Beijing Municipality

About 2 kilometers southeast of the Forbidden City, towers Tian Tan or the Temple of Heaven. Chinese Emperors had many other gods to worship apart from the god of heaven, including the gods of earth, water and war. They also worshipped their ancestors. As a result, religious activities became an important part of their busy work schedule. Temples of various kinds are scattered in Beijing. The best known is the Temple of heaven in the south, the Temple of Earth in the north, the Temple of the Sun in the east, and the Temple of the Moon in the west. The Temple of Heaven outshines them all.