Temple of the Earth (Ditan Park) in Beijing
Chinese Name: 地坛公园
English Name:Temple of the Earth (Ditan Park)
Type: Park, Royal sacrifice & Cultural relics protection unit
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Hours: 1-3 hour
Opening Hours: 06: 00-21: 30 (Monday-Sunday, May 1-October 31)
06: 00-20: 30 (November 1-Monday-Sunday, April 30 of the following year)
Ticket:2 RMB for ticket
Location: Ditan park, Andingmenwai Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Why is Temple of the Earth so special?
It is the second largest of the five altars in Beijing, the place where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the “gods of the emperor” and the largest altar in China. Autumn is the most beautiful season in the Temple of the Earth. The ginkgo trees in the garden are golden.
History of Temple of the Earth
Temple of the Earth was first built in May 1530, and in May 1531, it was the first sacrificial ceremony for the Altar. By 1752 it was completely completed and the Altar has been preserved to this day. After the founding of New China, it was renamed Ditan Park. In 2006, the State Council announced Temple of the Earth as a national key cultural relic protection unit.
Main Attractions in Temple of the Earth
The Fangze Altar
Fang Zetan, a sacrificial site for emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties, was built in 1530. The flat surface of the altar is square to symbolize the legend of “a place with a round sky”.
Zaishengting (Slaughter Pavilion)
It was a place where ancient royal families slaughtered animals (calves, pigs, sheep, deer) for sacrifice before offering sacrifices to the ground. On the day before the sacrifice, a livestock slaughter ceremony is held here. There is one well pavilion on each side of the door.
Pailou
Pailou also known as the archway, is the Temple of the Earth. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties first passed through the Pailou and then entered the Temple of the Earth. Due to natural conditions and historical reasons, the Pailou has not been preserved. The new Pailou was rebuilt in 1990. The newly-built archway is 13.5 meters high and imposing.
Cultural activities
Sacrifice to the earth originated from ancient times. According to written records, it has a history of more than 4,000 years in China. Later, feudal kings took advantage of these to further confuse the people and use them as ruling tools. Gradually formed a set of sacrificial system
How to Get There
- By Subway:
Take Subway Line 2 or Subway Line 5 The Lama Temple Station and get out from Exit A. Then you can see the south gate of Ditan Park. - By Bus:
Take bus 18, 75, 104, 108, 113, 119, 124, 125, 301, 426, 430 or Special Line 11 to the Ditan Ximen Station (the west gate of Ditan Park).
Take bus 117 to Ditan Dongmen Station (the east gate of Ditan Park).
Nearby attractions
The Lama Temple: It is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing. In 1983, it was designated by the State Council as a national key Buddhist temple in Han nationality areas.
Wudaoying Hutong: The current Wudaoying has become Beijing’s newest gathering place for petty-bourgeois literature and art, combining the life of the market with the latest fashions.
