Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is the complex where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed ceremonies to pray for good harvests. It was first built under the Yongle Emperor in 1420, the same period as the Forbidden City, and was given its present name by the Jiajing Emperor in 1534. Later rulers, including the Qianlong Emperor, expanded and rebuilt it. The grounds cover around 267 hectares in southern Dongcheng, and the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

The main sight is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a circular, triple-roofed wooden hall 36 metres across and 38 metres tall, raised on a three-tier marble terrace and built without nails. The original was destroyed by a fire caused by lightning in 1889 and was rebuilt afterwards. A raised walkway about 360 metres long, the Vermilion Steps Bridge, runs south to the smaller Imperial Vault of Heaven, which is enclosed by the Echo Wall, a smooth circular wall known for carrying sound. Further south is the Circular Mound Altar, an open, three-level marble platform built in 1530 and rebuilt in 1740, whose design repeats the number nine around a central stone.

The park is as much a part of the visit as the buildings. In the mornings local residents gather in the open spaces and side halls for exercise, choirs, dancing and games, and the grounds have play areas for children. In late October and early November the ginkgo trees near the North Second Gate turn yellow, according to Beijing's park authority.

Booking information comes from the city government's official pages. Foreign visitors can reserve tickets through the WeChat account of the Temple of Heaven Official Ticketing Platform using a passport. There are two types of ticket: a basic park ticket and a combined ticket that also covers the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall and the Circular Mound Altar, so choose the combined option if you want to go inside the main sights. During the winter season, from 1 November to 31 March, the park is open from 6.30am to 10pm, with last entry at 9pm.

Allow two to three hours. The East Gate is beside Tiantan Dongmen station on Line 5, and the West Gate is near Tianqiao station on Line 8. Arriving early lets you see the park at its liveliest, when the morning exercise groups are out.