As the largest alter temple compound in China, Temple of Heaven was where emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for a good harvest. It is located on the east side of Yongdingmennei Street in the south of Beijing.

Temple of Heaven is enclosed by two walls. The northern wall is curved while the southern wall is square, standing for the traditional Chinese conception of the round heaven and the square earth. Its main feature include Circular Altar, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Hall for Prayer of Good Harvests, Echo Wall, Three Sound Stone, etc.

Hall for Prayer of Good Harvests used to be called Dasi Hall and Dxiang Hall. The lower part of the hall is three round terraces made of white marble. The big round hall on the terraces has golden eaves and its roof is covered with dark blue glazed tiles. The round hall stands for the round shape of sky, and the blue tiles symbolize the blue sky. The number of pillars in the hall was designed according to astronomical observation.

Imperial Vault of Heaven which contained tablets of emperor's ancestors that were used in the solstice ceremony, is also a round architecture with golden eaves, blue tiles and a pointed top. The vault is surrounded by a round wall. The inner side of is very smooth and its echo has a marvelous acoustic effect, so the wall is called Echo Wall.

Circular Altar is also called Terrace of Worshiping Heaven. It was where emperor offered sacrifice to heaven on the Winter Solstice every year. The number of steps here is 9 or in multiples of the number 9, which signifies the nine layers of heaven in Chinese mythology.

In ancient China, Temple of Heaven was considered a holy place where Emperors communicated with heaven. Now it is a key cultural relic under state protection, and one of the symbols of Beijing.