Temple of Heaven (天坛)

Attraction · Beijing. An imperial altar park with separate tickets for its ceremonial buildings.

Source: https://chinafootnotes.com/places/temple-of-heaven · Data checked 2026-10-06 · Rendered for 2026-10-08 (Asia/Shanghai). Facts carry their status; "not found yet" means we searched and found no reliable source.

Why go

The Temple of Heaven (天坛) is a large imperial ritual landscape south of central Beijing. Its park ticket lets you walk among old cypresses, while the famous Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall and Circular Mound Altar are a separate scenic-spots ticket or part of the combined pass. The north–south path through these sites shows how the architecture served different ceremonies.

What to do

• See the prayer hall. The blue-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) anchors the northern altar complex. It is inside the separately ticketed scenic-spots area, not merely a view from the outer park paths.
• Walk the ritual axis. Follow the raised Danbi Bridge (丹陛桥) south toward the Echo Wall (回音壁) and Circular Mound Altar (圜丘). This connects the two ceremonial zones.
• Use the park as a garden. The broad grounds contain old cypresses and walking routes beyond the three ticketed structures. A regular park ticket is enough if the greenery and exterior views are your focus.

• Don't miss: The three signature sites close before the outer park gates.

• Best time: Morning for the paid scenic spots
• Skip if: Skip the combined ticket if you only want a park walk.

Practical details

• Hours: Park 06:00–22:00 peak · 06:30–22:00 winter
• Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 06:00–22:00, last entry 21:00
• Apr–Oct (04-01 to 10-31), Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 06:00–22:00, last entry 21:00
• Nov–Mar (11-01 to 03-31), Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: 06:30–22:00, last entry 21:00
• Three scenic spots are open Tuesday–Sunday, 08:00–18:00 peak or 08:00–17:00 winter, with entry ending 30 minutes earlier.
• The paid scenic spots close every Monday except on legal public holidays; the park gates stay open.
• Admission: Ticketed · park ¥15/¥10; combined ¥34/¥28
• Park peak: ¥15 (Apr–Oct)
• Park winter: ¥10 (Nov–Mar)
• Combined peak: ¥34 (Apr–Oct)
• Combined winter: ¥28 (Nov–Mar)
• Concession: Eligible discount visitors (park ticket ¥7.5, combined ticket ¥17 in high season) ¥7.5 (Valid ID and e-ticket QR code; amounts from the city's 2024 park page)
• Combined pass includes the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound scenic spots.
• The park's Chinese guide lists the Fasting Palace, North Divine Kitchen and North Slaughter Pavilion in the scenic-spot area with the three main sites.
• The city's 2024 park page also lists a separate Admission Ticket (Passport/Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card) at CNY 20 and a concession ticket at CNY 10; this appears on that page only, so the main prices above are unchanged.
• Booking: Book online or buy on the day
• Visiting Beijing Parks (畅游公园) — https://www.bjgyol.com.cn · passport: yes
• Visiting Beijing Parks (畅游公园) — WeChat → search 畅游公园 → 预约购票 → 市属公园 · passport: yes
• Passport accepted: yes — Beijing municipal guide explicitly supports passports and original-passport gate checks.
• The city's 2024 park guide says tickets are sold at the ticket office, and same-day QR-code purchase is possible for the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound when the park is not at capacity. Weekends and holidays may fill, so booking ahead is safer.
• Two Reddit commenters (ricaa7, SkyIDreamer, Sep 2026) say tickets can be bought at the window; this agrees with the official guide.
• Last admission: Scenic spots: 17:30 peak / 16:30 winter
• Time to allow: 2–3 hr
• Getting there: Line 5 East Gate · Line 8 West Gate
• Metro Line 5 to Tiantandongmen (天坛东门), about 5 min walk
• Metro Line 8 to Tianqiao (天桥), about 10 min walk
• Show a taxi driver: 天坛公园东门，东城区天坛东路
• Exit letters in blogs and media (A, A2 for Tiantandongmen; C for Tianqiao) are older than 12 months, disagree or come from a single author, so no exit is recorded; the gate names are from the park.
• Foreign visitors: Passport purchase and English ticket site

