The Temple of Heaven is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings. It was built in 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. Situated in the southern part of the city, about 2km southeast of the Forbidden City, this grand set of structures covers an area of 273 hectares, three times the size of the Forbidden City. 

There are two walls enclose the whole compound, a square wall outside a round one. The outer area is characterized by suburban scenery, while the inner part is used for sacrifices. To better symbolize heaven and earth, the northern part of the Temple is circular and higher while the southern part is square and lower. This design shows that the heaven is high and the earth is low and the design reflected an ancient Chinese thought of 'The heaven is round and the earth is square'. 

The main buildings of the Temple lie at the north and south ends of the middle axis line of the inner part. The most magnificent buildings are The Altar of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and The Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan) from north to south. Also, there are some additional buildings like Three Echo Stones and Echo Wall. Almost all of the buildings are connected by a wide bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge (Danbiqiao) or called Sacred Way. 

The Altar of Prayer for Good Harvest was the spot where the emperor of the Ming and Qing dynasties prayed for good harvest in spring. 38 meters in height and 30 meters in diameter, it stands on a round foundation built with three levels of marble stones. This towering triple-eave hall is under a three-story, cone-shaped glaze-tile roof in blue color crowned with a gilded knob. 

The Imperial Vault of Heaven was built in 1530 and is 17 meters in height and 19 meters in diameter. It was used to keep wooden tablets for worship. The structure features blue roofs topped by a gilded ball, and carved wooden doors and windows. It is decorated with colored paintings. Founded on a 3-meter-high round marble terrace, the building also features a gigantic carved marble ramp laid in the stone staircase leading up to the front entrance. The ramp is carved in 'Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl' design in relief. 

The Circular Mount Altar, south to the Imperial Vault of Heaven, is where the emperor prayed to heaven. At the center lies a round stone called the Center of Heaven Stone that echoes when a visitor speaks loudly when standing on the stone. 

The Temple of Heaven is also famous for its cypress trees - there are more than 60, 000 cypress trees in all, among which over 4,000 are more than one hundred years old, adding to the solemn atmosphere of the temple. This tall cypress was planted more than 500 years ago. Its thick branches and twisting trunk resembling nine coiling playful dragons; thus it is known as the Nine-Dragon Cypress. It is said that this tree was here to welcome the monarchs. Now it is here to welcome visitors from all over the world. 

The Temple of Heaven was entered into the world cultural heritage list in 1998.