Avoid visiting the Temple of Heaven without a plan

Don't visit the Temple of Heaven without a plan! The Forbidden City is already huge, but the Temple of Heaven is four times larger. Wandering around aimlessly will be exhausting. Ticket information: Tickets can be booked on the official WeChat account 7 days in advance. Closed on Mondays (only the park is open, buildings such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests are closed). Enter with your ID card. 🎟🎟Peak season (Apr 1–Oct 31): Tickets are CNY 15, combo tickets are CNY 34. Free for seniors over 60 and minors under 18. Half-price for students over 18. ⏰⏰Opening hours: - During peak season, the park is open 6:00–22:00, last entry at 21:00. The halls are open 8:00–18:00, last entry at 17:30. - You must buy a combo ticket to enter the main attractions such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Circular Mound Altar, and the Echo Wall. Note that these attractions are closed on Mondays. 🗺Transportation: - [East Gate] Take Metro Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen Station, Exit A2. - [West Gate] Take Metro Line 8 to Tianqiao Station, Exit C. - [South Gate] Take Bus 202 to Tiantan Nanmen. Recommended routes: - 1-hour express tour: Enter through the South Gate, visit the Circular Mound Altar, Echo Wall, Nine-Dragon Cypress, Danbi Bridge, and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, then exit through the North Gate. This route follows the path taken by ancient emperors when offering sacrifices to heaven, symbolizing the hope of rising higher and higher. - 2-hour in-depth tour: Enter through the South Gate, visit the above attractions, then continue west to the Divine Music Administration and Palace of Abstinence, and exit through the West Gate. - 3-hour full tour: If you have enough time, enter through the West Gate, visit the Double-Ring Longevity Pavilion, Palace of Abstinence, Circular Mound Altar, Echo Wall, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and Seven-Star Stones, then exit through the East Gate. You can also do this route in reverse. Highlights: - The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is famous for its grandeur. It is a three-tiered circular hall with a roof covered in blue, yellow, and green glazed tiles, symbolizing heaven and earth. It is the only existing example of a typical Ming dynasty hall. - The Circular Mound Altar, also known as the Altar of Heaven, has steps and stone slabs in multiples of nine, symbolizing the nine heavens. - The Imperial Vault of Heaven is where sacrificial items were stored. It is about 19.5 meters high and 15.6 meters in diameter, with a wooden arch structure and a roof decorated with blue tiles and a golden top. The ceiling is painted with green dragons on a green background. - The Palace of Abstinence is where emperors held fasting ceremonies. - Danbi Bridge is a road about 4 meters above the ground that connects the Circular Mound Altar and the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests.