Built in 1420 (the 18th year of the Ming-dynasty Yongle Emperor’s reign), the Temple of Heaven is located to the east of the Zhengyang Gate, and it covers an area of 2.73 square kilometers. It is where the imperial families of the Ming and Qing dynasties held ceremonies to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for good harvests. It was originally called the Temple of Heaven and Earth, and with later expansion and renovation, it is now the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient imperial complex dedicated to the worship of Heaven.

The temple grounds are round in the north and square in the south, reflecting the ancient Chinese belief in a round Heaven and square Earth. Two walls divide the temple into inner and outer sections. Another boundary wall exists between two altars. To the north of the wall lies the Altar of Praying for Bumper Crops, which includes the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and several other structures. To the south is the Circular Mound Altar whose main component is the Circular Mound. Each altar includes auxiliary structures, such as the Divine Warehouse, Divine Kitchen, and Animal Sacrifice Pavilion, and the two complexes are connected by the Danbi Bridge, forming a north-south architectural axis of about 1,200 meters. Located inside and to the south of the West Heavenly Gate is the Fasting Palace, while the Divine Music Administration sits in the western part of the outer section. Other notable features include the Double-Ring Longevity Pavilion and the Seven-Star Stones.

The Temple of Heaven became a park opened to the public in 1918. In 1961, the State Council designated it as one of the first national cultural heritage sites. In 1998, it was inscribed onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In 2007, it was made a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction. In 2024, the Beijing Central Axis, which consists of the Temple of Heaven and 14 other elements, was given UNESCO World Heritage status.