Temple of Heaven
» Beijing, He Bei

天坛 帝王"祭天"、"祈谷"之所 [明/清] 中国古建筑珍品 祈年殿、皇穹宇、圜丘、回音壁

Tiantan South Gate,Chongwen District

The Temple of Heaven is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves 'The Son of Heaven,' they dared not to build their own dwelling, 'Forbidden City' bigger than a dwelling for Heaven.

History

Temple of Heaven in different reigns

  • Yongle Emperor
    The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
  • Jiajing Emperor
    The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. The Jiajing Emperor also built three other prominent temples in Beijing, the Temple of Sun in the east, the Temple of Earth in the north, and the Temple of Moon in the west.
  • Qianlong Emperor
    The Temple of Heaven was renovated in the 18th century under the Qianlong Emperor.
  • Yuan Shikai
    In 1914, Yuan Shih-kai, then President of the Republic of China, performed a Ming prayer ceremony at the temple, as part of an effort to have himself declared Emperor of China.
  • World Heritage
    The Temple of Heaven was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
  • Today's Temple of Heaven
    According to Xinhua, in early 2005, the Temple of Heaven underwent a 47 million Yuan (5.9 million USD) face-lift in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the restoration was completed on May 1st, 2006.

Buildings and layout

The Temple grounds cover 2.73 square kilometers of parkland, and comprises three main groups of constructions, all built according to strict philosophical requirements.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a magnificent triple-gabled circular building, 32 meters in diameter and 38 meters tall, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. The building is completely wooden, with no nails. It had to be rebuilt after it burned down in 1889.

The Imperial Vault of Heaven

The Imperial Vault of Heaven is a single-gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone base. It is located south of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and resembles it, but is smaller. It is surrounded by a smooth circular wall, the Echo Wall, which can transmit sounds over large distances. The Imperial Vault is connected to the Hall of Prayer by the Vermilion Steps Bridge, a 360 meter long raised walkway that slowly ascends from the Vault to the Hall of Prayer.

The Circular Mound Altar

The Circular Mound Altar is the altar proper, located south of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. It is an empty circular platform on three levels of marble stones, where the Emperor prayed for favorable weather. It was built in 1530 by the Jiajing Emperor and rebuilt in 1740.

The Vermilion Steps Bridge

The Vermilion Steps Bridge connects the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The south end of the Bridge is lower than its north end. The emperors in the past believed that they could go to heaven through this Bridge, which is why this bridge is also called Sacred Way. A Yu Route and a Wang Route are on two sides of the Sacred Way. The former one is only for the emperors to walk on and the later one is for the princes and the high officials to pass.

Three Echo Stones

Three Echo Stones is outside of the gate of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. If you speak facing the Vault while standing on the first stone, you will hear one echo; standing on the second and then the third stone, you will hear two and three echoes respectively.

The Echo Wall

Another interesting and famous place for you to visit is called Echo Wall owning special feature. The wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Its perimeter is 193 meters.
If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall respectively and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear clearly what you say. Isn't it interesting? The phenomenon utilizes the theory of sound wave.

Nine-Dragon Cypress

Nine-Dragon Cypress got its name from branches which look like nine dragons wind with each other. It was said that the cypress was planted more than 500 years ago. Really, a grandfather tree!

Ceremony

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A.D. - 1911 A.D.), the emperors would offer sacrifice to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year. This ceremony was to thank Heaven and hope everything would be good in the future.

Heaven to worship

In ancient China, the Emperor of China was regarded as the Son of Heaven, who administered earthly matters on behalf of, and representing, heavenly authority. To be seen to be showing respect to the source of his authority, in the form of sacrifices to heaven, was extremely important. The temple was built for these ceremonies, mostly comprising prayers for good harvests.

Other gods to worship

China enjoyed a reputation of "nation of rites" and Chinese emperors had many other gods to worship, apart from the God of Heaven, including the gods of earth, water and war. They also worshipped their ancestors. As a result, religious activities were an important part of their busy work schedule.

