[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Fasting Palace (Updated Jul)

🎉 Gyeongseong Palace If you don’t have time to take photos in the Forbidden City, you might as well arrange 30 minutes to visit the Qingcheng Palace, which will not open until 2024! Formerly named Zhai Palace, it was built in the second year of the Ming Shun period of the Ming Dynasty and was the place where the emperor offered sacrifices to the God of Agriculture. After the reconstruction, the current Qingcheng Palace has become a beautiful festival place! - Tickets: $15 (students $8) - Opening hours: Closed on Mondays, 9:00-17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday (ticket sales and admission stop at 16:30) - Transportation: Take bus No. 2, 7, 20, etc. to Xiannongtan Station, or take Metro Line 8, Exit C, and walk 300 meters south to arrive. Food recommendations: 👍🏻 Chef Fei Fried pork with peppers! The meat is so juicy and plentiful, you must eat it with rice! ! My mouth is watering! 😭 Rice can be refilled for free! 👍🏻 Cyber ​​Plants Located at the Capital Langyuan Station The Latte is super delicious. There aren't many people in that area, so it's very comfortable to walk around~ ☕️🌱 👍🏻 Lotus field rice We came across a small beverage shop after dinner. The pear soup was delicious and substantial! 🍐🥤 🎈 The Box This is a shopping mall that is very suitable for young people and is divided into two halls, A and B. There is also a Goodbai pop-up store inside, a must-visit spot for fans! 🤣✨ Friends who are fascinated by Sang Yan, don’t miss it!

#summervacay #july2025 #visitbeijing Tucked inside the vast grounds of Temple of Heaven Park, the Palace of Abstinence offers a quieter, lesser-known detour into the spiritual life of China’s ancient emperors. Before each grand ceremony to pray for harvests, emperors would retreat here in silence and self-purification—fasting, praying, and preparing to speak to Heaven. The architecture is both solemn and exquisite. The complex faces east, symbolizing reverence toward Heaven, and is topped with blue-glazed tiles, echoing the temple’s celestial theme. At its heart stands the beamless hall —a masterpiece of Qing-era architecture known for its structure built entirely without wooden beams. Stroll through the Hour Pavilion and the Bronze Man Pavilion, and you’ll feel time stretch backwards. It’s not crowded, making it a perfect place for quiet reflection and architectural appreciation.

