Temple of Heaven 天坛公园

The Temple of Heaven is the Ming and Qing imperial complex in Beijing for ceremonies honouring heaven and praying for good harvests. It was built in 1420 and lies east of Zhengyangmen in Dongcheng District. Its plan is rich in symbolism: the northern part is round, the southern part square, expressing the traditional idea of a round heaven and a square earth. Two enclosing walls create an inner and outer altar across a site of 273 hectares, with the principal buildings in the inner altar.

The inner altar is divided into two ceremonial zones. In the north, the Altar of Prayer for Grain centres on the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, used in spring to pray for a good year. In the south, the Circular Mound Altar centres on a great round stone platform for the winter solstice sacrifice to heaven. A raised 360-metre walkway, the Danbi Bridge, links them, forming a 1,200-metre north-south axis bordered by old cypress groves.

Elsewhere you can see the Palace of Abstinence, where the emperor fasted before rites, and the Divine Music Office, which trained and performed ritual music and dance. The complex also includes the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Echo Wall, the Three Echo Stones and the Seven Star Stones. Recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1998, it is presented as the largest surviving imperial heaven-worshipping complex and a masterpiece of Ming and Qing building skills.

Don't miss

• Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the northern altar’s centrepiece
• Circular Mound Altar, built for winter solstice ceremonies
• Danbi Bridge, the raised 360-metre walkway between the altars
• Echo Wall, Three Echo Stones and Seven Star Stones
• Palace of Abstinence, where emperors fasted before rites

Visiting tips

Plan for a long walk: the site covers 273 hectares, and the north-south axis is 1,200 metres. The main buildings are in the inner altar; allow time for the old cypress groves between the two altars.