The Temple of Heaven is a worthwhile visiting place in Beijing. It is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves 'The Son of Heaven' ,they dared not to build their own dwelling,'Forbidden City' bigger than a dwelling for Heaven.
|
|
The Temple is divided by two enclosed walls into inner part and outer part. The main buildings of the Temple lie at the south and north ends of the middle axis line of the inner part. The most magnificent buildings are The Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian) from south to north. Also, there are some additional buildings like Three Echo Stones and Echo Wall.Almost all of the buildings are connected by a wide bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge (Danbiqiao) or called Sacred Way.
The Circular Altar has three layered terraces with white marble. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A.D. - 1911 A.D.), the emperors would offer sacrifice to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year. This ceremony was to thank Heaven and hope everything would be good in the future. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is a big palace with round roof and three layers of eaves. Inside the Hall are 28 huge posts. The four posts along the inner circle represent four seasons-spring, summer, autumn and winter; the 12 posts along the middle circle represent the 12 months; and 12 posts along the outer circle represent 12 Shichen (Shichen is a means of counting time in ancient China. One Shichen in the past equaled two hours and a whole day was divided into 12 Shichens). The roof is covered with black, yellow and green colored glaze representing the heavens, the earth and everything on earth. The Hall has a base named Altar for Grain Prayers which is made of three layers of white marble and has a height of six meters. Another important building in Temple of Heaven is Imperial Vault of Heaven. If you look at it from far away, you will find that the Vault is like a blue umbrella with gold head. The structure of it is like that of Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, but smaller in size. The structure was made of bricks and timber. The Vault was used to place memorial tablets of Gods. White marble railings surround the vault. 
Map of Temple of Heaven
The Vermilion Steps Bridge connects the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The south end of the Bridge is lower than its north end. The emperors in the past believed that they could go to heaven through this Bridge, which is why this bridge is also called Sacred Way. A Yu Route and a Wang Route are on two sides of the Sacred Way. The former one is only for the emperors to walk on and the later one is for the princes and the high officials to pass.
Three Echo Stones is outside of the gate of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. If you speak facing the Vault while standing on the first stone, you will hear one echo; standing on the second and then the third stone, you will hear two and three echoes respectively.
 |  |
If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall respectively and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear clearly what you say. Isn't it interesting? The phenomenon utilizes the theory of sound wave.
Besides carefully designed buildings, there are also some other scenes that you can enjoy like Nine-Dragon Cypress. It got its name from branches which look like nine dragons wind with each other. It was said that the cypress was planted more than 500 years ago. Really, a grandfather tree!
| Ticket Type | Price (CNY) | |
|
| Nov.1-Mar.31 (next year) | Apr.1-Oct.31 |
| Entrance Fee | 10 | 15 |
| Combination Ticket (including The Hall of Ceremonial Music, The Hall of Abstinence, The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Circular Mound Altar and The Echo Wall) | 30 | 35 |
| The Hall of Ceremonial Music and The Hall of Abstinence | 10 | 10 |
| The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Circular Mound Altar and The Echo Wall | 20 | 20 |
| Opening Hours | 06:00-22:00 From Mar.1 to June 30: Combination Ticket unavailable after 16:00; Scenic Spot Ticket unavailable after 17:00; Scenic Spots closed at 17:30. From July 1 to Oct.31: Combination Ticket unavailable after 16:30; Scenic Spot Ticket unavailable after 17:30; Scenic Spots closed at 18:00. From Nov.1 to Feb.28/29 (next year): Combination Ticket unavailable after 15:30; Scenic Spot Ticket unavailable after 16:30; Scenic Spots closed at 17:00. | |
| Recommended Time for a Visit: | One and a half hour | |
| By subway | Subway Line 5: get off at Tiantan Dongmen Station, and you'll find the East Gate of the Park of Temple of Heaven. | |
| By bus | Take bus no.6, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 43, 60, 116, 610, 707, 723, 743, 957, or 958 and get off at Tiantan Dongmen (East Gate) Station. Take bus no.36 (环), 53, 120, 122, 525, 610, 800 (内), 803 or 958 and get off at Tiantan Nanmen (South Gate) Station. Take bus no. 2, 7, 15, 17, 20, 69, 105, 707, 729, or 826 and get off at Tiantan Ximen (West Gate) Station. Take bus no. 6, 34, 35, 36 (环), 106, 110, 687, 707, or 743 and get off at Tiantan Beimen (North Gate) Station. | |
Beijing Bus / Subway SearchNeighboring Attraction: Taoranting Park
Copyright© 1998-2009 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.
Travelers' Voices on Temple of Heaven
1.
Nov. 10,2009 04:30 Reply
Mr.hendra(INDONESIA) said:
hi, which is the cheapest way, by bus or by subway, from tiananmen to the temple of heaven? what number of the bus / subway should i take?
Nov. 10,2009 20:13
Mr.Grace replied:
Bus is cheaper while subway is faster. As for the details, please please see the chart above by yourself, ok?
Nov. 10,2009 20:14
Ms.Kay replied:
Mr. hendra:
To take subway is the cheapest and fastest way to arrive at the Temple of Heaven. You will start from the Tiananmen East or West Station to Dongdan, and then change to line 5. Get off at Tiantan East Gate Station.
For bus, you could get on bus No.120 from Tiananmen East Stop to the Tiantan West Stop.
Both are all right for you.
2.
