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The Moon Altar is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the Moon God. It is one of the famous Five Altars and Eight Temples in Beijing. Every year at the Autumnal Equinox, the emperors would offer sacrifices to the Night-Bright God (the Moon) and the twenty-eight stars, the five planets of wood, fire, earth, gold and water, and the stars in the sky.
The Moon Altar was first built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Today, it is divided into two parts, the South Garden and the North Garden. A large number of pine, cypress, balsam pomegranate, osmanthus and other ornamental trees are planted in the garden. There are ancient buildings such as the Bell Tower, the Heavenly Gate, the Jufu Hall, the God's Kitchen, the God's Storehouse, as well as the Moon Altar Toad Palace, the Double Ring Moon Reflection Pool, the Guanghan Bridge, the Chang'e Flying to the Moon Sculpture, the Tianxiang Courtyard, the Moon-Lan Pavilion, the Shuangyue Pavilion, the Yuegui Pavilion and other scenic spots, which closely follow the theme of "moon" and highlight the artistic conception of "moon". The surface of the Moon Altar is paved with white glazed tiles, symbolizing the white moon.
Attraction Location: "Yuetan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China (北京市西城区月坛街道)"
History: Yuetan Park is centered around the historic Moon Temple (月坛), an imperial altar built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties for ceremonial worship of the moon. The park preserves the temple grounds and surrounding gardens, reflecting ancient Chinese cosmology and ritual culture.
Architecture: The park features traditional Chinese architecture, including the round altar, temple halls, stone platforms, and decorative pavilions. Circular shapes in the altar design symbolize the moon, consistent with traditional Chinese symbolism. Pathways, trees, and lotus ponds are carefully landscaped to complement the historical structures.
Cultural Value: Yuetan Park is an important cultural heritage site, representing imperial ritual traditions of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is also a center for local community activity, including tai chi, cultural exhibitions, and seasonal festivals.
Other Information: The park combines history, nature, and community leisure, offering visitors both educational and recreational experiences. The Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) is a particularly special time to visit.
Opening Hours: "06:00–21:00 daily"
Ticket Price: "Free entry"
Best Photo Spots: "The main Moon Temple altar (月坛)
Lotus ponds in summer
Autumn foliage along the park pathways
Traditional pavilions framed by seasonal flowers"
Time Reference: "Autumn (September–October) for moon-viewing festivals
Spring (April–June) for flower blooms and greenery"
Other Information: "Ideal for leisurely walks, cultural photography, tai chi practice in early morning, and participating in community festivals"
The moon is brighter in my hometown. I have lived near Yuetan Park since I was a child, but I haven’t been there for 20 years. The autumn rain is drizzling, the ginkgo leaves are like snow, and I am revisiting the old place.
Quiet, few people, suitable for reading and writing.
The area is small and there are no special attractions. If you want to travel, you don't have to make a special trip. If you want to be quiet, you won't be disappointed no matter how far you come. The ticket price is 1 yuan.
Yuetan Park is located west of Nanlishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, and south of Yuetan North Street. Yuetan, formerly known as "Xiyuetan", is one of the five altars in Beijing. It was built in the ninth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1530). It was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the Night God (the moon) and the gods of the stars in the sky on the autumnal equinox. The ancient buildings such as the bell tower, Tianmen, and Shenku are well preserved. It is a cultural relic protection unit in Beijing. Yuetan was opened as Yuetan Park in 1955.
The original Xiyuetan was where the emperor worshipped the moon. Now the focus is on the park. The Moon Altar has been occupied and sealed, the Lingxing Gate has been bricked up, and there is a huge transmitter tower in the middle. The Zhai Palace and other things are not open. The only thing you can get close to is the bell tower.
But as a park, it is still good. The ticket price is one yuan. There is also a lake inside. It seems that there is no Tiandi Temple. Many old people sing opera and Tai Chi here. As far as the park is concerned, it is a good place to relax.
Although it is the sixth batch of national protected sites, you will probably be disappointed if you come to see the ancient buildings.
The benefit of working nearby is that the location is good and quiet in a busy city. It is a good choice to take a stroll here after lunch.
Yuetan Park is different from Ditan Park. It is a small park. No one has ever described it. It has always been quietly located there. It is ordinary and plain. Most of the people in the park are nearby residents who go there to exercise. After all, there are no big attractions around. It is too quiet, just because there are famous attractions nearby. It is rare to have such a quiet place for people around to stroll after dinner and do morning exercises in the morning.
It's OK. It's nice to take a stroll after dinner.
Yuetan Park is located west of Nanlishi Road in Xicheng District and south of Yuetan North Street. It is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the Night-Bright God (the moon) and the stars on the autumnal equinox. Yuetan Park focuses on the theme of "moon" and highlights the artistic conception of autumn, making it a beautiful place for moon-watching and sightseeing in Beijing.
Tickets are 1 yuan. There is nothing to see, it is mainly an entertainment and leisure park for grandpas and aunts.
Yuetan Park is located on the west side of Nanlishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing. The ancient buildings in the park, such as the bell tower, Tianmen, and Shenku, are well preserved. The park is divided into two parts, the South Park and the North Park. The North Park is mainly characterized by ancient buildings with red bricks and green tiles and regular roads; while the South Park is a natural landscape garden with rocks, pools, and winding garden roads. The only wall of the altar that has been repaired now is surrounded by an iron tower in the middle. The ancillary buildings are also off-limits to tourists. The garden is surrounded by nearby houses and high-rise buildings not far away. The South Park is also in a dilapidated state. Only the yellow leaves that have not yet fallen show the glory of life that is about to pass away.
Yuetan Park is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the moon, the god of the night. Some of the ancient buildings are still well preserved.
The ticket is 1 yuan, and the student ID is 0.5 yuan, which is very cheap. The scenery is also good. I went there to wait for my friend. I went there because it was close. The park was full of elderly couples, so happy.
The Moon Altar, like the Temple of Heaven, is for memorial services. But now, it has become a good choice for ordinary people like us to take a stroll in the morning and afternoon to enjoy the cool air.
The Moon Altar is the smallest of the five imperial altars in Beijing, but it represents rich historical and cultural connotations and is worth a visit.