Beijing Temple of Heaven Park: A Royal Sacred Place Where Heaven and Man Are One

#Mainland Travel From the glazed dome of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests to the hidden pine forest of the Zhai Palace, decoding the time and space code of 600 years of sacrificial civilization 1. Must-see core buildings: the dialogue between time and space of the Temple of Heaven complex 1. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (core on the north side) • Architectural secrets: The triple-eaved pointed roof symbolizes “the sky is round and the earth is square”; the three-color glazed tiles of upper blue, middle yellow and lower green correspond to the sky, the earth and all things; the 28 golden nanmu pillars correspond to the cycle of the stars (the 4 pillars in the inner circle symbolize the four seasons, the 12 pillars in the middle circle correspond to the months, and the 12 pillars in the outer circle represent the hours). • Nighttime wonders: The lights are turned on every Friday/Saturday and on major holidays (19:30-21:00), and silhouette shots at blue hour are particularly stunning. 2. Circular Mound Altar (Southern Heavenly Sacrifice Area) • Digital code: The number of stone slabs on the three-layer altar is a multiple of 9 (such as 9 on the upper layer and 18 on the middle layer), and the number of railings is 180, corresponding to the "Zhou Tian Xingxiu". When stepping on the steps, you need to follow the ancient custom of "knocking once every nine steps". 3. Echo Wall (Huangqiongyu Wall) • Acoustic miracle: Although the sound transmission effect has weakened due to years of wear and tear, you can still experience "sound transmission through the walls" when standing in the east and west side hall corridors. 4. Zhai Palace (where the emperor fasted) • Secret gameplay: Wild squirrels often appear in the pine forest outside the red wall. You can bring nuts to feed them (it is recommended to put them in a plastic bag and rub them to attract them). 2. In-depth tour route: customized according to time and interests 1. Classic 3-hour route (combination ticket) • Enter through the East Gate: Seven-Star Stone → North Kitchen → Long Corridor → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (you need to purchase a separate ticket to enter the hall) → Imperial Vault of Heaven → Echo Wall → Circular Mound → Zhai Palace → Double-ringed Longevity Pavilion → exit through the West Gate. • Hidden movement route: Enter from the north gate to avoid the crowds and walk along the west side of Danbi Bridge to take pictures of the reflection of the ancient cypress. 2. Half-day cultural tour (historical decoding line) • Shenle Bureau: Watch the restored performance of ancient sacrificial music (separate ticket required) and experience the Zhonghe Shao music chime bells. • Slaughterhouse Pavilion Ruins: View the sacrificial sacrifice processing scenes of the Ming Dynasty through the glass floor and learn about the ancient "Tai Lao" system. 3. One-hour family tour • South Gate → Circular Mound → Echo Wall → Danbi Bridge → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → Exit Cultural and Creative Shop (stamp + ice cream). 3. Practical tips: must-read before traveling and guide to avoid pitfalls 1. Tickets and reservations • Ticket price: 15 yuan for the main ticket (10 yuan in the off-season), 34 yuan for the combined ticket (including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and other core attractions), half price for students/seniors, free for those over 60 years old. • Reservation: Real-name reservations must be made 7 days in advance through the official account “Temple of Heaven Park”. Indoor attractions are closed on Mondays (except holidays). 2. Transportation Tips • Metro: Line 5, Tiantan East Gate Station, Exit A (closest), Line 8, Tianqiao Station, Exit C (near the west gate), Line 14, Jingtai Station (near the south gate). • Bus: Line 36/53 stops at Temple of Heaven South Gate, Line 6/34 stops at Temple of Heaven North Gate. 3. Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls • Guided tour service: electronic guide 20 yuan/unit, manual guide 150 yuan/hour (group tour recommended), it is recommended to rent AR glasses (40 yuan/pair) to restore the sacrificial scene. • Dining Tips: Ice House Restaurant (outside Shenwu Gate) offers light meals, and you must try the palace cheese at Sanyuan Cold Drink Shop. 4. Unique Experience: Beyond the Conventional Gameplay 1. Night view • Lighting up of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: Open after 19:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. The North Gate is the best photo spot to capture the magical effect of "red walls and blue tiles reflecting the starry sky". • Night Tour of the Rose Garden: A summer-only light show combined with the fragrance of flowers creates an immersive experience. 2. Cultural creation and stamping • Stamping Points: ◦ Free stamps: North Gate Visitor Center (2 stamps), Temple of Heaven Banquet (4 stamps), Yuting Gardening Station (21 stamps). ◦ Paid stamp: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests Cultural and Creative Store (bracelet/bronze mirror theme stamp, need to purchase a book). • Limited ice cream: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests shaped ice cream (15 yuan/stick), Danbi Bridge “cloud pattern” ice cream (10 yuan/stick). 3. Explore hidden corners • Double-Ring Wanshou Pavilion: A circular pavilion from the Qing Dynasty, it is suitable for shooting symmetrical compositions and is easy to take pictures with few people. • West wall of the Rose Garden: pink rose wall (April-May), forming a color contrast with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. 5. Surrounding Linkage: One-day Cultural Tour Morning: Temple of Heaven → Qianmen Street (15 minutes walk, experience the time-honored brand) Afternoon: Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City (1 stop by subway) Night: Wangfujing Pedestrian Street ("Four Seasons Minfu" roast duck is recommended for dinner) 📸 Top 5 photo spots 1. An upward shot of the stairs on the west side of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: the columns of the side halls are used as the foreground to highlight the depth of the building. 2. Reflection of the red wall of Danbi Bridge: The 99-foot-long corridor reflected on the water surface was photographed after the rain. 3. Feeding squirrels in the Saigū pine forest: Capture the moment when the squirrels hold food (it is recommended to wear dark clothes). 4. The central stone slab of the Circular Mound Altar: A bird’s-eye view of the nine-square grid ground, with the symbol of the “Nine Heavens” under your feet. 5. Performance of the chime bells by the Shenle Bureau: Capture the musicians striking the bells to showcase the charm of ancient elegant music. 🎒 Pre-trip essential checklist ✅ ID card (real name required for admission) ✅ Comfortable sports shoes (average daily walking 25,000 steps +) ✅ Folding tripod (essential for night scene shooting) ✅ Sunscreen ice sleeves + cooling spray (summer temperatures up to 35°C+) ✅ Snacks (the prices in the park are relatively high, it is recommended to bring your own water) 🌟 Beijing Temple of Heaven Park is not only the pinnacle of ancient sacrificial architecture, but also a living textbook of Chinese civilization. From the astrological codes of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests to the interesting squirrel stories in the Zhai Palace, from the cost-effective choice of combined tickets to the visual feast of the night view, this place has used 600 years to interpret the Eastern philosophy of "harmony between man and nature". Take this guide with you and experience the profound charm of "One Temple of Heaven, Half of Chinese History"! 🌌🏛️