World by City

Temples & religious sites

Temple of the Moon

Open in Maps
Temple of the Moon

Temple of the Moon

Located in Beijing's Xicheng District, this site is an imperial altar built in 1530 during the Ming dynasty. It was designed specifically for rituals honoring the moon. Travelers visit this location to see the architectural layout of old imperial ceremonies and experience a quieter side of the city's religious history.

Getting There

The altar is located in the central part of Beijing. From the city center, it is accessible via taxi or public transportation. Depending on your starting point and traffic conditions, the journey typically takes between 20 and 40 minutes.

Duration of Visit

Most visitors spend approximately 1 to 2 hours exploring the grounds and observing the altar structures.

When to Visit

Visiting during the early morning or late afternoon helps avoid the midday heat. While it is generally less crowded than the major imperial palaces, it is advisable to avoid national holidays when tourist numbers increase across the city.

Nearby Attractions

Because of its location in Xicheng District, you can combine a visit here with other nearby cultural sites:

  • Miaoying Temple (1.3km)
  • Capital Museum (1.5km)
  • Geological Museum of China (1.8km)
  • White Cloud Temple (2km)

Updated September 8, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

Tickets & tours

Admission prices and opening hours change often, so we don't list them here. Check what's on sale and at what price below — booking ahead can cut the queue at some places.

GetYourGuide GetYourGuide 클룩 Klook Tiqets Tiqets KKday KKday WeGoTrip WeGoTrip

This place may not appear in the results — some sites are free to enter or sell tickets only at the gate.

Stays near Temple of the Moon

Sorted by distance, walkable ones first. Distances are straight-line.

Map and place data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Temple of the Moon Nearby stays

Check prices and availability on the booking sites.

Pick your dates — we'll search Beijing hotels for you

Choose dates and guests, and the buttons below will open search results with your criteria. Prices differ between sites, so compare before you book.

View on Compare sites 부킹닷컴 View on Booking.com 호텔스닷컴 View on Hotels.com

Hotel membership

Staying at Accor hotels often? ALL Accor+ Explorer

A paid annual membership. It includes two free nights a year across Asia-Pacific, 30% off dining and 15% off drinks, and 15% off stays at more than 4,500 hotels worldwide.

Explore the membership

Good to visit alongside

Miaoying Temple

Temples & religious sites

Miaoying Temple

A Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing's Xicheng District, now open to the public as a museum. Its White Pagoda, built in 1279 during the Yuan dynasty, is considered China's largest and oldest Tibetan Buddhist stupa and a highlight of the site.

1.3 km away
Capital Museum

Museums & galleries

Capital Museum

A large museum in Beijing with exhibition space spanning from the basement to the sixth floor. Visitors can explore ancient artifacts, Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain, and Buddhist statues that showcase China's history and craftsmanship.

1.5 km away
Geological Museum of China

Museums & galleries

Geological Museum of China

Founded in 1916, this geological museum in Beijing houses a collection of roughly 200,000 geological specimens. Visitors can trace the Earth's history through rocks, minerals, and fossils on display.

1.8 km away
White Cloud Temple

Temples & religious sites

White Cloud Temple

The White Cloud Temple is a Taoist temple in Beijing, regarded as one of the leading monasteries of the Quanzhen school. Here you can experience centuries-old Taoist architecture and its atmosphere of devotion firsthand.

2.0 km away
Democracy Wall of Xidan

Heritage & monuments

Democracy Wall of Xidan

A wall that once stood in Beijing's Xicheng District, where countless posters appeared between 1978 and 1979, marking the starting point of China's democracy movement. This brief period of openness is also known as the "Beijing Spring."

2.2 km away
Church of the Saviour

Temples & religious sites

Church of the Saviour

A Catholic cathedral in Beijing's Xicheng District, first built in 1703 by French Jesuits. It's a great place to admire a church building with a long history.

2.4 km away