Home Destinations Asia China Beijing Sights Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven Review

Read our Beijing sights reviews. Or post your own.

Temple of Heaven

Address: Yongdingmen Dajie (South Gate), Chongwen District, Beijing
Phone: 010/6702-8866[]

Category: Religious Sites
Location: Chongwen District

Write a review

Fodor's Review:

The Temple of Heaven, where emperors once performed important rites, is a prime example of Chinese religious architecture. Construction began in the early 15th century under Yongle, whom many call the "architect of Beijing." Set in a huge, serene, mushroom-shaped park, the Temple of Heaven is surrounded by splendid examples of Ming Dynasty architecture, including curved cobalt-blue roofs layered with yellow and green tiles. The Temple of Heaven was a site for imperial sacrifices, meant to please the gods so they would generate bumper harvests.

Shaped like a semicircle on the northern rim to represent heaven and square on the south for the earth, the grounds were once believed to be the meeting point of the two. The area is double the size of the Forbidden City and is still laid out to divine rule: buildings and paths are positioned to represent the right directions for heaven and earth. This means, for example, that the northern part is higher than the south.

Cost: All-inclusive ticket Apr.—Oct. Y35, Oct.—Apr. Y30; entrance to park only Y15
Open: Daily 8-4:30

Find more sights in Beijing »