Beijing, China Travel Guide
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Temple of Heaven (Tiāntán)
Temple of Heaven in Beijing
Overview: The Temple of Heaven is one spectacular and elaborate temple and complex. It’s located 5 minutes south of Tiananmen Square in the Chongwen District. You can walk or take a cab there. The emporers of the Ming Dynasty had this temple built in the early 1400’s to pray and offer sacfrices to the gods for good harvests. The outter wall of the Temple of Heaven compound is semi-circular. The north gate, which the visitor enters, has a half circle shape and the south end has a square shape. The circular shape represents the sun and the square shape, the earth. Some of the main features in the Temple of Heaven are the following: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, followed by the Vermillion Bridge, which takes you to the Imperial Vault and Echo Hall and finally the Circular Mound Altar.
When you enter the grounds of the Temple of Heaven from the North Gate, you will encounter a park immediately. To the right in the park, a crowd of Beijing locals gather. There is music and dancing. Old couples dance away and this is one of the more special moments any Beijing attraction has to offer. You get to witness some of the real culture and life of Beijing people.
Dancing in Temple of Heaven
Go straight and you will reach the inner walls, up which, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests lies. By the way, take advantage of the self-guided tour tape and earpiece for 40 Yuan to learn about all the structures in the Temple of Heaven. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests will take your breath away. The completely wooden building stands on top of triple terraced circular building with marble bases at each level. From the courtyard, this temple is insanely awesome to look at.
You’ll make your way to the bridge, which will lead you to Echo Wall and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. These are at the center of the Temple of Heaven. Along the bridge, stop by the souvenier store on the left. There is a king’s chair and a king’s costume that you can wear. Pose on the imperial chair and get a picture taken for 50 Yuan.
Location: Tian Tan Lu, Beijing 11 100050
Cost: Cost to enter the park is 15 Yuan. All-inclusive ticket to see the temples costs 35 Yuan. A self-guided tape and earpiece costs 40 Yuan. You will have to put a couple hundred Yuan deposit down for the self-guided tour in case it gets damaged.
Accessibility: The Temple of Heaven is wheelchair accessible now that the major renovation is complete. All the gates have ramps. The only challenge to the Temple of Heaven is the initial climb up the long, somewhat steep wall to get to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. You must go up this to be able to see the other structures as well.
Getting There: If you’re staying near Tiananmen Square/city center, you can walk/wheel down Qinian St about 8 blocks or so. Otherwise, cab it.