North Top Goddess Temple

North Top Goddess Temple

North Top Goddess Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing Municipality.

North Top Goddess Temple is located beside the North Fourth Ring Road. It is a temple originally built under imperial decree during the Ming Dynasty, where the Goddess Bixia Yuanjun was once enshrined. Historical records indicate that during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beijing had numerous temples—most within the city served as sites for incense burning, while those outside the city were often venues for spring outings and temple fairs. The "Five Tops" in the suburbs of Beijing each had distinct functions: the Central Top was known for folk performances and parades; the South Top was famous for chariot races and horse racing; the West Top served as a place for the Empress Dowager to offer blessings; and the North Top and East Top functioned as temple fairs, acting as hubs for civilian trade and material exchange. Today, among the five Goddess Temples (the Five Tops) in Beijing, only the North Top Goddess Temple has been restored.

Built during the Ming Dynasty, North Top Goddess Temple is one of the "Five Tops and Eight Temples" in Beijing. It is situated at the northern end of the extended central axis of Beijing and serves as a landmark structure at the north end of the city.

Currently, the "Yan Dun" and the "North Top" serve as the southern and northern coordinate points of Beijing’s central axis. "Yan Dun" has been included in the "Humanistic Olympics Action Plan," where a heritage park has been established, along with a commemorative monument marking the southern coordinate of Beijing.

The original North Top Goddess Temple had four courtyards and five levels of halls, with a large opera stage in front of the temple. In earlier times, grand opera performances were held here for several days during temple fairs. During the Republican era, the temple gradually declined, and in the Cultural Revolution, the remaining ancient structures suffered severe damage, leaving only the mountain gate, the second courtyard hall, and the bell tower as surviving historic buildings.

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Beijing