The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at a glance
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qiniandian, ็ฅๅนดๆฎฟ) stands at the northern end of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is a round hall under a triple roof of blue tiles, and it is where the Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. It is the best-known building of the complex, but it was never a palace. The Temple of Heaven was a place of sacrifice, not an imperial home.
The hall belongs to the ticketed area. You need the combined ticket (CNY 34 from 1 April to 31 October, CNY 28 from 1 November to 31 March, as of 2026) or the separate ticket for the hall, the Echo Wall and the altar (CNY 20). Booking with a passport and the reduced rates are explained on our Temple of Heaven tickets page. If you want someone to explain the hall on site, compare the Temple of Heaven tours.
How the hall came to look like this
The building you see is the result of several phases, a fire and a rebuild.
1420: a rectangular hall
The first building on the site was a rectangular Great Sacrificial Hall, used for worship of Heaven and Earth together.
1545: the round hall
The hall was rebuilt as a round building with a triple roof. At that time the three roofs were blue on top, yellow in the middle and green below.
1751: all blue
The roofs were given uniform blue tiles, and the hall received its present name, Qiniandian.
1889 to 1896: fire and rebuild
Lightning set the hall on fire in 1889. The rebuilt hall was finished in 1896, and further repairs followed later. What you see is a rebuilt Qing hall, not an untouched Ming timber building.
Our pick: a ticket for the Hall of Prayer
A simple QR ticket if you want to see the hall without a guide.
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Temple of Heaven tours and guided visits
Guided visits that include the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, with live prices and availability. Check what each option includes, in particular whether entry tickets are part of it.
Size: which numbers to use
The figures vary slightly depending on what is measured, so it helps to know what each one describes. For planning and photos, these are safe to use.
| Measure | Figure | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| Total height | Around 38 m | Measurements differ by about a metre, so treat it as a round figure |
| Diameter | Around 24 m | Between the outer eave columns, not the roof edge or the terraces below |
| Columns | 28 | Four central, two rings of 12 |
| Roof | 3 tiers | Blue tiles on all three since 1751 |
For most visitors the figures matter less than the proportions: a tall, narrow roof stack on a wide terrace, seen best from the courtyard in front.
The 28 columns and what they stand for
The hall is built around numbers that tie the building to the calendar and the sky.
| Columns | Number | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Central columns | 4 | The four seasons |
| First ring | 12 | The twelve months |
| Second ring | 12 | The twelve traditional double hours of the day |
| Both rings together | 24 | The solar terms of the year |
| All columns | 28 | Also linked to the 28 star mansions |
The hall was used for prayers for the harvest in the first lunar month. Do not confuse it with the winter solstice sacrifice to Heaven, which took place at the Circular Mound Altar. The round shape and blue colour stand for the sky; for the wider idea of a round Heaven and a square Earth, see Temple of Heaven architecture.
Visiting the hall
Practical points that decide how your visit works.
Opening hours
The main buildings open at 08:00. Last entry is 17:30 from 1 April to 31 October and 16:30 from 1 November to 31 March; closing is 18:00 or 17:00. Since 1 September 2026 the hall is closed on Mondays again, except on public holidays.
Opening hours โWalk up the Danbi bridge
The raised path between the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the hall is 360 m long and rises from south to north. If you start at the Echo Wall, you arrive at the hall on foot along the same line the ritual followed.
Echo Wall โWhat to expect inside
The building and its courtyard are the main sight. Do not count on walking between the columns; signs and staff show what is open on the day.
Photos
Stand back in the courtyard to fit the three roofs into one frame. The side halls and the terrace make good foregrounds.
More at the Temple of Heaven
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: frequently asked questions
How tall is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests?
Around 38 m in total. Measurements differ by about a metre depending on where they are taken, so it is best to use a rounded figure.
Why is the roof blue?
The round shape and the blue colour stand for the sky. The hall had blue, yellow and green roofs from 1545 and has had uniform blue tiles since 1751. Not every building in the complex is blue: the Hall of Abstinence has green roof tiles.
Can I go inside the hall?
Your ticket gives access to the hall area, including the courtyard around the building. Do not plan on a walk between the columns. Signs on site show what is open.
Which ticket do I need?
The combined ticket (CNY 34 from 1 April to 31 October, CNY 28 from 1 November to 31 March, as of 2026) covers the park and the hall, the Echo Wall and the altar. A park-only ticket does not get you to the hall.
Is the hall open on Mondays?
No. Since 1 September 2026 the hall, the Echo Wall and the altar close on Mondays again, except on public holidays. The park itself is handled separately.
Is this the original hall from the Ming dynasty?
The site goes back to 1420, but the round hall was built in 1545 and burned after a lightning strike in 1889. The hall was rebuilt and finished in 1896, so the building you see is a Qing-era reconstruction.