The altar complex where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests, a UNESCO site since 1998, with the triple-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall and the Circular Mound. The park around it is Beijing's great morning stage: before the halls open, residents with year passes sing, dance, play instruments and practise tai chi under 600-year-old cypresses.
- Address
- 1 Tiantan Dongli (gates on all four sides), Dongcheng District
- Hours
- Park gates Apr 1-Oct 31 Mon-Sun 06:00-22:00, Nov 1-Mar 31 Mon-Sun 06:30-22:00; ticket sales stop 20:00, last entry 21:00 (visitbeijing.com.cn); historic halls about 08:00-17:00 (visitbeijing.com.cn tips)
- Best time to go
- Morning · About 2.5 h
- Price
- Park CNY 15 Apr-Oct, CNY 10 Nov-Mar; combined ticket with the halls CNY 34 / CNY 28 (visitbeijing.com.cn)
- Price level
- ¥
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Come at 7:00-7:30, best on a Sunday, for the residents' morning activities; after 9:30 the tour groups take over (visitbeijing.com.cn).
- Buy the combined ticket if you want to enter the Hall of Prayer, the Echo Wall and the Circular Mound; the park ticket alone only covers the grounds.
- Whisper along the circular Echo Wall around the Imperial Vault of Heaven and listen at the far side.