The Temple of Heaven is a beautiful and important place in Beijing.
This is actually a symbol that shows how the Chinese emperors used to live and worship back in the day.
However, we will be sharing something more than this.
We now that It is fascinating to learn about the history of the Temple of Heaven. Just like we’ll find out how it was built and used by the emperors.
Therefore, this guide will be a comprehensive guide as this article will tell you some interesting things about this special place.
Getting There
Getting to the Temple of Heaven is not a big deal.
If you’re interested on public transport, just hop on the Subway Line 5 and get off at Tiantandongmen Station.
From there, it’s a quick walk to the East Gate.
If you prefer buses, you’ve got options such as: 25, 36, 39, or 525 which will get you there.
And if you’re feeling like you want to go alone, get a taxi – they’re all over Beijing and can drop you right at any of the temple gates.
Entrance Information
The Temple of Heaven is open all year, but the hours change a bit between summer and winter.
In summer (April to October), it is open from 6 AM in the morning to 10 PM, and you can see the main attractions from 8 AM to 5:30 PM.
On the other hand, winter hours (November to March) are pretty similar, where the starting hours are a bit late. To be more precise, it will be around 6.30 in the morning.
When it comes to tickets, these prices may change depending on the season and whether you want to see everything or just want to hang out in the area.
However, our advice is to go for the full ticket. It’s worth to see all the cool stuff inside.
Oh, and if you want to avoid the crowd, try going on early in the morning.
This is because, it’s peaceful then. Or, if you’re into photography, go right before the sunset for some amazing shots.
Key Attractions
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
This building is the main part of the Temple of Heaven.
It’s a big circular structure with three layers of roofs that stands 38 meters tall.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has 28 wooden pillars holding it up, which is pretty symbolic.
The roof is covered in blue tiles (which represents the Heaven) and has a golden knob on top.
Inside, it’s all decked out with amazing paintings and woodwork.
As a matter of fact, this is where the emperor would pray for good harvests on the winter solstice.
The Imperial Vault of Heaven
Just in the south of the big hall, you will be able to find the Imperial Vault of Heaven.
It’s like a mini-me version of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
The cool thing about this place is the Echo Wall that surrounds it.
The Imperial Vault of Heaven has some weird acoustic that tricks up its visitors.
However, back in the day, they kept some important tablets here that were used in ceremonies at the Circular Mound Altar.
The Circular Mound Altar
At the southern end of the complex, you’ve got the Circular Mound Altar.
It’s an open-air platform that was built in 1530.
This place was a key area back in the day as the emperor would do the most important ceremony of the year during the winter solstice at the circular mound altar.
When it comes to the design, it’s full of symbolism, with its round shape that represents the Heaven and lots of nines in the stone count (nine was considered as a lucky number).
Conclusion
So there you have it – the Temple of Heaven in a quick guide.
If you think about it, it’s an amazing mix of stunning architecture and deep historical significance for us to explore.
Which means that when you’re walking around, you’re not just looking at pretty buildings – you’re stepping into centuries of ritual and tradition.
So, now the choice is in your hands, don’t you want to visit it?
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Editorial Staff at Travelco are experts in Global Tourism.