Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven (天坛) is a piece of ancient China surrounded by the hustle of modern Beijing. Composed of numerous buildings, the architecture has been well-preserved and offers a glimpse into the rituals and beliefs of ancient China and the role of the emperor in imperial China. The temple complex is surrounded by a large park where daily life can be seen side-by-side with a temple where commoners were once prohibited.

The Temple of Heaven itself consists of several main structures. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) is an entirely wooden building used for asking supernatural forces for good crops. A circular wood and brick building known as the Imperial Vault of Heaven was used by the emperor for ancestor worship rituals. A three-story marble platform called the Circular Mound Altar is where the prayers and rituals for good weather were conducted.

History

Built in the early 15th century, the Temple of Heaven served as a ground for rituals and prayers involving the emperor. In imperial China the emperor was seen as an intermediary through which Heaven, an all-powerful supernatural force, communicated with mankind. At particular times of the year, the emperor performed prayer rituals at the Temple of Heaven to secure blessings like good weather and bountiful crops.

The Temple of Heaven played a large role in the emperor’s hold on political power. If there was a bad harvest or natural disaster, it was seen as a sign that Heaven was displeased and the emperor risked losing his status. An emperor’s faithful visits to the Temple of Heaven were part of an effort to convince his subjects that Heaven approved of him.

In the 16th century several different altars were added and the entire temple was renovated in the 18th century by the Qing Dynasty emperor. After the collapse of the imperial system in the beginning of the 20th century, the Chinese president Yuan Shikai attempted to gain legitimacy for his rule by conducting an ancient prayer ceremony at the Temple of Heaven, a reflection of the site’s historical use.
The temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Who should go: Anyone interested in imperial Chinese history will find the Temple of Heaven fascinating. Visitors interested in architecture should also see the unique styles the Temple of Heaven incorporates. The temple grounds contain a park which makes for a relaxing walk in the center of the city, and a much cheaper ticket can be bought for this purpose.

When to go: Any time of year is good to visit the Temple of Heaven. Since the temple complex is mostly outdoors, it is important to dress warmly in the winter, since touring the entire area can take several hours.

Price: A ticket that allows a visitor to see every area in the Temple of Heaven is 35 RMB.

Opening hours:   6:00 AM to 5:30 PM (March through June)
                              6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (July through October)
                              6:00 AM to 5:00 PM (November through February)

How to get there: The Line 5 subway has a stop called “Tiantan Dongmen” which leads directly to the Temple of Heaven.