North Top Goddess Temple

        Introduction to the North Top Goddess Temple, locatedin Beichen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, at the northern end of the extended central axis of Beijing, and serving as a landmark structure at the northern tip of the city. It is one of the "Five Tops" among the "Five Tops and Eight Temples" in the Beijing area, originally housing deities such as the Goddess Bixia Yuanjun, the Heavenly Immortal Goddess, the Child-Giving Goddess, the God of Mount Tai (Dongyue Dadi), Guan Yu, and the Medicine King.

        During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the North Top Goddess Temple was one of the key centers of worship for Bixia Yuanjun in the Beijing area. As an imperial-built temple, it was first constructed during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty and underwent a major imperial renovation during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of approximately 9,700 square meters, it neighbors the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center.

        After the liberation, the original site of the temple was occupied by Beiding Primary School and the Datun Foundry. In 1998, funds were raised from multiple sources to carry out emergency repairs on the remaining structures of the temple. In 2003, the North Top Goddess Temple was listed as a Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

        Because the North Top Goddess Temple was within the original planning area for the main venues of the Beijing Olympics, to protect the temple, the National Aquatics Center was moved about 100 meters north. Today, it has become part of the Olympic Park and now serves as a branch of the Beijing Folklore Museum.

        Due to the enclosed management of the central area of the Olympic Park, the North Top Goddess Temple was temporarily closed to the public from June 6 to July 1, 2021, and reopened on July 2.

        The North Top Goddess Temple is believed to be particularly efficacious for those praying for children, and many newlywed couples visit specifically to pray for an early birth. The restored temple, located at the northern end of the extended central axis of Beijing, has become a symbolic structure at the city’s northern edge.

       Reservation method: During the pandemic, advance reservations were required and could be made online.
       Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30–17:00; closed on Mondays.