Beijing city tours with the Temple of Heaven
Most Beijing city tours join the Temple of Heaven with other sights along the old city axis. The Temple of Heaven park lies east of the historic Zhengyangmen gate. The Qianmen shopping street and Dashilan are in the same part of the city, and the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square lie to the north of this area. A good tour combines two or three of these in one day.
The Temple of Heaven is also easy to see on your own, so a tour is mainly about guidance, transport and saving planning time. Before you book, check whether entry tickets are included in the price, where the tour starts and how long you get at each stop.
Our picks: Beijing city tours with the Temple of Heaven
Our take: the tour with three sights handles the real-name reservations for you, which is the hardest part to do alone. The full day with the Forbidden City suits most visitors, and the bus tour is the budget option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace with tickets
- Entries to all three sights
- Real-name reservation
- Licensed guide
Three sights with real-name reservations handled for you and a licensed guide.
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Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen and Forbidden City
- Temple of Heaven combined ticket
- Forbidden City and Treasure Gallery
- Transfers between sights
A long day that starts at the temple with the combined ticket and includes the Treasure Gallery.
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Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple and Summer Palace
- Temple of Heaven entry with the Hall of Prayer
- Air-conditioned tour bus
- Guide
Entry with the Hall of Prayer is included; the Summer Palace, Lama Temple and Peking duck lunch come with the full-day option.
Check availability →Beijing city tours and Temple of Heaven day trips
City tours, Temple of Heaven visits and combinations with other central Beijing sights, with live prices and availability.
A day on the central axis
How the stops fit together. Opening times are the 2026 times.
Early: the park
The park opens at 06:00 from 1 April to 31 October and at 06:30 from 1 November to 31 March. Early morning is when local people practice tai chi and play games in the trees. Entry to the halls does not start earlier because you came early.
Tiantan Park in the morning →From 08:00: the halls
The Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound Altar are open from 08:00. Last entry is 17:30 and closing 18:00 from 1 April to 31 October. From 1 November to 31 March last entry is 16:30 and closing 17:00.
Opening hours →Midday: Qianmen and Dashilan
The Qianmen pedestrian street is about 840 m long, with traditional brands, restaurants and souvenir shops. The Dashilan lane to its west is about 275 m long.
Qianmen Street →Afternoon: the gate tower
The Zhengyangmen gate tower reopened on 27 July 2026. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 and costs CNY 20 per person. It is a separate ticket and does not come with a Temple of Heaven ticket.
Optional: Hongqiao market
From the East Gate a footbridge leads to the Hongqiao market, known for pearls and accessories. Treat it as a browsing stop and compare before you buy.
Plan the Temple of Heaven halls for Tuesday to Sunday. Since 1 September 2026 the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound Altar close again on Mondays, except on public holidays. The park itself can be open on a Monday, but the main buildings are not.
Tour building blocks compared
What each stop adds to a Beijing day.
| Stop | Best for | Plan around |
|---|---|---|
| Temple of Heaven park | Morning atmosphere, walking, local life | Opens 06:00 or 06:30 by season |
| Temple of Heaven halls | Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall, altar | From 08:00, closed Mondays |
| Qianmen Street and Dashilan | Shopping, food, old shopfronts | Metro Line 2 to Qianmen |
| Zhengyangmen gate tower | City views from the old gate | Tuesday to Sunday, separate ticket |
| Forbidden City and Tiananmen | The imperial palace | Own guide, separate planning |
For most first-time visitors, the best choice is a tour that puts the Temple of Heaven and Qianmen into one half day, and a separate full day for the Forbidden City. Two large sights in one day can be tiring.
Adding the big names to your Beijing day
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall each deserve their own planning. Use our sister guides for the details: the palace and square in the Forbidden City tours, the lake gardens in the Summer Palace tours and the wall in the Mutianyu Great Wall tours.
If you only want a guide for the Temple of Heaven itself, the park runs its own guide service at the South Gate. In 2026 an English-speaking guide costs CNY 300 per hour for a group of 1 to 5 people, CNY 350 for 6 to 10, CNY 400 for 11 to 15 and CNY 450 for 16 to 20. Registration is two days ahead. The full overview is on the Temple of Heaven tours page.
Keep planning
Tickets, transport and the street next door.
Beijing city tour: frequently asked questions
Which Beijing city tour includes the Temple of Heaven?
Several do. The tour cards above list the stops, the duration and the meeting point for each one. Check that the day of your tour is not a Monday, because the main halls are closed on Mondays.
How much is the Temple of Heaven ticket in a city tour?
That depends on whether the tour includes tickets. The 2026 combo ticket costs CNY 34 from 1 April to 31 October and CNY 28 from 1 November to 31 March. The park-only ticket costs CNY 15 in the first period and CNY 10 in the second.
Do I need my passport?
Yes. Foreign visitors book with a passport or a foreign permanent resident ID and bring your passport on the day. Entry rules for China depend on your nationality. German citizens with an ordinary passport can currently enter for tourism for up to 30 days without a visa, in a rule that runs to 31 December 2026. Other nationalities should check the current rules before booking.
Can I visit the Temple of Heaven on a Monday?
The park can be open, but the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound Altar close on Mondays, except on public holidays. The Zhengyangmen gate tower is also closed on Mondays, except on public holidays, so plan your Beijing day for another weekday if you can.
How long do I need for the Temple of Heaven on a city tour?
That depends on the tour, so check the duration on the tour card. If you plan your own day, the halls are open from 08:00 and the park opens earlier.