Taboos during the ceremonies

  • Twice a year the Emperor and all his retinue would move from the Forbidden City through Beijing to encamp within the complex, wearing special robes and abstaining from eating meat.
  • No ordinary Chinese was allowed to view this procession or the following ceremony.
  • The highpoint of the ceremony at the winter solstice was performed by the Emperor on the Earthly Mount.
  • The ceremony had to be perfectly completed; it was widely held that the smallest of mistakes would constitute a bad omen for the whole nation in the coming year.

Other places to hold ceremonies

Temples of various kinds are scattered in Beijing. Temple of Heaven is the grandest of four great temples in Beijing. The other prominent temples include Temple of Sun in the east, Temple of Earth in the north and Temple of Moon in the west.

Symbolism

The shape

  • Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a circle; several features of the temple complex symbolize the connection of Heaven and Earth, of circle and square.
  • The whole temple complex is surrounded by two cordons of walls; the outer wall has a taller, semi-circular northern end, representing Heaven, and a shorter, rectangular southern end, representing the Earth.
  • Both the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar are round, each standing on a square yard, again representing Heaven and Earth.

The number

  • The number nine represents the Emperor and is evident in the design of the Circular Mound Altar: a single round plate is surrounded by a ring of nine plates, then a ring of 18 plates, and so on for a total of nine surrounding rings, the outermost having 9 by 9 plates.
    You can see why "nine," such an "ordinary number," has rich connotations for the ancient Chinese philosophers from ancient architecture of the temple. For example, each of the three tiers of the staircases made of white marbles has nine steps. The heaven is "Yang" (masculine) while the earth is "Yin" (feminine). "Yang" is represented by an odd number of the figures from 1 to 9. Therefore, number "nine," a celestial number in ancient China, embodies supreme spiritual power and hints something rational. And emperors who called himself "the Son of Heaven" would naturally offer sacrifices to Heaven and communicate with Heaven in a world composed of the "nines."
  • The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has four inner, twelve middle and twelve outer pillars, representing the four seasons, twelve months and twelve traditional Chinese hours respectively.

Dark blue roof tiles

All the buildings within the Temple have special dark blue roof tiles, representing the Heaven.

The Seven-Star Stone Group

The Seven-Star Stone Group, east of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, represents the seven peaks of Taishan Mountain, a place of Heaven worship in classical China.

Opening Time

07:00 - 19:30 (winter), 05:00 - 21:30 (summer)

Recommended Time for a Visit

One and a half hour

Bus Route

2, 6, 17, 34, 35, 110, 120, 122, 610, 707, 721, 739

Attractions around » Beijing, He Bei

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Nightlife

Nightlife

Day Entertainment & Sports

Day Entertainment & Sports

Shopping & Leisure

Shopping & Leisure

  Weather

  1. Is Beijing's weather fine all year round?
  2. Which is the best season to visit Beijing?

  Transportation

  1. Do taxes cost high in Beijing? Are taxi drivers friendly?
  2. Can I take subway in Beijing? Is it fast and easy to find?

  Food

  1. How much do you konw about Beijing cuisine? and local food?
  2. What taste is a must in Beijing? Why is Peking Duck so popular in Beijing?
  3. What should we pay attention to when having lunch or dinner in Beijing?

  Shopping

  1. Can I use my credit card when shopping in Beijing?
  2. What souvenirs can we buy in Beijing?

  Travel

  1. Are toliet facilities clean in Beijing?
  2. Where should I go if I love Beijing's nightlife?
  3. Do you want to visit Tai Chi and Kung Fu performance in Beijing?

  Customs

  1. Are you interested in chinese Facial Makeup?
  2. Have you ever heard of "Chineses tea culture"? Do you want to learn drinking custom?
  3. Why are "Hutong" so welcomed? May I take it as an symbol of Beijing?
  4. Are you familiar with courtyard house (siheyuan)? Where can I visit it in Beijing?
  5. What festivals do peking friends celebrate? How do they celebrate Spring Festival?
  6. How much do you know about Beijing opera?

  Other Hints

  1. What to pack for Beijing tours?
  2. What is emergency number in Beijing?
  3. What is Beijing time?
  4. What do I need to prepare if I want to visit Beijing attractions?

  • Is Beijing's weather fine all year round?

