Temple of Heaven Park

Preparation • Ticket purchase: It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance through official channels. You can choose to purchase a combo ticket, which costs CNY 34 per person during peak season and CNY 28 per person during off-peak season, allowing access to core areas such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Echo Wall. • Opening hours: The park is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, with the last entry at 9:00 pm. Indoor pavilions are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm during peak season, with the last entry at 5:30 pm, and from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm during off-peak season, with the last entry at 4:00 pm. Closed on Mondays, except for public holidays. Transportation • East Gate: Take Metro Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen Station, and exit from Exit A to reach the park directly. • West Gate: Take Metro Line 8 to Tianqiao Station, and exit from Exit C. Walk for about 10 minutes to reach the park. • North Gate: Take Metro Line 7 to Qiaowan Station, and exit from Exit C. • South Gate: Take Metro Line 14 to Jingtai Station, and exit from Exit B. However, it is relatively far from the main attractions. Tour Routes • Highlights Tour: Enter through the East Gate/North Gate → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → Imperial Vault of Heaven → Echo Wall → Circular Mound Altar → South Gate. This route covers the main attractions of the Temple of Heaven and is suitable for visitors with limited time. • In-depth Tour: Enter through the West Gate → Visit the Double Ring Longevity Pavilion → Head to the Circular Mound Altar → Explore the Echo Wall and Imperial Vault of Heaven → Return to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → Visit the Seven Star Stones → Exit through the East Gate. This route allows for a more comprehensive exploration of the Temple of Heaven's attractions. Main Attractions • Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: The iconic building of the Temple of Heaven, known for its unique triple-eaved gable roof and the roof tiles in three colors: blue, yellow, and green, symbolizing heaven, earth, and all living things. It is an important site for the spring prayer ceremony. • Imperial Vault of Heaven: A hall dedicated to the tablets of the gods for the grand ceremony of worshiping heaven, known as the "Heavenly Treasury" due to its supreme and heavenly symbolism. • Echo Wall: The enclosing wall of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, known for its regular curvature and smooth surface, which facilitates sound transmission. However, due to the large number of visitors and noisy environment, the echo effect is not as pronounced as before. • Circular Mound Altar: The site for the grand ceremony of worshiping heaven, with the number of stone steps, platform stones, and stone railings all being multiples of nine, corresponding to the "Nine Heavens." Food Recommendations • Inside the Park: There are some snack stalls and restaurants in the Temple of Heaven Park, offering simple meals, drinks, and snacks. • Surrounding Area: Nanmen Shuanrou is a time-honored hotpot restaurant in Beijing, known for its delicious lamb and unique sesame sauce. Lao Cikou Douzhi Shop offers authentic Beijing snacks such as douzhi (fermented mung bean milk), jiaoquan (fried dough rings), and lvdagun (glutinous rice rolls with sweet bean flour). Other Suggestions • The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is illuminated on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as during major holidays, making it a great spot for night photography. • You can feed squirrels in the woods near the West Gate. Bring walnuts or other nuts and rustle a plastic bag to attract them. • It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, as the park is large and requires a lot of walking.