Ditan Park

　　Ditan, also known as the Altar of Earth and Harvests, is the second largest of the five imperial altars in the ancient capital of Beijing. It was first built in the ninth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1530 AD) and served as the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the “God of the Earth.” It is also the largest existing altar for earth worship in China. The total area of the altar is 37.4 hectares and is square in shape. The entire structure, from overall design to details, follows traditional Chinese concepts and symbolic legends such as “round sky and square earth,” “blue sky and yellow earth,” “south as heaven and north as earth,” “dragon and phoenix,” and “heaven and earth.” Current structures within Ditan include the Altar of Earth and Harvests, the Imperial Divine Kitchen, the Slaughter Pavilion, the Hall of Abstinence, and the Divine Warehouse.

　　Ditan Park is located on the east side of Andingmen Outer Street in Beijing, adjacent to the North Second Ring Road and facing Yonghe Temple across the river. The Beijing Wax Museum, completed in 1990, is situated inside the Hall of Abstinence. When it was first built, the altar was surrounded by a protected area of 1,476 mu, with the altar itself covering 640 mu. It is now a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing Municipality.

　　Ditan Park covers an area of 37.4 hectares and receives five to six million visitors annually. It is a historic, solemn, and renowned imperial altar and temple garden. The park's predecessor, Ditan, also known as the Altar of Earth and Harvests, was built in the ninth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, i.e., 1530 AD, as the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the earth. It is also the largest and the only existing altar for earth worship in China.

　　Ditan currently preserves ancient structures including the Altar of Earth and Harvests, the Imperial Divine Kitchen, the Slaughter Pavilion, the Hall of Abstinence, and the Divine Warehouse.

　　The grand and magnificent western gate archway was rebuilt based on the style from the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and is the largest of its kind in Beijing. With green glazed tiles adorned with designs of a single phoenix, a pair of phoenixes, and peonies, the front center features the characters for "Ditan," while the back center displays the words "Guanghou Street." It is one of the main attractions of Ditan Park.

　　The Altar of Earth and Harvests, also called the Worship Platform, is the main structure where emperors worshipped the “God of the Earth.” Covering an area of 17,689 square meters and consisting of two levels, this grand and spacious altar for earth worship is unmatched not only in China but also around the world.

　　The park is home to 116 species of plants, with lawn areas totaling over 114,000 square meters, and a green coverage rate of 72%. There are 168 ancient trees over 100 years old, including 80 that are more than 300 years old.

　　From the 30th day of the 12th lunar month to the 7th day of the first lunar month each year, the Ditan Temple Fair is held. During this time, a series of culturally rich activities featuring ethnic, folk, and traditional characteristics are organized against the backdrop of the ancient altar. In addition, the four seasonal book fairs held here throughout the year are also a major highlight.

Ditan Park isAAAa [level] tourist attraction

Ditan Park is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development