    No, The climate in Beijing is of the continental type, with cold and dry winters, due to the Siberian air massses that move southward across the Mongolian Plateau. The summers are hot owing to warm and humid monsoon winds from the southeast bringing Beijing most of its annual precipitation. January is the coldest month and July is the warmest. Winter usually begins towards the end of October. The summer months, June to August, are wet and hot with about 40% of the annual precipitation.


  • Which is the best season to visit Beijing?

    The autumn months between September and November have the best weather and fewer tourists. Summer (June to August) is considered peak season, when hotels typically raise their rates and the Great Wall nearly collapses under the weight of marching tourists. Spring is less pleasant not many tourists but lots of wind and dust. In winter, you'll have Beijing to yourself and many hotels offer substantial discounts, just remember it's an ice box outside. Everything is chock block during the Chinese New Year (usually in January or February).


  • Do taxes cost high in Beijing? Are taxi drivers friendly in Beijing?

    No, the cost is not expensive, around 1.6 yuan per kilometer. During the olym pic games is held in 2008, some tax's drivers are interested in learning English. They are so kind and friend that some may chat to you in English.


  • Can I take subway in Beijing? Is it fast and easy to find?

    Yes, the subway system in Beijing was rebuilt during 2008, until now it opened subway line 1, subway line 2, subway line 5, subway line 13, and line eight-passageway, covering the whole city and the airport. Morover, subway line 10 is plan to open during olym pic games period, which favor special for olym pic village. You may get to subway station easily in avenue. The subway is a great way to beat the growing Beijing traffic chaos.


  • How much do you konw about Beijing cuisine? and local food?

    Just like the capital's culture, Beijing cuisine has absorbed and been influenced by many of the flavours of China's regions. Chinese cuisine in general has the four distinct regional cooking styles of Sichuan (Chuan) to the West, Canton (Cantonese) to the South, Shangdong (Lu) to the East and Jiangsu (Huaiyang) to the North and the cuisine of Beijing brings together these contrasting styles. In Beijing you can find menus from around the world including Spanish, French and Italian restaurants that are well-established, and Japanese, Indian and Thai outlets, that are also very popular with local Beijingers.

    You can have steamed bread with bean filling, flour pancakes cooked with egg, coriander, chilli, and black onion seeds, pancakes stuffed with pork, egg and vegetables. These gems are available from little glass cabinettes on the back of three-wheeled bicycles or from stands on street corners, hidden down leafy hutongs.


  • What taste is a must in Beijing? Why is Peking Duck so popular in Beijing?

    Peking Duck, a delicious, lightly-smoked, rich meal complimented by pancakes, dipping sauce, vegetable filling and irresistible slivers of juicy meat, fat and crispy skin. As the favourit food in local Beijing, Peking duck is world famous nowadays.

    Peking duck has been prepared since the Yuan Dynasty, and is now considered one of China's national foods. Duck has been roasted in China since the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Peking Duck was first prepared for the Emperor of China in the Yuan Dynasty. The dish, originally named "Shaoyazi". In the Ming Dynasty, the Peking Duck was one of the main dishes on imperial court menus. By the Qianlong Period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, the popularity of the Peking Duck spread to the upper classes, inspiring poetry from poets and scholars who enjoyed the dish.

    Today, the Peking Duck had become a national symbol of China, favoured by tourists and diplomats alike. For example, Henry Kissinger, the Secretary of State of the United States met Premier Zhou Enlai in the Great Hall of the People on July 10, during his first visit to China. After a round of inconclusive talks in the morning, the delegation was served Peking Duck for lunch, which became Kissinger's favourite. The Americans and Chinese issued a joint statement the following day, inviting President Richard Nixon to visit China in 1972. The Peking Duck was hence considered one of the factors behind the rapproachement of the United States to China in the 1970's. Following Zhou's death in 1976, Kissinger paid another visit to Beijing to savour Peking Duck.


  • What should we pay attention to when having lunch or dinner in Beijing?

    • Restaurants in Beijing usually do not require tips or a service charge. Some expensive restaurants will charge 15% service.
    • Opening times usually 11am-2pm and 5pm-10pm
    • Menus written in Chinese, so be warned: bring a friendly translator
    • Do not worry about getting the chopsticks right first time: practice not perfection
    • Do observe some of the taboos associated with eating in Chin.a


  • Can I use my credit card when shopping in Beijing?

