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Temple of Heaven vs Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
Both Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are rated very highly by experts. Overall, Summer Palace ranks slightly better than Temple of Heaven. Summer Palace scores 95 with praise from 7 reviewers including Travel + Leisure, Concierge and Lonely Planet.
Temple of Heaven
Fodor's
Travel + Leisure
Lonely Planet
Michelin Guide
Condé Nast Traveler
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Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100050
From $0 /night
Fodor's
"A prime example of Chinese religious architecture, this is where emperors once performed important rites."
Full review
i
Be sure to whisper into the echo wall encircling the Imperial Vault of Heaven.
Travel + Leisure
"The Taoist temple where Ming and Qing dynasty emperors once prayed for good harvests has some of the most exquisitely graceful architecture in the city."
Full review
Lonely Planet
"Off Dongzheng Jie, this simple temple is dedicated to the patron deity of seafarers."
Full review
Michelin Guide
2 Stars
"The Ming and Qing emperors adopted the role of spiritual intermediaries with the gods on behalf of the nation... everything here is on a grandiose scale."
Condé Nast Traveler
"Spend a morning visiting The Temple of Heaven where visitors can see traditions in practice."
Full review
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
Fodor's
Concierge
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Travel + Leisure
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19 Xin-jian-gong-men Rd, Haidian District, Beijing 100084
From $0 /night
Fodor's
"The greenery provides a welcome relief from the loud, bustling city. It also teaches a fabulous history lesson."
Full review
Concierge
"Once a warm-weather retreat for the Qing dynasty's imperial court, the Summer Palace... is a lovely place to escape the urban smog."
i
Arrive early to avoid crowds, or dodge them with a stroll around the water, as the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi might have done in the 19th century.
Travel + Leisure
"It must have been quite a schlep for emperors of old—who traveled in slow-moving palanquins along with hundreds of courtiers to get to this beautiful, serene lakeside palace."
Full review
Michelin Guide
3 Stars
"This summer palace was restored at great expense at the end of the 19C by the empress Cixi."
i
This enchanting site... should not to be missed.
Travel + Leisure
"Considered a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design, visitors can avoid the crowds by packing a picnic, renting a boat, and exploring some of the lesser-known halls and pavilions."
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