Temple of Earth

 

Facts to Know about the Temple of Earth

Chinese Name: 地坛 Pronunciation: Dì Tán

Building Time: 1,530

Best Visiting Season: All seasons

Recommended Time for Visit: 1-2 Hours

Occupied Area: 37.4 hectares (374,000 square meters)

Address: Andingmenwai Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Building Function: Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912) worshiped the Earth God.

 

Entrance Ticket

Contents	Price
Entrance Ticket	2 yuan
Earth God Worship House Ticket	5 yuan

 

 

 

• Ticket Free of Charge Policy

1. Children under 6 years old (including 6 years old) or shorter than 1.2 meters (including 1.2 meters) are free of charge with their valid certificates;
2. The above policy is only applicable to admission tickets excluding annual tickets, monthly tickets, or tickets for big events.

 

Service Hours

Contents	May 1st - October 31st	November 1st - April 30th
Park Gate	6:00-21:30	6:00-20:30
Earth God Worship House	8:30-17:00

 

 

What You Need to Know About the Temple of Earth

The Temple of Earth, which was built in 1,530, ranks second in the five imperial sacrificial temples in Beijing. It is located outside of the Anding Gate, sits to the north of the Temple of Heaven, and faces the Yonghe Temple and the Confucian Temple across a river. As the existing largest sacrificial place of the Earth God in China, the Temple of Earth is solemn, quaint, and elegant.
 

The Temple of Earth, which is dignified and unique, is designed according to the traditional Chinese architectural style and mystical myths. The whole complex manifests such concepts as “Round Sky and Square Earth (天圆地方)” and “the Universe (乾坤)”. The Temple of Earth consists of several ancient buildings including the Square Water Altar, the Earth God Worship House, the Fasting Palace, the Pavilion for Preparing Animal Sacrifices, and the Sacrificial Storehouse.

There are 176 ancient trees in the temple, including 89 first-class ancient trees and 87 second-class ancient trees. Most of them are more than 300 years old. Among those trees, there are junipers, Chinese scholar trees, elms, and ginkgoes. They are growing well in various poses and have become a unique sight of the Temple of Earth. The One-armed General Cypress, the Senior General Cypress, and the Venerable General Cypress are the most famous trees in the Temple of Earth, attracting many tourists at home and abroad.

 

Development of the Temple of Earth

In 1,530, the Temple of Earth was built in the north of Beijing. Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty (1,368-1,644) held the first ceremony of offering sacrifices to the Earth God in the Temple of Earth in 1,531.
 

The Fasting Palace was built in 1,742 (during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty) and other buildings were renovated several times in the following decade. The Temple of Earth has formed its basic layout since then.

The last sacrificial ceremony was held in the Temple of Earth by Emperor Dezong (1,871-1,908) of the Qing Dynasty in 1,907. The Temple of Earth served as a place for worshiping the Earth God for more than three hundred years.

From 1,918 to 1,980, the Temple of Earth once acted as a temporary shelter and warehouse.

In 1,984, the Temple of Earth was open to the public as a park after renovations.

The first Chinese New Year Temple Fair was held in the Temple of Earth in 1,985, which received 650,000 tourists in 13 days. The Temple Fair now becomes a special event of the Temple of Earth.

In 1,987, a large-scale renovation of the Temple of Earth started under the support of the government.

It was selected by the State Council as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level in 2,006.

 

Worth-visiting Scenic Spots You Shouldn't Miss

 Square Water Altar

The Square Water Altar, which was built in 1,530, was the place where sacrificial ceremonies were held. The Altar is designed in a square shape. It is called Square Water Altar because there are square ditches around it. The central platform of the Altar has two floors, surrounded by short earthen walls, with Lingxing Gates on four sides.

There are two stone sculptures with mountain patterns in the southern part of the lower floor of the Altar, and two stone sculptures with river patterns in the northern part. Those sculptures were used for holding the memorial tablets of gods of sacred mountains and rivers in the sacrificial ceremony.
 

 Earth God Worship House

The Earth God Worship House is one of the main buildings of the Temple of Earth. It was the place for enshrining the memorial tablets of the Earth God, 15 gods of sacred mountains, and eight gods of sacred rivers during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It once served as an exhibition room of cultural and historical relics of the Temple of Earth.
 

 Fasting Palace

The Fasting Palace was built in 1,530 and rebuilt in 1,730. It was the place where emperors of the Qing Dynasty, including Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Yongzheng, and Emperor Qianlong, fasted before offering sacrifices to the Earth God. The main building faces the east, consisting of three halls in the west, south, and north respectively.

 

Suggested Travel Route

Enter from South Gate→Earth God Worship House→Square Water Altar→Fasting Palace→Bell Tower→Divine Horse Stable→Exit from the West Gate

 

How to Reach the Temple of Earth

 By Bus

South Gate: Take bus 13, 18, 44, 75, 116, 130, 684 or Double-decker 2 or 12 and get off at the Yonghegong(Lama Temple) Station.

West Gate: Take bus 18, 27, 75, 104, 108, 113, 119, 124, 301, 430, Double-decker 11, or Shuttle 7 and get off at the Andingmen Station.

North Gate: Take bus 125 and get off at the Hepingli Beijie Station.

East Gate: Take bus 117 or 125 and get off at the Ditan Dongmen Station.
 

 By Subway

Take Metro Line 2 and get off at the Yonghegong(Lama Temple) Station and exit A.

Take Metro Line 5 and get off at the Hepingli Beijie Station and exit D.
 

 By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去地坛。English: Please take me to the Temple of Earth.

Chinese: 请带我去地坛的南门。English: Please take me to the South Gate of the Temple of Earth.

Chinese: 请带我去地坛的西门。English: Please take me to the West Gate of the Temple of Earth.

If you go to the Temple of Earth from the center of Beijing (Grand Hyatt Beijing), it takes about 27 minutes (about 30 yuan).

If you go to the Temple of Earth from Beijing Capital International Airport, it takes about 33 minutes (about 70 yuan).

If you go to the Temple of Earth from Beijing Daxing International Airport, it takes about 82 minutes (about 200 yuan).

If you go to the Temple of Earth from Beijing West Railway Station, it takes about 35 minutes (about 40 yuan).

If you go to the Temple of Earth from Beijing South Railway Station, it takes about 36 minutes (about 50 yuan).