    Yes, paying credit card is available in most shopping centre, Beijing. Just like Wangfujing walking street. however, It is easy to find the ATM bank in some downtown districts, and it will not be a problem if you want working staff help you handle routine banking bussiness. The money used in Beijing is the Chinese RenMinBi, or RMB for short. The Chinese call it Yuan or Kuai in Beijing. There are approximately 8 RMB to the US dollar. Most star hotels offer a good service for exchanging your cash into RMB. Anyway, you may not worry about it.


  • What souvenirs can we buy in Beijing?

    Fancywork, mintmark, fogle, tablecloth designed in dragon and phenix, herbal medicine, etc.

  • Are toliet facilities clean in Beijing?

    Most toliets are repaired two years ago. Most are some squat toilets to Western ones, as your body won't have to come into contact with anything in there that might be dirty. No need to sit on dirty toilet seats.


  • Where should I go if I love Beijing's nightlife?

    Yuandadu Street is developed on Yuandadu Relics and also belongs to an up-and-coming youngster. Distinctive feature theme is its enchantment. Madami Mosuo flavor bar, gliding umbrella theme bar, Tibet breeding dog bar. There are more than 20 bars here. It is relatively quiet because of lower recognition.

    Hou hai bar area (lotus lane) seems to be taking over from Sanlitun as the major bar area of Beijing. It is situated around a man-made lake at the north of Beihai Park. Boating is available on the lake till 11pm or 12am (in the summer of course). Very pretty area.

  • Do you want to visit Tai Chi and Kung Fu performance in Beijing?

    Tai Chi quan(shadow boxing) is a famous Chinese Kung Fu. All the Chinese Kung Fu can be divided into two kinds, the "In - style" and the "Out - style". Tai Chi is the representative kind of the "In-style". This kind of Kung Fu emphasizes on the stuffs inside the fighter's body, which include the calmness of the spirit, the sensitivity of the sense and the speed of the reaction. In contrast, the out - style Kung Fu is to fight before your opponent's move or try to destroy your opponent's attack.

    We will arrange you a nice Tai Chi lesson and Kung Fu performance if you like.


  • Are you interested in chinese Facial Makeup?

    The Chinese Facial Makeup art was developed from the mask painting art which was initiated by Lang-Ling Hwang in the Pei-Gee dynasty and by Wu-Hsiang Dee in the Song dynasty. The painted masks were originally used in the fields of battle to make dreadful figures to frighten the enemy. Later on the masks were employed in the stage to show.

    Social standing and disposition of characters. Owing to difficulty and inconvenience of manufacturing and wearing masks, the colors were directly painted on the faces, afterwards. Generally speaking, the face without painting represents faithful and nice fellows, the multi-colored face represents wicked people, the red face represents loyal and straight characters, the black face represent bravery and preseverance. The buffoons are painted with coloured spots. Up to now, there are many types of face-painting.


  • Have you ever heard of "Chineses tea culture"? Do you want to learn drinking custom?

    Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China. Tea culture in China differs from that of Europe, Britain or Japan in such things as preparation methods, tasting methods and the occasions for which it is consumed. Even now, in both casual and formal Chinese occasions, tea is consumed regularly. In addition to being a drink, Chinese tea is used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese cuisine.

    There are several special circumstances in which tea is prepared and consumed:

    As a sign of respect
    For a family gathering
    To apologize
    To express thanks to your elders on one's wedding day
    To connect large families on wedding days
    To pass on the tradition


  • Why are "Hutong" so welcomed? May I take it as an symbol of Beijing?

    Hutong is a typical lane or small street in Beijing that originated during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). "Hutong" is a Mongolian word, meaning "water well". During that time, water well is the settlement around which people lived. There are tens of thousands of hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City. In the past, Beijing was composed of countless courtyards. Hutongs were formed when people left a passageway between two courtyards to make entering them more convenient.