Not found yet

• admission.prices: The city's 2024 page lists a passport ticket at ¥20 and a ¥10 concession that no park or Landscaping Bureau page repeats, so the foreign-visitor price is unresolved. (searched: Beijing government English park page, park operator website, Beijing Landscaping Bureau page)
• transport.metro[1].exit: No official source names the exit for Tianqiao (Line 8); the three blog and media mentions are older than 12 months or disagree (A versus A2). (searched: park operator website, Jordan & Emily blog, Visit Beijing one-day guide, NetEase article)
• foreignVisitors.english.signage: The ticket site is bilingual but no source says whether the park has English signs. (searched: Beijing government English park page, park operator website, Jordan & Emily blog)
• foreignVisitors.payment: No source says whether foreign cards, cash or wallets work at the ticket office or entrance. (searched: Beijing government English park page, park operator website, Jordan & Emily blog)
• foreignVisitors.foreignPhone: The city's park guide describes passport booking but not whether an overseas phone number can register. (searched: Beijing government English park page, park operator website, Jordan & Emily blog)
• transport.metro[0].exit: Sources write Exit A and Exit A2 for Tiantandongmen, and only one non-promotional 2026 post (林咩咩) names A2. (searched: park operator website, Jordan & Emily blog, Visit Beijing one-day guide, Xiaohongshu)

Traveler tips

• Choose park or combined ticket. The regular Temple of Heaven park ticket covers the grounds; the combined ticket adds the paid scenic spots, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall and Circular Mound Altar. The park's Chinese guide also lists the Fasting Palace (斋宫) and the North Divine Kitchen and Slaughter Pavilion in the scenic-spot area, but does not say the combined ticket covers them. Compare the two products before paying. source
• Use the English ticket website. On the official 畅游公园 website, switch the language to English and select Temple of Heaven. Enter the visit date, time period and each visitor’s information before paying. Keep the electronic QR ticket available at the gate. source
• Carry the original passport. Beijing’s municipal park guide says foreign visitors can purchase with a passport or permanent residence permit. The gate may scan the e-ticket QR code and ask for the same original passport, so keep it with the booking record. source
• Reach the park before the sites close. The outer park stays open after the three ticketed sites shut. They are open 08:00–18:00 Tuesday–Sunday in peak season (08:00–17:00 in winter) and stop admission at 17:30 (16:30 in winter). Do those first if using a combined ticket. Caveat: A July 2026 Reddit commenter (NarrowDiet7558) reached the sites near closing and says they close at 18:00, which matches the operator's rule. Comment dates on Reddit are the thread's post date. source
• Walk from north to south. Start at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿), then cross Danbi Bridge (丹陛桥) to the Echo Wall (回音壁) and Circular Mound Altar (圜丘). This follows the layout from prayer for harvest to the southern altar. source
• Pick the gate that matches your route. Metro Line 5 stops at Tiantandongmen (天坛东门, Exit A or A2 depending on the source), about a 5-minute walk to the East Gate, which is the shortest approach to the Hall of Prayer. For a south-to-north route use the West Gate via Line 8 Tianqiao (天桥, Exit C, about 10 minutes on foot) or the South Gate, the farthest from the metro at roughly 20 minutes from Line 14 Jingtai (景泰). The main ceremonial axis runs north–south, so decide where you want to finish before you enter. Caveat: Exit letters (A or A2 for Line 5 Tiantandongmen; C for Line 8 Tianqiao) come from posts that disagree or are older than 12 months, so they are not recorded in the transport data. source
• Rent an English audio guide on your phone. Scan the 坛语时光 mini-program guide at any park gate, 08:15–18:00. English and 18 other languages are offered at ¥40 with no deposit (Mandarin ¥30). Bring headphones and charge your phone before the long walk between sites. Caveat: The park's English page still lists an older automatic-guide rental of ¥40 plus a ¥50 deposit; the newer Chinese page lists the mini-program at ¥40 with no deposit. source
• Check temporary scenic-spot closures. A park gate can stay open while the paid historic buildings close for conservation. Read the park’s latest notice list if the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall or Circular Mound is your main reason to visit. source
• Do the central hall before the park closes. A March 2026 visitor found the Temple of Heaven park much larger than expected and warned that a park ticket alone does not enter the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Go to the central historic buildings before their separate earlier closing time; use the official seasonal schedule for the exact time. source
• Book an English-speaking guide two days ahead. The South Gate guide desk offers English-language guides by the hour: ¥300 for 1–5 people, ¥350 for 6–10, ¥400 for 11–15 and ¥450 for 16–20. Hours are 08:00–18:00 in peak season and 08:00–17:00 in winter. Book at least two days ahead on 010-67025289. Caveat: The park's English page gives 08:00–15:00 for team guides while the Chinese page gives 08:00–18:00 in peak season; the newer Chinese page is used here. source
• Know that the paid sites close on Mondays. The Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound area is closed every Monday outside legal public holidays, even though the park gates stay open. If you only have a Monday, you can walk the grounds on a park ticket but will not enter these sites. Plan the main visit for Tuesday–Sunday. Caveat: 嘟嘟羊 (Jan 2026), 南京小游记 (Sep 2025) and 绝世小泡芙 (May 2025) agree on 08:00–18:00 in peak season (17:00 in winter) with last entry 30 minutes earlier and a Monday closure except holidays; 逍遥的小河 (Aug 2026) says the Monday closure is lifted in July and August, which is not confirmed by the park pages. (2 travelers) source
• Buy by passport on the WeChat mini-program. Two Australian travellers booked on the 畅游公园 WeChat mini-program, chose the passport option instead of a Chinese ID card and typed the passport number and full name exactly as printed. They paid in WeChat Pay and scanned the QR code at the East Gate, with no paper ticket. They warn that a typo causes trouble at the turnstile and set a reminder to book ahead in peak season. Caveat: The post does not say whether a foreign-issued card can be linked to WeChat Pay. source
• Arrive before 08:00 to see the park locals use. Ket had heard the park is famous for morning routines of dancing, martial arts and music, with locals coming early, more so at weekends. Ket arrived about 07:00, wandered the park before the Hall of Prayer opened at 08:00 and entered by the East Gate rather than the popular South Gate, which helped avoid a sea of people. Caveat: The page dates from May 2023 (updated August 2025); crowds on holidays differ. Hit the Road Ket's page carries affiliate links. source
• A route from the East Gate that does not backtrack. A 2023 visitor entered at the East Gate, walked the Seventy-two Corridors (七十二长廊), then the Hall of Prayer, crossed Danbi Bridge (丹陛桥) to the Imperial Vault of Heaven (皇穹宇) and the Circular Mound, then returned through the park to the East Gate. The full loop took about 4 hours, or 2 hours if rushed. Caveat: Hit the Road Ket's page carries affiliate links. source
• National Day weeks are among the park's busiest. Beijing's park authority says the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and Beihai were the three municipal parks with the most visitors on each of the first four days of the October 2026 National Day holiday. circadian_light (Jun 2026) was glad to have gone early on a weekday, though it was still pretty packed. The park runs a west-gate-in, north-gate-out route that spreads the flow. _Caveat: The ranking is for the 2026 National Day week; the first-four-days wording comes from the Beijing Daily report of 4 Oct 2026. circadian_light's visit was not a holiday. Comment dates on Reddit are the thread's post date._ source
