[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum Xiannongtan Temple (Updated Feb)

⛩️ The Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum is located in the Xiannong Altar, a royal altar from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Xiannong Altar was built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty (1420) and was used by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship the god of agriculture and hold plowing ceremonies. Every year in the second or third month of the lunar calendar, the emperor would choose an auspicious day to come to the Xiannong Altar to hold a ceremony to worship the god of agriculture and plow the fields, praying for good weather and a bountiful harvest, and to encourage farming and sericulture. 🌈 Attraction Introduction ⛳ Worship Hall - Upon entering, you will see the Bilupanlong Caisson, with a dragon carved from golden nanmu wood coiled around it, lifelike and vivid. ⛳ Taisui Hall - The museum's treasure, the "Starry Sky Caisson," originally belonged to the Zhengjue Hall of Longfu Temple, but was shaken down by an earthquake and collected by the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum in 1989. It was restored in 1995. The caisson has six layers, five of which remain, with a square in the center and a circle within the square, surrounded by carvings of heavenly palaces and the four heavenly kings guarding each direction. In the center, a star map with over 1,400 stars shines brightly, spanning 600 years. ⛳ Divine Kitchen - Mainly displays the grand ceremonies of the Ming and Qing emperors' agricultural rituals and the history and culture of the Xiannong Altar. ⛳ Plowing Platform - The ancient spring plowing ceremony was held here. Before plowing, the emperor would first ascend the Plowing Platform to watch the ministers plow the fields. ⛳ One Mu and Three Fen of Land - The fields personally plowed by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties are still being cultivated today. Spring plowing and autumn harvest activities are held every year, and you can sign up to participate through official channels. ⛳ Divine Granary - The Divine Granary Round Granary is known as the "First Granary in the World," with buildings such as the Divine Granary Round Granary, Mountain Gate, Grinding Room, Grain Pavilion, Warehouse, and Sacrificial Vessel Storehouse, as well as the rare "Xionghuang Jade Swirl Painting" in ancient architecture. It was opened for the first time in 270 years on April 18 this year (a separate courtyard, outside the scenic area, diagonally across the road). 📍 Address: No. 21, Dongjing Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 🎫 Ticket: ¥15/person, buy tickets on the official account or on-site ⏰️ Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays) 🚇 Transportation: Take Metro Line 8 to Tianqiao Station, Exit D, and walk for 10 minutes 🚗 Self-driving: Free parking, limited spaces

📍Address: Located in the former Xiannongtan, it is the first museum in China to collect, research, and display ancient Chinese architectural techniques, art, and their development history. 👍Recommended: The Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum has two basic exhibitions, namely the "Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Architecture" in the Taisui Hall courtyard and the "Exhibition of Xiannongtan History and Culture" in the Shenchu courtyard. 🌟Highlights: 1. The "Beijing Longfu Temple Caisson" is known as a "rare national treasure." 2. The "Old Beijing City Model" is the largest sand table in China. 📝Tips: If you want to buy a refrigerator magnet, the five-layer detachable luminous one needs to be reserved in advance via the mini program. Other styles do not need to be reserved and can be purchased on site. There are many cultural and creative products to choose from, so you may be spoiled for choice. 🕙Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

Xiannongtan in Beijing is an underrated treasure! Stepping into Xiannongtan is like opening the door to the history of farming culture. The ancient buildings here are scattered, and the red walls and black tiles show the ancient charm. The first is the Taisui Hall, which is magnificent, with flying eaves and bucket arches, solemn and solemn, making people can't help but think of the grand scene of the royal sacrifice in those days. After passing through the Jufu Hall, you come to the Guantian Platform, imagining the scene of the emperor's personal farming, and feeling the ancient emphasis on agriculture. The surrounding Shencang and Qingcheng Palace are full of rich historical connotations. Walking among them, touching the mottled walls, it seems that you can touch the traces of the hard work of the ancients. The park is full of green trees, retaining a piece of tranquility in the hustle and bustle of the city. Whether you are a history lover or want to find a quiet place, Xiannongtan is not to be missed. Come and feel this unique historical charm and start a different cultural journey!

Qingcheng Palace, originally named Zhai Palace, was built in the second year of the Tianshun period of the Ming dynasty (1458). It was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties fasted before offering sacrifices at the Temple of Agriculture. In the 20th year of the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty (1775), it was rebuilt and renamed Qingcheng Palace, becoming the place where the emperor celebrated the completion of the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the God of Agriculture and plowing the fields in person. Qingcheng Palace is located in the Temple of Agriculture on the central axis of Beijing. The building complex faces south, with the outer palace gate, inner palace gate, main hall, and rear hall built from south to north. The east and west sides of the courtyard between the two halls are built with side halls. The roofs of the main hall and rear hall are the highest level of imperial architecture, covered with green glazed tiles. The beams and rafters are painted with golden dragons and seals, the window flowers are decorated with three-crossed six-bowl diamond patterns, and the ceilings are decorated with dragon patterns, all of which show the grandeur of the Ming dynasty imperial architecture.

The Shencang Building Complex at the Temple of Agriculture was first built in the 10th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming dynasty (1531). It is located to the east of the Taisui Hall Building Complex, covering an area of about 3,436 square meters, with a width of 41.2 meters from east to west and a length of 83.4 meters from north to south. The entire courtyard faces south and is symmetrical along the central axis. The current Shencang Building Complex was relocated during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty. From south to north, the buildings are the Mountain Gate, Grain Collection Pavilion, Round Granary, and Sacrificial Vessel Storehouse, with the Mill Room and Warehouse on either side. The "Shencang Historical and Cultural Exhibition" is displayed in the building complex.

The 'Xiannongtan' (Altar of Agriculture) was originally named 'Shanchuantan' (Altar of Mountains and Rivers), located on the west side of Yongdingmen Inner Street in Beijing, symmetrically aligned with the central axis of the Temple of Heaven. Xiannongtan was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420) and served as the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the god of agriculture and conducted the ceremonial plowing of the auspicious fields. It is also an indispensable part of the ancient emperor's sacrificial system. The layout of Xiannongtan is circular in the north and square in the south, with main buildings including the Hall of the Year God, the Altar of the God of Agriculture, the Divine Kitchen and Storehouse, the Viewing Platform, the Hall of Attire, the Palace of Celebration, the Divine Granary, the Sacrificial Utensils Storehouse, and the Altar. Xiannongtan is the highest-ranking, largest, and best-preserved ancient agricultural sacrificial site in the country.