Temples & Cultural Sites templeparkaltarfairhutong

Temple of Earth (Ditan Park): Complete Visitor Guide

Beijing's square altar of earth and a beloved local park, famous for its Lunar New Year fair

The three white stone Lingxing gates and vermilion doors at Ditan Park (Temple of Earth), Beijing, backed by green trees

Temple of Earth, known in Chinese as Ditan, is one of Beijing's four imperial altars of heaven-and-earth worship and the only one laid out as a square — the shape that symbolised earth in Ming and Qing state ritual. Today it is both a quiet park and a working piece of ritual history, framed by old cypresses and a low earthen altar. This guide covers opening hours, getting there, what little remains of the altar complex, and the famous Lunar New Year fair that briefly turns the park into the city's biggest festival.

Quick Facts

Opening hours
06:00–21:00 (park) · 08:00–17:00 (altar)
Last entry
20:30 (park) · 16:30 (altar)
Closed
Open daily
Suggested time
1–2 hours
Ticket price
Free
Best season
Winter for the Lunar New Year fair
Booking
Not required — walk in
Nearest metro
Line 2/5 Yonghegong Lama Temple, or Line 5 Hepingli Beijie

Do You Need to Book?

Ditan Park is a public park and needs no reservation. The altar enclosure is open and free to enter, so you simply walk through a gate. At Lunar New Year the fair draws big crowds, and timed or capped entry can apply on the busiest days — check the park's notice then.

  1. Enter through any open gate — the south or north-west gates off Hepingli Beijie are the easiest from the metro.
  2. Bring your passport if you want to use the park's sports or exercise facilities that require ID registration.
  3. At Lunar New Year, follow on-site signs for the fair entrance; entry may be one-way and capped when full.
  4. Leave via the same or an adjacent gate — the park is open and you are free to wander out.

Getting There

By metro

Metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple (Exit A), then a 10-minute walk north; or Line 5 to Hepingli Beijie (Exit B) and a 5-minute walk west.

By taxi

Show the driver 地坛公园 (Ditan Gongyuan). Add 南门 (south gate) if you want the main entrance.

Entrances

Enter at the south gate for the altar, or any side gate for the park. The site is open and not one-way.

Open in Maps →

What to See Inside

The Square Altar (Fangze Altar)

A low two-tier square platform of yellow earth and brick, surrounded by a square moat. This is the ritual heart of the park and the clearest surviving statement of earth-worship geometry.

The Old Cypress Groves

Centuries-old cypress trees shade the paths and the altar, giving the park a calm, wooded feel that the central altars of Beijing rarely keep.

The Lunar New Year Fair

For about a week each winter the park hosts one of Beijing's largest temple fairs, with folk stalls, snacks, and performances across the lawns and squares.

The Red Walls and Gatehouses

Painted gatehouses and stretches of vermilion wall mark where the imperial altar precinct once stood, now softened into the everyday park edge.

Beijing's Square Altar of Earth

The Temple of Earth was built in 1530 under the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty, as part of a set of four suburban altars — earth, sun, moon and heaven — arranged around the capital. Earth was placed in the north, and unlike the round Altar of Heaven it was built square to match the classical Chinese idea that earth is square and heaven is round.

Each summer solstice the emperor came north to the square altar to offer sacrifices to the god of earth and the spirits of the land. The rites continued under the Qing, who maintained and rebuilt the structures. After the fall of the empire in 1912 the altar was opened to the public as a park, and most of its halls were lost or repurposed over the 20th century.

Today only the square altar and fragments of wall survive from the ritual complex, but the park remains one of the most beloved green spaces in the north of the city. Its biggest moment is the Lunar New Year fair, which can draw hundreds of thousands of visitors in a single week — a vivid echo of its old ceremonial crowd.

Suggested Route

  1. 1. South Gate Enter at the south gate off Hepingli Beijie; this is the closest approach to the altar and the old ceremonial axis.
  2. 2. The Square Altar Walk straight to the Fangze Altar, the low square platform by its moat — allow 15 minutes to walk the circuit.
  3. 3. The Cypress Paths Loop through the old cypress groves north and west of the altar; this is where locals come to walk, dance and practise tai chi.
  4. 4. The Park's Open Lawns Wander the wider park to the east; in winter this is where the temple fair spreads its stalls and stages.
  5. 5. Exit and walk to Lama Temple Leave from the south gate and head south to Yonghegong and Guijie for lunch or the Lama Temple itself.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Do not expect grand halls; the altar is mostly an open square platform, not a building to explore.
  • Avoid visiting solely for architecture — come for the park, the trees and, in winter, the fair.
  • Skip the fair if you dislike crowds; the park is packed and slow during Lunar New Year week.
  • Do not arrive after 20:30; the inner gates close and you may be locked out of the altar.
  • Bring your passport if you plan to use the park's ID-registered sports facilities.

Combine It With

Lama Temple → Ten-minute walk south; the obvious pairing after the park. Guijie → Next to Lama Temple; come for the late-night food street. Confucius Temple & Guozijian → Five minutes from Lama Temple; same hutong cluster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Temple of Earth free to enter?

Yes. Ditan Park is free to enter and the altar enclosure is open without a ticket. You simply walk through a gate. The only paid event is the Lunar New Year fair, which sells a separate fair ticket during its run.

How do I get to Temple of Earth?

Take Metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple and walk about ten minutes north, or Line 5 to Hepingli Beijie and walk west. A taxi to 地坛公园 is simple and cheap from anywhere in the central city.

How long should I spend there?

One to two hours is enough for the altar and a relaxed walk through the cypress groves. If you come for the Lunar New Year fair, allow half a day and expect large crowds and slower movement.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are pleasant for the park itself. The standout time is the Lunar New Year fair in late January or February, when the park fills with stalls, food and performances — but only if you enjoy crowds.

Is it worth visiting compared with the Temple of Heaven?

It is quieter and far less grand than the Temple of Heaven, with little original architecture. Visit for the calm park, the square altar's symbolism, and the fair — or pair it with Lama Temple rather than making a special trip.