BeiJing-The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven
Location
It is located in the southern part of Beijing, on the east side of Yongdingmen Inner Street, Dongcheng District. Situated on the east side of Beijing’s central axis, it enjoys convenient transportation, with multiple bus routes and subway lines directly accessible around it.
Opening Hours
High season (April 1st – October 31st): The park opens at 6:00, and quiets down at 21:00. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall, and the Circular Mound Altar are open from 8:00 to 17:30. Low season (November 1st – March 31st of the following year): The park opens at 6:30, and quiets down at 21:00. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall, and the Circular Mound Altar are open from 8:00 to 17:00.
Recommended Visiting Time
It is recommended to spend 3 to 4 hours visiting. If you want to have an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of the Temple of Heaven, carefully admire the architectural details, or participate in some cultural experience activities, you can allocate about half a day.
Historical and Cultural Background
The Temple of Heaven was initially built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420), and was originally named the “Temple of Heaven and Earth”. It was a place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties “sacrificed to Heaven” and “prayed for good harvests”. At that time, the emperors regarded themselves as the “Sons of Heaven”, and the sacrifice to Heaven was to pray for favorable weather, national peace and security, and a bumper harvest of grains. During the feudal dynasty, the sacrifice to Heaven was one of the most important ritual activities of the country, with strict rituals and norms. The architectural layout of the Temple of Heaven is rigorous, the architectural structure is unique, and the decoration is magnificent, fully reflecting the ancient Chinese people’s awe of nature and emphasis on agricultural production. After hundreds of years of changes, the Temple of Heaven is still well-preserved, becoming an important physical material for studying ancient Chinese sacrificial culture, architectural art, history, and folklore.
Featured Landscapes
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests:
It is the main building of the Temple of Heaven and the most representative landscape. The hall is 38.2 meters high and 24.2 meters in diameter. There is not a single crossbeam inside, and it is entirely supported by 28 huge nanmu columns and 36 purlins. It has a grand shape and exquisite decoration. The circular 攒尖顶 (round 攒尖顶) of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests symbolizes the concept of a round sky and a square earth, and the blue glazed tiles represent the sky. The overall building reflects the ancient Chinese people’s understanding of the universe and their worship of Heaven.
The Echo Wall:
It is a circular enclosure wall of the Temple of Heaven. The wall is built with polished bricks jointed tightly, smooth and flat. What’s amazing is that when two people stand behind the east and west side halls respectively and lean against the wall, if one person speaks northward against the wall, the sound waves will continuously refract and travel along the wall and reach the other end hundreds of meters away. No matter how low the speaking voice is, the other person can hear it clearly, and the sound is long-lasting, which is truly an acoustic wonder.
The Circular Mound Altar:
It is the place where the emperor sacrificed to Heaven on the Winter Solstice. It consists of three layers of white marble altars. The number of stones on the altar surface, balustrades, steps, etc. all adopt the number “nine” and multiples of “nine” to symbolize the “heavenly” number. Standing at the center of the highest layer of the Circular Mound Altar, which is called the “Heart of Heaven Stone”, when you speak, you will find that your voice sounds particularly loud. This is because the sound waves are reflected back by the surrounding stone balustrades and converge with the original sound, creating a resonance effect.
The Palace of Abstinence:
It is the place where the emperor fasted before holding the grand ceremony of sacrificing to Heaven. It is surrounded by two imperial moats and a palace wall. The architectural style of the Palace of Abstinence is unique, reflecting both the majesty of the royal family and having a certain defensive function.
Precautions
1.Buy Tickets in Advance:
It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance through the official website of the Temple of Heaven Park or relevant travel platforms to avoid queuing for a long time at the entrance of the scenic area. You can make a reservation for ticket purchase 10 days in advance.
2.Pay Attention to the Open Areas:
The Temple of Heaven Park is relatively large, and some areas may be temporarily closed due to maintenance or other reasons. You can pay attention to the official announcements before the visit and plan the route reasonably.
3.Visit Civilizedly:
During the visit, take good care of cultural relics and historic sites. Do not touch or carve on the buildings and cultural relics. Keep quiet, do not make loud noises, and abide by the visiting order of the scenic area.
4.Comfortable Attire:
Since the Temple of Heaven Park is large in area and requires a lot of walking during the visit, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and light clothing.
5.Pay Attention to Weather Changes:
Carry rain gear, sunglasses, sunscreen and other items according to the weather conditions. Especially in summer or when the sun is strong, pay attention to sun protection and heat prevention. In winter, pay attention to keeping warm.
6.Respect Cultural Customs:
As a place for royal sacrifices in ancient times, the Temple of Heaven has profound cultural connotations. When visiting, you should respect the relevant cultural customs and etiquette and do not engage in inappropriate behaviors.
7.Keep Your Personal Belongings Safe:
In places with a large number of people, pay attention to keeping your personal belongings safe to prevent loss or theft. If necessary, you can use the storage service provided by the scenic area.