace can be found the Beamless Hall, bed chambers, a belfry, a stone pavilion housing a bronze statue (a symbol of justice and righteousness), and rooms for guards and servants. The palace, with its canonical layout and beautiful environment, is girdled by a double wall and a double moat.

The Palace of Abstinence
The Imperial Vault of Heaven

3. The Imperial Vault of Heaven

Built in 1530, in a round shape with a double-eave roof, it was the main hall of the Celestial Treasure House of the Circular Mound Altar, housing the God’s tablets of the emperor’s ancestors to be used at the ceremony of worshipping Heaven. It is located south of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and resembles it, but is smaller.

The vault is surrounded by a smooth circular wall, the Echo Wall which has marvelous acoustic properties. A whisper can travel clearly from one end to your friend’s ear at the other. Come to this site earlier so that you won’t be crowded with tour group. The Imperial Vault is connected to the Hall of Prayer by Red Stairway Bridge, a 360 meter long elevated walkway that slowly ascends from the Vault to the Hall of Prayer.

4. The Circular Mound Altar

It is the altar proper, located south of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, an empty circular platform on three levels of marble stones, each decorated by lavishly carved dragons. Three marble tiers representing Earth, Man and Heaven, is the centre of the World. It is said that an orator’s voice originating from these tiers was magnified and could be heard for miles.

The Circular Altar was where the emperor gave heaven his report. Indeed, the sound of the emperor will be reflected by the guardrail, creating significant resonance, which is supposed to help the prayer communicate with the Heaven. The numbers of various elements of the Altar, including its balusters and steps, are either the sacred number nine or its nonuples. The center of the altar is a round slate called the Heart of Heaven, where the emperor prayed for favorable weather.

The Circular Mound Altar

In 1998, the Temple of Heaven was listed into the World Heritage List by UNESCO. The committee appraised the temple as "Built in the first half of the 15th century, the Temple of Heaven located in the royal garden is surrounded with ancient pines. The temple, reveals the relationship between the Heaven and Ground in terms of whether overall arrangement or single construction. And this relationship possessed a key position in Chinese ancient university view”.

Admission Fee: CNY 35 (Apr 1st - Oct 31st) CNY 30 (Nov 1st - Mar 31st)

Extra cost of CNY 10 for The Divine Music Administration and The Palace of Abstinence

Opening Hour: Gate:6:00-22:00

The scenic spots inside the Temple of Heaven:

8:00——17:30 (Mar 1st - Jun 30th)

8:00——18:00 (Jul 1st - Oct 31st)

8:00——17:00 (Nov 1st - Feb 28th)

Subway: Take Line 5 to Tiantan Dong Station (The Temple of Heaven East Station), A1 Exit

Bus: Overpass Station (Tianqiao Station): 105; 106; 110; 120; 17; 20; 35; 36; 69; 707; 71;729; 7; 835; 837; 917 Fast; T11; 203; 210; 831; Zhuan 30

Overpass Mall Station: 15

The Temple of Heaven North Station: 106; 110; 34; 35; 36; 687; 6; 707

The Temple of Heaven West Station: 17; 20; 2; 35; 36; 504; 69; 707; 71; 729; 93; T11; Zhuan 30

The Temple of Heaven South Station: 120; 122; 36; 525; 53; 958; T11; T12; T3; 208

Fahua Temple: 116; 25; 34; 35; 36; 39; 41; 43; 525; 60; 684; 685; 687; 6; 707; 723

 
Other City
  Beijing   Chengdu
  Chongqing   Dali
  Datong   Dunhuang
  Guangzhou   Guilin
  Hangzhou   Jiayuguan
  Kashgar   Kunming
  Lanzhou   Lhasa
  Lijiang   Luoyang
  Hongkong   Shanghai
  Suzhou   Turpan
  Urumqi   Wuhan
  Yangtze   the Silk Road
  Xi'an  
 
Customer Service
    China Tours Reviews
    China Info
    City Guide
    China Travel News
    Terms & Conditions
 
Toolkits
  China Climate
  China Map
  China Photo
  Embassy & Visa
  Area Code & Zip Code