The Round Altar
A low circular platform of white stone, once used for the spring equinox sun rites. It is open and unfenced, so you can stand on the spot where the emperor faced the rising sun.
Temples & Cultural Sites
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Temple of Sun (Ritan Park): Complete Visitor Guide
A small, free embassy-district park built around the round altar of the Ming sun rites
Temple of Sun, or Ritan, is one of Beijing's four Ming suburban altars and the only one built round, marking the direction of sunrise. Today it is a small, free neighbourhood park in the embassy district, centred on an open circular altar and a quiet ornamental lake. This guide covers opening hours, getting there, what remains of the sun rites, and why the park is best enjoyed as a calm local morning rather than a destination.
Quick Facts
- Opening hours
- 06:00–21:00 (park) · altar 08:00–17:00
- Last entry
- 20:30 (park) · 16:30 (altar)
- Closed
- Open daily
- Suggested time
- 45 min–1 hour
- Ticket price
- Free
- Best season
- Spring and autumn mornings
- Booking
- Not required — walk in
- Nearest metro
- Line 1/2 Jianguomen (Exit C), 10 min walk
Do You Need to Book?
Ritan Park is a free public park with no ticket and no reservation. The altar enclosure is open and unsigned, so you just walk in. There is nothing to book, but the surrounding embassy district means security is a little tighter than at older parks.
- Enter from the main gate on the park's south or east side; both connect easily to the Jianguomen metro walk.
- Walk to the round altar in the centre — it is unfenced and you can step right up to it.
- Use the park's paths and lake as a local would; no route is enforced or one-way.
- Leave by any open gate; the park is open and free to re-enter the same day.
Getting There
By metro
Metro Line 1 or 2 to Jianguomen (Exit C), then a 10-minute walk west along the embassy-district streets to the park's south gate.
By taxi
Show the driver 日坛公园 (Ritan Gongyuan). Add 南门 (south gate) for the main entrance.
Entrances
Enter at the south or east gate; the park is open and not one-way. The altar sits near the centre.
What to See Inside
The Central Lake
A small ornamental lake with a causeway and willows, giving the park a composed, local feel quite unlike the city's monumental sights.
The Old Walls and Trees
Sections of the original altar precinct wall and mature trees survive, framing a green space that has barely changed in decades.
The Embassy-District Setting
Ritan sits among diplomatic compounds and the Ritan bar street, so a visit pairs naturally with a coffee or a walk through quiet, leafy streets.
Photo Gallery
The Altar of the Rising Sun
The Temple of Sun was built in 1530 under the Jiajing Emperor, in the same reform that created Beijing's four suburban altars. The altar of the sun was placed in the east of the city, matching the direction of sunrise, and built round to echo the heavenly body it honoured.
At the spring equinox the emperor travelled east to offer sacrifice to the sun. The Qing dynasty kept the rite and maintained the grounds. Like the other altars, Ritan lost its ceremonial role after 1912 and was opened to the public, its halls eventually disappearing while the altar and walls remained.
Today Ritan is a small, free neighbourhood park rather than a monument. Its round altar is the clearest relic of the sun cult, and the surrounding embassy district gives it a calm, international character that few Beijing parks can match — best appreciated on a slow weekday morning.
Suggested Route
- 1. South Gate Enter at the south gate from the Jianguomen walk; this leads directly into the open park.
- 2. The Round Altar Head to the central circular platform; allow ten minutes to walk around and read the few signs.
- 3. The Lake Path Follow the path around the small lake and causeway for the park's quietest, greenest stretch.
- 4. The West Walls Walk the surviving sections of old precinct wall under the mature trees before looping back.
- 5. Exit to Ritan Bar Street Leave by the east gate and step into the nearby bar street for a coffee or late breakfast.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not expect a temple building; Ritan is a park with an open altar, not a hall to tour.
- Avoid midday in summer — there is little shade on the open altar and paths.
- Skip the park if you want grandeur; it is a gentle local space, not a must-see.
- Do not confuse it with the Temple of Heaven; the two are unrelated and far apart.
- Bring ID in this embassy area, even though the gate itself is open.
Combine It With
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ritan Park free?
Yes, Ritan Park is free to enter and the altar is open without a ticket. You simply walk through a gate. There is no paid area and nothing to book, which makes it an easy, low-commitment stop.
How do I get to Temple of Sun?
Take Metro Line 1 or 2 to Jianguomen and walk about ten minutes west, or take a taxi to 日坛公园. The park sits in the embassy district, so the streets around it are calm and walkable.
How long does a visit take?
Forty-five minutes to an hour covers the altar, the lake and a relaxed loop of the paths. It is best treated as a gentle break rather than a half-day destination.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn mornings are ideal, when locals walk, stretch and practise tai chi and the light is soft. Weekday mornings are calmest; weekends and afternoons draw more strollers.
Is it worth visiting?
Only as a quiet add-on. Ritan offers little original architecture and no grand halls, but it is free, central and peaceful, and pairs well with the embassy district's cafés and the bar street just outside.