UNESCO World Heritage SiteNational 5A Scenic AreaNorth China
Temple of Heaven
天坛公园 · Beijing, Beijing
A masterpiece of Ming religious architecture where emperors prayed for good harvests.
The Temple of Heaven is a complex of ritual buildings set in a large park of ancient cypress trees. Its circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, built entirely of wood without nails, is one of the most photographed buildings in China. The layout reflects the Chinese belief in a round heaven and square earth.
Constructed between 1406 and 1420 during the Yongle reign, it was used by Ming and Qing emperors for annual ceremonies to pray for favourable harvests. The complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998 as a masterpiece of architectural design and symbolism.
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