Temple of Heaven hosts chrysanthemum show from 23 October

The Temple of Heaven is hosting its 45th Chrysanthemum Exhibition in Beijing from 23 October to 8 November 2026, bringing a seasonal display to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests area. The exhibition opened on 23 October, placing the flowers inside one of China’s best-known imperial ceremonial complexes.

Chrysanthemum exhibition runs until 8 November

The 45th Chrysanthemum Exhibition is taking place in the scenic area around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Reports from the exhibition opening and Beijing Daily confirm the opening date and the closing date of 8 November 2026.

The display covers nearly 6,000 square metres and includes almost 10,000 chrysanthemums in several forms. These include specimen chrysanthemums, large upright plants, cascade chrysanthemums, penjing arrangements, small potted plants and shaped designs. A 6.5-metre tower chrysanthemum is being shown at the exhibition for the first time.

The organisers have placed the exhibition in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests area rather than treating it as a separate city event. That setting connects the autumn flower display with the principal building used by Ming and Qing emperors for ceremonies seeking favourable harvests.

The flowers meet a 600-year imperial complex

The Temple of Heaven stands east of Zhengyang Gate in central Beijing and occupies 273 hectares within a double-walled layout. The northern section is semicircular and the southern section square, reflecting the traditional idea that heaven is round and earth is square. Beijing’s official visitor guide describes the site as the world’s largest complex built for offering sacrifice to heaven.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was built in 1420, during the eighteenth year of the Yongle Emperor’s reign. The building is 38.2 metres high and 24.2 metres in diameter, with its interior arrangement linked in the official guide to the four seasons, twelve months and twelve two-hour periods.

This relationship gives the 2026 exhibition a specific setting: visitors encounter cultivated autumn plants beside a building whose design is filled with references to time, seasons and the agricultural cycle. The exhibition therefore adds a temporary horticultural layer to a permanent architectural landscape.

Visiting Temple of Heaven: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The 45th Chrysanthemum Exhibition runs from 23 October to 8 November 2026 in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests scenic area.
• The exhibition area is inside the park, and the scenic area is closed on Mondays, so a Monday visit may not provide access to the display.
• The address is No. 7 Tiantan Neidongli in Dongcheng District, Beijing. Line 5 serves Tiantandongmen Station, while Line 8 serves Tianqiao Station.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Temple of Heaven

When does the Chrysanthemum Exhibition take place at the Temple of Heaven?

The 45th Chrysanthemum Exhibition runs from 23 October to 8 November 2026 in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests scenic area.

What is the Temple of Heaven?

It is a 273-hectare imperial ceremonial complex in Beijing, with major buildings arranged inside a double-walled park.

Where is the Temple of Heaven and how do you get there?

The site is in Dongcheng District, Beijing. Tiantandongmen Station on Line 5 and Tianqiao Station on Line 8 are the listed metro links.