The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties prayed to Heaven for good harvests. The altar is circular looking from the north and square from the south. Two walls are built around it, dividing the whole altar into two parts: the inner altar and the outer altar. The magnificent Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the holy temple, and the elegant Zhai Palace nestle among thousands of trees, forming a unique temple landscape.

Recently, the Temple of Heaven Park has also changed into a festive appearance. Many colorful flags, red lanterns, and Chinese knots complement the ancient buildings. Tourists who come to the park enthusiastically use their cameras to record the special scene of the Temple of Heaven.

The popular check-in place “Tiantan Shiguang” in the park also introduces a new product which is the New Year drink “Wugu Fengdeng” milk tea in a timely manner. It not only integrates the cultural element of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest into milk tea, but also prints “Qiantu Sijin” in Chinese which sounds like the words for “having a good future” on the paper cup. The interesting creativity attracts many tourists.

Qianmen Street

After nightfall, Qianmen Street is a splendid scene of bright lights and fireworks. Tourists all raise their mobile phones to take pictures as they can't help but marvel at it.

The shops on both sides of the pedestrian street are decorated with lights. The “Fu” characters under the cornice swing in the wind. The trees lining the road are also decorated with beautiful strings of lights, which shimmer in a warm and peaceful New Year’s atmosphere.

At the north entrance of Qianmen Pedestrian Street, there is a night lighting scene with the characters “Sifang Pingan” in Chinese which means “everywhere is safe”, and the painted and renovated “Wupailou” building. Many tourists stop there to take photos.

The street food on Xianyukou Food Street is hot and aromatic. The long-established shops in the Dazhalan sub-district are lined up with people busy preparing New Year goods. The light and shadow, delicious food, and busy people together create a strong festive atmosphere for Qianmen Street.

Tips:

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism reminds the general public and tourists not to gather in groups when traveling to minimize the risk of infecting Covid-19.

Translator: Bao Peipei 

Reviewer: ZHANG Ruochen