Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace Group Tour

Meet at the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven (at 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM)

Please meet your guide and other group members at the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven at the appointed time. The guide will hold a sign with “ Catherine Lu Tours” logo on it. Please try to arrive 10 minutes in advance if possible.

How to get to the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven?

• By subway: Take subway line 5 and get off at Tiantandongmen Station (Temple of Heaven East Gate Station). Exit from Exit A2 and walk about 100 meters.

• By taxi: Please show the driver “请带我去天坛东门" to the driver. Or, please simply enter your destination “天坛东门” on Didi App to hail a car.

Temple of Heaven: Explore the Secrets of Timeless Architecture (about 2 hours)

Admission fee included.

Follow our local professional guide, you will start your Beijing half day tour from the East Gate of the Temple of Heaven. We will follow a central axis to marvel at some of its most structures: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Circular Mound Altar, etc. All of them are witnesses to emperors' rituals to pray for good harvests in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

We will move from east to west, then north to south for an efficient and smooth exploration.

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qinian Dian) was the main venue to hold grand ceremonies to worship Heaven in the first lunar month. The highlight of the architecture is its three-tiered blue-glazed tile roof, which symbolizes Heaven. Though the interior of the hall is not open to the public, the exterior is stunning enough to shocking you. Your professional guide will introduce the symbolism of the 28 supporting nanmu columns, and the meanings they embody in traditional Chinese architecture.

After the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, you walk south along Danbi Bridge, a 360-meter-long photogenic walkway until you reach the Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiong Yu). In ancient times, during the sacrificial rites, this single-eaved, blue-tiled circular hall was the place where the tablets of the Emperor's ancestors and the "Supreme Ruler of the Universe" were stored.

Surrounding the Vault, you can find the circular Echo Wall. It got its name for working like a telephone, allowing you hear the voice from the opposite ends of the wall by pressing your ear to the wall. Furthermore, you can try to clap or shout on the third stone slab in front of the hall. There will be three or more clear echoes.

Move on to the south, you will reach the Circular Mound Altar (Huanqiu Tan). As the core ceremony site, this open-air Altar is where the Emperor performed the solemn Heaven Worship Ceremony on the Winter Solstice. You will be amazed to find that the design of steps, balustrades, and paving stones in this part are all steeped in numerical symbolism. Try to stand at the center of the top platform and speak loudly. Your voice will resonate strongly, evoking a feeling of communicating with Heaven itself.

Before you end your Temple of Heaven tour at the South Gate, you will pass through large, open areas which are popular leisure spot for locals. You will glimpse into their real leisure life as they playing Jianzi (Chinese hacky sack), Chinese Yo-Yo, and practicing Pecking Opera, Tai Chia, and ballroom dancing. Feel free to watch with a smile or even to join a Tai Chi practice (optional).

Summer Palace Exploration: ancient architecture, classical gardens, and historical relics (about 2 hours)

After the architectural exploration in the Temple of Heaven, you will entertain your eyes with the stunning natural beauty and exquisite structures in the Summer Palace. Once the former imperial garden of the Qing Dynasty, it is one of the largest existing imperial gardens in China, highlighting exquisite artistry, rich history, and unique natural landscapes. Here you can expect a seamless combination of Jiangnan (Southern China) gardens, majestic northern mountain and water scenery, and magnificent architecture. Your guide will lead you to discover:

• Longevity Hill (Wanshou Shan): The heart of the park, many historical buildings and scenic spots are around the hill.

• Tower of Buddhist Incense (Fo Xiang Ge): Located on Longevity Hill, it is a landmark of the park, with its top offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the Kunming Lake.

• The Long Corridor (Chang Lang): Stretching 728 meters, it boasts one of the longest covered corridors in China. A famous highlight here is the over 14,000 exquisite paintings on its ceiling and beams.

• Kunming Lake: Covering 3/4 of the park's area, the lake offers a great opportunity for leisure boating and stroll. The West Causeway of the lake was modeled after the famous Su Causeway of the West Lake in Hangzhou. 

• Seventeen-Arch Bridge (Shiqi Kong Qiao): Connecting the lakeshore to the Nanhu Island, this spectacular bridge attracts numerous visitors for its "Golden Light Piercing the Caves" phenomenon.

These are just some of the highlights. As a World Cultural Heritage site, this park is waiting to amazing you with more of its ancient architecture, classical gardens, and historical relics.