Temple of Heaven: The Imperial Vault of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven Park is a vast green space in the heart of Beijing. It has the not-so-green Temple of Heaven, including its Circular Mound Altar structure as its centerpiece.  By no means is the Temple the only structure though. The buildings and their surroundings stretch as impressively wide as the park that contains them.

The Temple of Heaven itself, originally built in 1420, was a place where the emperors of China worshiped. The vast compound measures a whopping 2.73 square kilometers. Its outer wall forms a semicircle to the north and a square to the south, enclosed by additional concentric walls.

The Imperial Vault of Heaven

Originally built in 1530 to service the Circular Mound Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven held the items used in the heaven worshiping ceremony. Round and with a double eaved roof it was rebuilt into its present shape in 1752.  It stands 19.5m high and 15.6m in diameter and is a wooden structure with a blue tiled roof.  The blue tiles of all the buildings in the Temple of Heaven complex are the same, made specifically for these building with the color symbolizing heaven.

The roof tiles are wonderful and the color is completely eye catching. I study some of the details of them, both up close, and the effect from far away, marveling at the workmanship and the color which is still vibrant today.

Good To Know

The Temple of Heaven Park is a large complex just to the south of central Beijing. You need time to explore all that the park has to offer. Wear comfortable shoes, carry some water with you and dress for the weather. The Temple of Heaven it is extremely hot in summer and extremely cold in the winter months.

To explore other areas of the park, follow these links:

• Circular Mound Altar

Would I Return?

Yes. There is much to explore here and the park and temples are too vast to be able to take it all in in one visit.