Morning Stroll in Temple of Heaven

Feeling the Vibe of Temple of Heaven in the early Morning

Its impressive ancient architectures and profound cultures have captured people’s imagination. They are also the valuable heritage of ancient culture of China.

In addition, if you could visit Temple of Heaven in the early morning, you will be pleasant to find the real and vivid local morning activities. Most of them are retired citizens, playing card games, a bunch of activities like dancing, Tai Chi, singing and badminton and generally just enjoying life.

Just follow me to stroll around the big park of Temple of Heaven and have a view of local social life in the park as well.

When and How to get there

Temple of Heaven is open at 6:30am. You may take the subway line 5 and get off at the station of Tiantan Dongmen ( Temple of Heaven East Gate) and exit from the Exit C.

Then cross the north-south Tiantan Donglu ( East Temple of Heaven Road), you will see the east gate to the Temple of Heaven.

Entering the east gate to Temple of Heaven ( Entrance fee: RMB15), you will see the park is well treed and groomed with rows of pine trees and manicured bushes.

Soon, on your right hand, you will come to a playground that is equipped with a number of exercise facilities where the people are doing various exercises.

Most of them are retired citizens with yearly park passes and come to the park nearly everyday.

Horizontal Bar

The main attraction inside the park is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest that is open at 8:00am. Before its opening time, you may have a look at its impressive dome from outside the wall that circles the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.

Along the axis, walk to the south and soon you will see the Imperial Vault of Heaven with a lovely roof, where the emperors sacrificed animals and burned incense sticks to pray for good weather for the crops.

You will see more social life in the park with cool shades, meadows and neatly arranged pine trees where people are doing morning exercises.

Circular Mound Altar: Used to worship Heaven at the winter solstice where the principal construction is a large round marble terrace named the Circular Mound.

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Further Readings