Beijing Imperial Ancestral Temple

　　The Imperial Ancestral Temple is located on the northeast side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

　　The Imperial Ancestral Temple was the imperial ancestral temple where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped their ancestors. Its construction began in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420), covering an area of over 200 acres. It was built according to the traditional Chinese ritual system of "revering Heaven and honoring ancestors." The temple complex has a rectangular layout, measuring 475 meters from north to south and 294 meters from east to west. It features three layers of walls and consists of three main halls that form a three-tiered enclosed courtyard. The main hall stands at the center of the entire temple complex, with eleven bays in width and four bays in depth, covering a floor area of 2,240 square meters. It has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, sits atop three tiers of white marble Sumeru pedestals, and is surrounded by stone railings. The main beams and pillars of the hall are clad in agarwood, while other architectural components are made of precious golden-thread nanmu wood. The ceiling and columns are adorned with gold leaf designs, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious decoration. The temple was the site where emperors held ancestor worship ceremonies. On either side of the main hall are fifteen auxiliary halls each: the eastern auxiliary halls enshrine the spirit tablets of meritorious imperial family members through the dynasties, while the western ones honor non-imperial meritorious officials. Behind the main hall are the central and rear halls, both nine-bay structures with yellow glazed tile hip-and-gable roofs — the central hall is called the Sleeping Hall, and the rear hall is called the Ancestral Spirit Hall. Additionally, the complex includes structures such as the Divine Kitchen, Divine Storehouse, Animal-Slaughtering Pavilion, and Animal-Preparation Room. The temple is also famed for its ancient cypress trees, many of which are hundreds of years old, featuring diverse and majestic forms. After the Xinhai Revolution, the temple remained under the control of the Qing imperial family for a time. In 1924, it was opened as Heping Park, and in 1950, it was renamed the “Working People’s Cultural Palace.” (Source: National Cultural Heritage Administration)

The Beijing Imperial Ancestral Temple is aAAA-rated attraction