Unbelievably stunning, who would have thought the Temple of Heaven could be this beautiful, definitely worth a visit!

The Temple of Heaven is located on the east side of Yongdingmen Street in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held ceremonies to worship Heaven, pray for good harvests, and request rain. It is also the largest existing ancient sacrificial architectural complex in China.

🏰 Its main buildings include:

- Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: Standing 38.2 meters tall, this triple-eaved circular wooden structure contains 28 golden phoebe wood pillars symbolizing the 28 constellations. It was where the emperor prayed for a bountiful harvest.
- Echo Wall: The surrounding wall of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, smooth and regularly curved. Two people standing at the east and west side halls can whisper against the wall and hear each other clearly, with a sound transmission error of only 0.01 seconds.
- Circular Mound Altar: The altar where the Winter Solstice "Heaven Worship Ceremony" was held. The number of stone slabs and railings on the altar are designed according to the "yang number" 9 or its multiples.
- Danbi Bridge: The north-south central axis connecting the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar. It is 360 meters long and 4 meters above ground, known as the "Divine Road."

🚌 Transportation Guide

- Public Transport: Take Metro Line 5 to Tiantan East Gate Station, exit A2, then walk 5 minutes to the site; multiple bus lines also serve the area, such as routes 17, 36, 120, etc.
- Driving: You can navigate to the Temple of Heaven Park, but parking spaces nearby are limited. It is recommended to park at the National Centre for the Performing Arts underground garage and then take a shared bike to the park. Note that parking is prohibited within 2 kilometers.

🏡 Accommodation Overview

- Xi'an Hotel: Located along the South Second Ring Road, just over a 10-minute walk from the Temple of Heaven South Gate. Affordable, around 300 RMB per night, with convenient transportation—one stop from Beijing South Station on Line 14 and two stops from Qianmen Street on Line 8.
- Hanting Hotel: Close to the Temple of Heaven, economical and clean with basic amenities, suitable for budget travelers.

🍜 Dining Overview

- Nanmen Hot Pot: Traditional old Beijing copper pot hot pot with tender meat and authentic sesame sauce, about 100 RMB per person.
- Tiantan Fuyan: Specialties include crispy yet non-greasy roast duck and donkey rolling cake, about 150 RMB per person.
- Gongmenkou Mantou Shop: Famous for sticky bean buns with fillings like red bean and chestnut, 5 RMB each, sweet and flavorful.

🎠 Leisure and Entertainment

- Cultural Activities: Watch the Zhonghe Shaoyue performance by the Divine Music Bureau daily at 10:00 and 14:00 to experience the charm of ancient royal music.
- Cultural Creative Projects: Purchase creative products like Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests building blocks and acoustic experience kits. You can also participate in the Zhaigong escape room to solve the emperor’s fasting mysteries.

🛣 Surrounding Environment

The area around the Temple of Heaven is beautiful and shaded with trees. Outside the park, there are small squares where local residents often dance and walk their birds, full of lively atmosphere. Nearby are small commercial streets with souvenir shops and snack stalls, providing places for tourists to shop and rest.