Temple of Sun

Located southeast of Chaoyangmen (Gate Facing the Sim), and facing the Dongyue Temple, the Temple of Sun (Ritan Park), one of five famous altars in Beijing, was first built in the 9th year under the reign of Jia Jing of the Ming Dynasty (1530), where the emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties performed the ceremony of offering sacrifice to Sun God. Main building of the temple is a square white stone altar, which, in west, is enclosed by a circular wall with four gates furnished respectively in east, south, west and north directions. Outside the West Gate are Stove and Pool. Outside the North Gate are Divine Warehouse, Slaughter Pavilion, Bell Tower and Dressing Hall. 1

In the 1950s, the Temple of Sun was taken as a park. Through 50-year renovation and construction, it has become a classical landscape garden with distinctive national and folk features, and one of Beijing's top ten parks. It is a national cultural heritage under special protection.