    As the symbol of Beijing City, a hutong has its own layout and structure, which makes it a wonder in the world. When taking a bird's eye view of Beijing, you will find the combination of hutongs and courtyards just like an orderly chessboard with delicate gardens, fine rockeries, and ancient ruins. Hutongs have witnessed the development of Beijing. Where there is a hutong, there is a story.


  • Are you familiar with courtyard house(siheyuan)? Where can I visit it in Beijing?

    Traditionally most urban Chinese used to live in quadrangles called siheyuan or "four-side enclosed courtyards." These courts, as the name implies, are formed by inward-facing houses on four sides, closed in by enclosure walls. Such a residence offers space, comfort and quiet privacy. It is also good for security as well as protection against dust and storms. Grown with plants and flowers, the court is also a sort of garden.

    In feudal times, the courtyard dwellings were built according to the traditional concepts of the five elements that were believed to compose the universe, and the eight diagrams of divination. The gate was made at the southeast corner which was the "wind" corner, and house was made to face the south with the main building on the north side which was believed to belong to "water" - an element to prevent fire.

    Today, Beijing still has about 400,000 residential quadrangles, mainly distributed over the East, West, Xuanwu and Chongwen districts of the city. Those in the East and West districts are in the best shape.


  • What festivals do peking friends celebrate? How do they celebrate Spring festival?

    Spring festival, Lantern festival, Qingming festival, Dragon boat festival, Double seven festival, Mid-autum festival, Double ninth festival, Winter solstice festival. These festivals are celebrated by Peking friends.

    The Spring Festival, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600 B.C. - 1100 B.C.) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. It is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back, becoming the busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month from the Spring Festival.

    On spring festival, people decorate their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.


  • How much do you know about Beijing opera?

    Beijing opera is deemed the national opera of China. The accompanying music, singing and costumes are all fascinating and artistic. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents to the audience an encyclopedia of Chinese culture as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and acrobatic fighting. It is generally accepted that Beijing opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, and eventually became more accessible to the people.


  • What to pack for Beijing tours?

    Besides the medicines you usually take at home, you need to bring pain killers, anti-
    inflammatory prescriptions and medicines for colds, fever and diarrhea. These medicines are
    especially helpful if you are going to visit Beijing.

    You' better take apropriate cloth in season. In autumn, jeans and a sweater are usually enough. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light pants or shorts are the best bet. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater and down jacket. If you want to go local, you can buy a thick cotton army coat (jun da yi) for less than 100 yuan (12 bucks). Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer months.


  • What is emergency number in Beijing?

    Fire: 119
    Traffic: 122
    Ambulance: 120
    Police: 110


  • What is Beijing time?

    Beijing is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (London) and 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (New York), is the standard time used in China.


  • What do I need to prepare if I want to visit Beijing attractions?

    Some attractions need to pay cash, like Tian'an men square, summer palace, and other activities in hutongs. so it is much adivsible to take enough RMB when tour in local residents. A handerchief should be prepared for your Great wall explor. In addition, you'd better take storage battery with camera, because it costs expensive in some senenic spots.


On leaving the Forbidden City, follow in the footsteps of emperors, court ministers and eunuchs and head south to the magnificent and colorful Temple of Heaven. Although the bi-annual procession consisting of thousands of eunuchs and ministers no longer takes place, The Temple of Heaven is still a delightful place to visit.

Special China Tours

Tour Highlights

» 1 tour1 Day Tours

» 8 toursCity Tours

» 40 toursPackage Tours

»»For exploration of Temple of Heaven, check out 51 tours ...



Tour Searching
Tour Packages We Provide
Package Searching 101
Customized Tour Design
Tour Booking
Fill Your Cart
Travel Agreement
Order Confirmation
Deposit & Payment
Methods of Payment
Deposit
Final Payment
Cancellation
Alteration
Customer Service
Contact Us
Our Guarantees
Lodge a Complaint
Travel Tips
Sitemap
Popular China Travel Destinations & Tours
phone U.S.A. +1 (310) 997-0051 / +1 (310) 878-2934
Canada +1 (604) 998-6945
China +86 (10) 8409-8570 / +86 (10) 8409-8571
email info@yeschinatour.commsn: help@yeschinatour.com