A short guide about Active travel to Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven, which was built in the 15th century, is a sacred site of ancient Beijing, where the emperor and his 1000 member entourage would retreat twice a year for religious rituals. Surrounded by enormous grounds designed in accordance with feng-shui, the Temple complex consists of the Celebrated Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail. It is considered the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture and was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. In early 2005, the Temple of Heaven underwent a 5.9 million USD face-lift in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the restoration was completed on May 1st, 2006.
The Temple of Heaven is located in the south-eastern part of Beijing. Emperors of the Ming and Qin dynasties came here to pray for a good harvest in spring and for rain in summer, and to offer sacrifices to heaven in winter. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. In the 16th century, the Jiajing Emperor extended the complex, and also built three other prominent temples in Beijing; the Temple of Sun in the east, the Temple of Earth in the north, and the Temple of Moon in the west. The Temple of Heaven was renovated in the 18th century under the Qianlong Emperor.
Tourabout has a large number of tours visiting China that take you to this popular tourist destination. The Temple of Heaven is an educational experience, rich in culture with the history of China, a truly memorable journey for you and your whole family.