✨2025 Beijing Temple of Heaven Guide✨A Guide to the Royal Altars｜Transportation + Photography + Hidden Gems 📍【Transportation】 1⃣ Subway: - Line 5, Tiantan East Gate Station, Exit A2: A 5-minute walk to the East Gate, ideal for a quick visit to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. - Line 8, Tianqiao Station, Exit C: Enter through the South Gate for a less strenuous counterclockwise tour. 2⃣ Bus: - Bus No. 36/120/72 to "Tiantan South Gate," directly to the entrance of the Circular Mound Altar. 3⃣ Driving (Avoid Pitfalls): - No visitor parking lots around the park! Park at the "National Centre for the Performing Arts Underground Parking Garage" or "Financial Street Shopping Center" and take a shared bike (parking is prohibited within 2 km of the park). 🏯【Top 5 Must-See Attractions】 1⃣ Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - The landmark of the Temple of Heaven, a circular hall with blue tiles and a golden roof, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. - 📸Photo Spots: Through the cracks of the Gate of Prayer for Good Harvests, symmetrical views of the east and west side halls' eaves, and upward shots from the steps in front of the hall. 2⃣ Circular Mound Altar 🌟🌟🌟🌟 - An open-air circular altar for winter solstice ceremonies. The central "Heart of Heaven Stone" has a magical echo. Climb to the top to experience a "dialogue with heaven." 3⃣ Echo Wall and Imperial Vault of Heaven 🌟🌟🌟🌟 - Whisper close to the wall to experience the echo. The Imperial Vault of Heaven, with its blue tiles and gilded roof, is a perfect backdrop for traditional photography. 4⃣ Danbi Bridge (Spirit Way) 🌟🌟🌟 - A 360-meter-long "path to heaven." The central stone path was exclusively for emperors. The ancient cypress trees on both sides are perfect for capturing depth in photos. 5⃣ Abstinence Palace 🌟🌟🌟 - Where the emperor fasted before ceremonies. The red walls, green tiles, and beamless hall are rare architectural features. The blooming magnolia trees in spring add to the ancient charm. 🍦【Hidden Gems & Food】 ✅ Temple of Heaven souvenir ice cream: CNY 28/piece, 5 flavors. Taking photos with the ice cream and the architecture is a must-do. ✅ Temple of Heaven Cafe: The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests latte art is a must-try. CNY 30-40 per person. Window seats offer views of the ancient buildings. ✅ Free stamps: 8 stamps are distributed at the North Gate Tourist Center, the Temple of Heaven Meiying Cultural and Creative Store, etc. Bring your own notebook to collect them. ✅ 24 Solar Term tickets: Limited edition tickets are sold on the corresponding solar term days. A must-have for collectors! 📝【Recommended Routes】 ⏳ 2-hour highlights tour (suitable for photographers): South Gate → Circular Mound Altar → Echo Wall → Danbi Bridge → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → East Gate (stop by the cafe along the way). ⏳ Half-day in-depth tour (including hidden attractions): North Gate → Hall of Imperial Zenith → Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests → Divine Kitchen → Long Corridor → Danbi Bridge → Nine-Dragon Cypress → Imperial Vault of Heaven → Circular Mound Altar → Abstinence Palace → West Gate. 📸【Photography & Outfit Tips】 - Outfit suggestions: Solid color long dresses (red/white/black are best). Avoid complex patterns that clash with the ancient architecture. - Golden hour: 1 hour after sunrise or 2 hours before sunset for soft lighting. - Unique photo spots: - Silhouettes against the red wall of the Guxi Gate - The west side hall corridor framed with the silhouette of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests - Low-angle shots of architectural details against the short red walls. 💡【Travel Tips】 1⃣ Pollen alert: High cypress pollen concentration in March-April! Wear a mask and hat. Enter the park before 10:00 am or after 3:00 pm (the park sprays water 4 times a day to reduce dust). 2⃣ Ticket reservation: - Combined ticket CNY 34 during peak season (includes Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Circular Mound Altar, etc.). Book one day in advance on the "Changyou Park" official account. Free admission for people over 60. 3⃣ Luggage storage: - Luggage storage available at the East Gate/Tianqiao subway stations, open from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm, CNY 20/day. 4⃣ Respectful travel: - Do not step on the steps of ancient buildings. Do not use drones (prior approval required). Protect cultural relics! 💌"Half of the Temple of Heaven is ritual, red walls and blue tiles tell the story of the past." — Take this guide, travel through 600 years of history, and make wishes alongside the emperors.

🚏 Address and transportation: Temple of Heaven Park is on the east side of Yongdingmennei Street in Dongcheng District in the southern part of Beijing 🚇 Subway: Line 5, Tiantan East Gate Exit D (Southwest Exit) 🚌 Bus: Take bus No. 36, No. 120, No. 958, No. 12, Yuntong No. 102, etc., and get off at Tiantan South Gate Station. 🎡 Tour time: 3 hours, either in the morning or afternoon. In the afternoon, there are fewer people and you may see Beijing auspicious clouds. 🔖 Scenic spot information summary Peak season: April 1st to October 31st *6:00～21:00 🕹 Off-season: November 1st to March 31st *6:30～21:00 ⚠️ Photo taboos: All ancient buildings in the Beijing Temple of Heaven are open for visiting and taking photos. However, some ancient relics clearly state that photography is strictly prohibited. This is because some buildings in the Temple of Heaven are very dimly lit, and tourists use flash when taking photos. The repeated bright light can damage the cultural relics. 📸 Tips for taking photos: 🔵 You can take photos of the entire Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests directly south of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Just angle your camera a little upwards to avoid the tourists. 🟢 To the southeast of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (in front of the exhibition hall), people can take photos with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests by standing in front of the pillars. 🟡 In front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, around 3pm, you can see the light flowing through the windows in the hall, but it takes a lot of time. 🟢 On the way to the Echo Wall, you can take a photo standing on the central axis 🟠 If you are at the Circular Mound before the park closes (preferably close to closing time when tourists are starting to leave), standing on the central stone with your arms outstretched is particularly impressive. 🔳 Tips for the tour route: A. Enter the park through the north gate: Huanggan Hall - Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (you can also visit the kitchen, long corridor, and slaughter pavilion) - Danbi Bridge - Nine Dragon Cypress - Imperial Vault of Heaven - Echo Wall - Circular Mound - Shenle Office - Zhai Palace - Bell Tower - Rose Garden - Hundred Flowers Garden - West Gate (exit the park) B. Enter the park through the east gate: Slaughter Pavilion - Kitchen - Huanggan Hall - Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests - Danbi Bridge - Huangqiong Hall - Echo Wall - Circular Mound - Shenle Office - Zhai Palace - Hundred Flowers Garden - Rose Garden - West Gate (exit the park) 🎏 Must-see attractions: Huanggan Hall + Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests + Danbi Bridge + Huangqiong Hall + Three Sound Stones + Echo Wall + Circular Mound 📌 Other attractions: Kitchen + Slaughter Pavilion + Zhai Palace + Shenle Office + Rose Garden + Nine Dragon Cypress + Double Ring Longevity Pavilion

