Imperial Ancestral Temple, Beijing

Imperial Ancestral Temple, Beijing

The Imperial Ancestral Temple is where sacrificial ceremonies were held to honor the imperial family's ancestors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple is where sacrificial ceremonies were held to honor the imperial family's ancestors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. One of imperial Beijing's most sacred sites used for special festivals, it was built in 1420 and renovated in 1736. The southern glazed gate leads to the courtyard with bridges across the Golden River, beyond which stands the Halbert Gate, unchanged for ~600 years since construction. Inside are 3 main halls and 2 subsidiary shrines in the 3 courtyards. The main front hall is the Hall for Worship of Ancestors where most of the ceremonies took place, while the Middle Hall and Rear Hall were used to store imperial ancestral tablets. Today, the complex is open as the Working People's Cultural Palace.