Nov. 8,2009 04:13 Reply
Mrs.debarn(Belgium) said:
Hello,
I have a question, I would like to spend the day on the Parc, would it be possible to go out and to come back after the lunch or is it possible to eat in the parc ?
Thank you in advance
Nov. 8,2009 19:44
Mr.Iron replied:
Hi, Mrs.debarn, if you go out and come back, you need to buy the entrance ticket again. You can also have lunch in the temple of heave; there are some small restaurants available.
3.
Nov. 5,2009 00:07 Reply
Ms.Elene(Singapore) said:
Hi,
I intend to visit in November in the late afternoon to early evening after visiting Tiananmen, Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. According to the 1st part of the info given at the official website of the Temple of Heaven, I should be able to make it in time. However, the 2nd part is different, and I won't be able to make it in time. Altogether 4 different sets of timings its so confusing! So what is the latest time I can be there to tour the Temple of Heaven?
Thanks in advance.
Nov. 5,2009 02:59
Ms.ADA_WATSON(China) replied:
Hello,Ms.Elene
I have checked the official website and here is the What I understand:
1) from Mar.1 to Jun.30, through tickets selling is stopped at 16:00 while separate scenic spots tickets are issued no later than 17:00. Tourists should finished sight tour at 17:30.
2) from July 1 to Oct.31, through tickets selling is stopped at 16:30 while separate scenic spots tickets are issued no later than 17:30. Tourists should leave the sight at 18:00
3) from Nov.1 to the next Feb.28, through tickets selling is stopped at 15:30 while separat scenic spots tickets are issued no later than 16:30. Tourists should stop their tour at 17:00
Now clear?
Nov. 5,2009 03:54
Ms.Kay replied:
Ms.Elene:
You should arrive at the Temple of Heaven at 15:30. Nov is low season and it will stop selling ticket early. You’d better get Tiananmen at 8:30. It needs 1hour to visit the square. Then you go straight to Forbidden City (2-2.5 hours ). Get out from Shenwumen ( North Gate). 1 hour leave for lunch. Jingshan Park is behind the Forbidden City and it cost
at most 1 hours. Go ahead to the Temple of Heaven.
Good Luck
4.
Oct. 21,2009 22:47 Reply
Ms.kate(USA ) said:
Is there any kind of way to tour the Temple of Heaven? Such as an audio tour or anything like that?
Oct. 21,2009 23:20
Mr.Steven replied:
Both of the audio guide and tour guide are available.
5.
Oct. 13,2009 04:53 Reply
Mr.Kwok(Singapore) said:
Has the all inclusive ticket (lian piao) pricing increased to 80RMB already?
What if I just want to visit the Hall of Prayer, Imperial Vault and Circular Altar? Do I still need to buy a lian piao?
Is there anywhere I can have lunch in the area between The Temple of Heaven and Pearl Market?
Oct. 13,2009 21:16
Ms.Iris replied:
Mr.Kwok
The inclusive ticket of the Temple of Heaven is ￥35 now. If you want to visit the Hall of Prayer, Imperial Vault and Circular Altar, you’d better buy a joint ticket.
There are a lot of restaurants along the Tiantan East Gate Street, you can choose one when you arrive there.
Oct. 14,2009 08:26
Mr.Kwok(Singapore) replied:
Thank you Miss Iris for your reply. What is a joint ticket in Mandarin (Han Yu Pin Yin) called? and how much is it?
Oct. 15,2009 01:23
Mr.Goodman replied:
Joint ticket is the same thing as inclusive ticket you mentioned. The Chinese Pinyin is "liao piao" as you posted in the bracket. Ticket fare is 35RMB in high season (Apr.1 to Oct.31)and 30RMB in low season (Nov.1 to Mar.31).
Oct. 15,2009 06:40
Mr.Kwok(Singapore) replied:
Thnx for the clarification
6.
Sep. 29,2009 19:07 Reply
Mr.Ste(UK) said:
Phew...I'll be visiting it on the 3rd.
7.
Sep. 28,2009 04:27 Reply
Mr.Temple of Heaven said:
Express News: Temple of Heaven will be closed on Oct 02.
8.
Sep. 16,2009 21:46 Reply
Ms.Jade said:
From Chongwenmen subway, can I walk to Temple of Heaven? How long is the walk? Or travel by bus/subway? Thanks.
Sep. 17,2009 03:40
Ms.Kay (Australia) replied:
HI，MS. Jade:You can walk to the Temple of Heaven and it needs adout 20 mins.But I think it is more convenient to take subway line 5 to get off at the Exit A1 of the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven.
9.
Aug. 28,2009 21:53 Reply
Ms.Christine(Canada) said:
Hello,
I'm staying at Forbidden City hotel near Tianmen Square. I guess bus 120 is the best bus to take to get there? How long would it take and when is the last bus?
Sep. 4,2009 08:20
Mr.Richard White(UK) replied:
I would recommend the subway, clean efficient and 2RMB fare, there is a station near the Easy Gate Line 5 if i remember correctly. They run from early morning to late night and are very easy to use
Sep. 11,2009 03:29
Ms.Jade(S'pore) replied:
Mr.Richard White. Which subway is Temple of heaven at? Thank you.
Sep. 12,2009 02:34
Mr.Newman replied:
at Tian'tan East Gate subway station of line 5.
10.
Sep. 5,2009 03:49 Reply
Mrs.cockayne(england) said:
the temple of heaven is great.i have not been there