Palace Museum is holding the "Jade from Kunlun Mountains" exhibition, mainly featuring Qing Dynasty jade artifacts. The exquisite craftsmanship is truly eye-opening. Sharing some pictures with friends.

Beijing's central axis was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO this year, and the key landmark buildings on the central axis have become the focus of attention for tourists at home and abroad. The Temple of Heaven is one of the first choices for check-in. The Temple of Heaven is the place where the royal family of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped the heavens, prayed for grain and rain, and is the largest existing ancient sacrificial building group in China. Tourists who come here will not miss the buildings on the "main line" such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Echo Wall, and Circular Mound Altar. In fact, the Zhaigong on the southwest side of the Temple of Heaven is also worth a careful tour. This is the place where the emperor fasted for three days before the sacrifice, and it is now open for free. Draw a key point for your reference: 🕹️The overall architectural pattern of Zhaigong is regular, with an area of about 40,000 square meters, surrounded by tall and strict palace walls, and there is a royal ditch (equivalent to a moat) on the periphery. 🕹️The main hall-the beamless hall, the brick arch bears the weight, the beamless beam, and there is a horizontal plaque of "Qin Ruohao Tian" written by Qianlong. The "Historical and Cultural Exhibition of the Temple of Heaven Zhaigong" is now set up in the hall. 🕹️The bronze man of fasting is erected in front of the beamless hall. The emperor holds a sign with the word "fasting" during the fasting period. It is said that the prototype is Wei Zheng, a famous minister of the Tang Dynasty. 🕹️The bell tower (not open), with the "Taihe Bell" made in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor rang the big bell from the Zhaigong to the altar.

Temple of Heaven Palace It was built in the 18th year of Yongle reign and was a palace specially used by the emperor for fasting. Before the sacrifice, the emperor had to fast in the Zhai Palace three days in advance. He was required not to eat meat, drink alcohol, listen to music, go to the inner chamber, deal with criminal cases, inquire about illnesses or mourn, and keep himself clean to show his respect. The Zhai Palace is located in the southwest corner of the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests, facing east. The green color of the tiles expresses the emperor's respectful and solemn attitude towards heaven. The Temple of Heaven Zhai Palace is square in plan and covers an area of ​​nearly 40,000 square meters. The palace has special buildings for ceremonies, residences, services and guards, such as the Beamless Hall, Sleeping Hall, Bronze Man Stone Pavilion, Bell Tower, Guardhouse and Patrol Corridor. The Zhai Palace has a rigorous layout and an elegant environment, and is surrounded by two layers of palace walls and two imperial ditches. There are lilacs planted in the Zhai Palace of the Temple of Heaven. It is now in bloom and you will be attracted by the fragrance of the flowers as soon as you enter the Zhai Palace.

The Fasting Palace is located inside the West Heavenly Gate, where the emperor would bathe and fast before performing sacrificial rites. Facing east, the palace covers an area of about 40,000 square meters, surrounded by a moat. It houses a total of over 60 rooms. The main hall is five bays wide and is known as the Beamless Hall because it contains no beams or wooden columns. There are two stone pavilions on the platform of the main hall, the left one is the Fasting Bronze Man Pavilion (allegedly cast in imitation of Tang Dynasty's Wei Zheng), and the right one is the Pavilion of Time Tablets. Behind the main hall are five sleeping quarters, and in the northeast corner stands a bell and drum tower, which houses the 'Great Harmony Bell' cast during the Ming Dynasty's Yongle era.