• Tickets can be bought on the day, or booked 1–7 days ahead. The city's 2024 park guide says the Temple of Heaven sells tickets at its ticket office. For the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound, if the park has not reached capacity visitors can scan the QR code at the park entrance to buy a same-day ticket, or ask a Comprehensive Service Counter in the park. Foreign visitors then show the e-ticket QR code and the same ID at entry. Booking online 1–7 days ahead on the 畅游公园 or Temple of Heaven WeChat account is also possible and safer at weekends and holidays. Caveat: Two Reddit commenters in September 2026 say tickets can be bought at the service window with a passport (ricaa7, a general remark about the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace) and at the place directly with a short line (SkyIDreamer); neither describes a specific purchase. Several 2026 commercial guide articles say the park dropped its booking requirement on 22 August 2026; no park or government notice of that was found. Comment dates on Reddit are the thread's post date. 小蛇想出去玩 (Dec 2025) says you can also buy at the ticket window, 逍遥的小河 (Aug 2026) says that if the day is not full you can scan the QR code at the gate to buy, though not to be gambled on in the summer or holiday weeks, and 林咩咩 (Apr 2026) advises buying online beforehand to save time. (5 travelers) source
• The compound is big, but the main hall is the crowd magnet. Visitors found the compound large and empty in places, with the crowd concentrated at the main hall; going early on a weekday helped. Caveat: Comment dates on Reddit are the thread's post date. (2 travelers) source
• North Gate is the shortest way to the Hall of Prayer. 小蛇想出去玩 (Dec 2025) and JT (Oct 2025) both enter by the North Gate: from Line 7 Qiaowan it is about 700 m to the gate, then straight ahead to the Hall of Prayer in minutes; JT walked Hall of Prayer to South Gate in about one hour, 小蛇 in about 1.5 hours with photos. Carrier (Aug 2025) says the North Gate is the quickest for the Hall of Prayer and also close to Line 5 and buses 6, 110, 72 and 35. Caveat: ll (Jun 2026) reports that the North Gate could not be used for entry or exit and had to go back the way she came, so confirm it is open; the other authors visited in 2025. (3 travelers) source
• A route that does not backtrack: east gate in, west gate out. 林咩咩 (Apr 2026) walks from Line 5 Tiantandongmen Exit A2 through the East Gate to the Hall of Prayer, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Circular Mound and the Fasting Palace and leaves by the West Gate for Line 8 Tianqiao, taking about 1.5 hours (11,000 steps for a commenter). ll (Jun 2026) recommends east in and west out or the reverse, because her south-in north-out plan failed. 绝世小泡芙 (May 2025) offers a full route (east gate to the north gate via the Fasting Palace) and a shorter one to the south gate. Caveat: Times are the authors' estimates; ll's complaint about the National Museum transfer concerns buses, not the park route. (3 travelers) source
• Plan one and a half to three hours. A fast loop takes about 1–1.5 hours (JT, 小蛇想出去玩, 林咩咩), and 南京小游记 (Sep 2025) suggests 3 hours for an efficient visit and 5 hours for a deep one. 日记 (Feb 2026) fitted the Hall of Prayer, the Imperial Vault and the Circular Mound into 100 minutes on a six-hour airport stopover. Caveat: Fast loops include no waiting at the Echo Wall or the Hall of Prayer queues. (5 travelers) source
• The Hall of Prayer lights up on Friday and Saturday evenings. Carrier (Aug 2025) says the Hall of Prayer is lit only on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, about 19:30 to 21:30 in summer, and that the ¥15 park ticket is enough to photograph it from outside the wall; 林咩咩 (Apr 2026) also says it is lit on Friday and Saturday evenings. Arrive 30 minutes before dark for the blue hour and shoot from the north gate arch or the west steps. Caveat: The lighting times shift with the season, and Carrier measured the switch-on at about 19:50 in summer; 司司 (Jun 2025) notes that the park ticket does not get you inside the hall. (3 travelers) source
• Roaming photographers at the Hall of Prayer: agree the price first. Several authors report photographers who offer a set for ¥100–200 and then deliver poor pictures: 张冰灵- (Nov 2025) paid about ¥200 for fewer than ten, 🌵 (May 2026) was quoted ¥180 and ended up paying ¥200 for two people with no usable shots, and 小鱼饼饼 (Jul 2026) complains about photos that did not match the samples. 林咩咩 (Apr 2026) says to be careful and that you can decline a trial; a commenter on 张冰灵-'s post paid ¥20 a photo for five on the spot. Caveat: Experiences of three visitors; prices are negotiable and some commenters are happy with their photos. Nothing here comes from the park. (4 travelers) source
• The Echo Wall can be under repair. 愿景如雪 (Jun 2026) paid for the combined ticket and found the Echo Wall (回音壁) covered by a plastic sheet for restoration; commenters say the same and one says that shouting along the wall produced no echo. The Imperial Vault of Heaven's gates have you leave and walk round to the back, and ll (Jun 2026) says every hall scans an ID card; how a passport is handled is not stated. Caveat: No park notice was found for the repair, so its end date is unknown; check the park's announcements before relying on the Echo Wall. (2 travelers) source
• Foreign passport price: one author says ¥20 for the gate ticket. 逍遥的小河 (Aug 2026) says passport holders buy through the park's official account at about ¥34 for the combined ticket and ¥20 for the gate ticket alone, with the QR code and the passport checked at the entrance. Caveat: The text closely follows the municipal government's 2024 park page, which also lists a ¥20 passport admission ticket and a ¥10 concession, so it may be derived from it and is not counted as independent. Hotline 010-67028866 can confirm. source
• Spring blossoms on the way to the Fasting Palace. 林咩咩 (Apr 2026) found crabapple and lilac in bloom on the way to the Fasting Palace in mid-April, magnolias already over and roses expected around mid-May. 绝世小泡芙 (May 2025) and 南京小游记 (Sep 2025) mention squirrels in the pine grove near the palace, which will take nuts in autumn. Caveat: The bloom dates move with the weather each year. (3 travelers) source

