Atlas of China
Imperial Ancestral Temple 太庙Tàimiào
National heritage site · Beijing, Beijing
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Beijing
- Region
- Beijing
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Imperial Ancestral Temple
Built in 1420 together with the Forbidden City, the Imperial Ancestral Temple is where Ming and Qing emperors honoured their ancestors, in three great halls set one behind the other within triple walls. The main hall, built largely of the prized hardwood nanmu, stands on a three-tier white-marble terrace among centuries-old cypresses and reopened with exhibitions in 2024 after restoration. Opened as a park in 1924 and run as the Working People's Cultural Palace since 1950, the temple is part of the Beijing Central Axis World Heritage Site.
How to get to Imperial Ancestral Temple
Immediately south-east of the Forbidden City; take Metro Line 1 to Tian'anmen East and walk a few minutes west to the south gate on Chang'an Avenue. The historic halls are usually closed on Mondays, except during public and school holidays.
Nearby
- Forbidden City 故宫 under 10 km
Six centuries of imperial power behind vermilion walls in the heart of Beijing - National Museum of China 中国国家博物馆 under 10 km
Ancient bronzes, jades and porcelain in a vast museum beside Tian'anmen Square - Tiananmen Square 天安门广场 under 10 km
A vast ceremonial square below Tian'anmen gate, where the national flag is raised at dawn - Qianmen Street and Dashilar 前门大街·大栅栏 under 10 km
A pedestrian avenue below Qianmen gate and a lane of shops trading since Qing times - Beihai Park 北海公园 under 10 km
A former imperial lake garden crowned by a white Tibetan-style stupa on its island
Also within 20 km: Imperial Historical Archives (Huangshicheng) 皇史宬 (under 10 km), Zhongshan Park 中山公园 (under 10 km), Pudu Temple 普度寺 (under 10 km), Peking Legation Quarter (Dongjiaominxiang) 东交民巷 (under 10 km), Xijiaominxiang Historic Bank Buildings 西交民巷近代银行建筑群 (under 10 km), St. Joseph's Church, Beijing 王府井天主堂 (under 10 km).
On the map
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