Sources

• Temple of Heaven Park
• Beijing Municipal Landscaping Bureau (published 2023-12-25)
• Beijing Municipal Government
• Temple of Heaven Park
• taylorslecht
• Temple of Heaven Park (天坛公园)
• Temple of Heaven Park (天坛公园) (published 2026-09-15)
• Beijing Municipal Government (published 2024-07-19)
• Jordan and Emily (published 2025-03-24)
• Hit the Road Ket (published 2023-05-14)
• 北京旅游指南针 via Visit Beijing (published 2025-06-08)
• 瑶瑶 / 财运不段 (NetEase) (published 2025-12-27)
• 古迹攻略集 (Sina) (published 2026-09-21)
• circadian_light (published 2026-06-19)
• NarrowDiet7558 (published 2026-07-09)
• foxbones (published 2026-07-09)
• SkyIDreamer (published 2026-09-23)
• ricaa7 (published 2026-09-23)
• Beijing Daily Client (北京日报客户端) (published 2026-10-04)
• 林咩咩 (published 2026-04-19)
• 嘟嘟羊🐏 (published 2026-01-31)
• 小蛇想出去玩 (published 2025-12-17)
• 逍遥的小河 (published 2026-08-15)
• 南京小游记 (published 2025-09-24)
• 绝世小泡芙🍬 (published 2025-05-20)
• JT🐨 (published 2025-10-20)
• Carrier (published 2025-08-06)
• ll (published 2026-06-17)
• 日记 (published 2026-02-11)
• 司司 (published 2025-06-22)
• 张冰灵- (published 2025-11-20)
• 🌵 (published 2026-05-28)
• 小鱼饼饼 (published 2026-07-26)
• 愿景如雪 (published 2026-06-14)

More places

• More in Central axis: Jingshan Park, The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)