Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace

Working People's Cultural Palace

This smaller cousin of the Forbidden City has gone from ancestral sacrifice to tourist's whispers.

Beijing, China

Added By
Luca Catarinicchia
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Working People’s Cultural Palace   Gaby Kaminsky on Flickr
The tiered stone base.   Tim Riley on Flickr
Some of the ancient stairs.   Taimiao on Wikipedia
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the eastern flank of the Forbidden City lies one of Beijing's best kept secrets, a forgotten temple that looks like a small-scale replica of the great Imperial Palace with one major difference: no crowds!

Nestled amidst an ancient grove of cypress trees, the 48 acres of the palace grounds have been an important site in Chinese imperial history. Originally known as the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the buildings that comprise the palace were used during the Ming and Qing dynasties as shrines to the ancestors of the imperial family and emperors would often come and pay homage to the dead. The three main halls in the palace include the Ancestral Worship Hall which was the principal location for rites and sacrifice, the Resting Hall which held tablets inscribed with the names of the deceased, and finally the Remote Ancestral Shrine was used to store the sacrificial slabs of the imperial ancestors.

In 1951 the ancient palace was rechristened the “Working People's Cultural Palace” and the historic buildings and gates were converted into a space for educational and recreational purposes for locals and tourists. There are now stadiums, exhibition halls and libraries on the site which is a serene alternative to the large, busier, but not dissimilar Forbidden City.  

Related Tags

Temples Architecture Cultures And Civilizations Rites And Rituals Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

East side of the Forbidden City

Community Contributors

Added By

Luke Cata

Edited By

Martin, EricGrundhauser, Collector of Experiences

  • Martin
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

September 6, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/beijing/sights/park/workers-cultural-palace
  • http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/workers-cultural-palace.htm
  • http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/beijing/31019.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Ancestral_Temple
Working People's Cultural Palace
Donghuamen Rd
Beijing
China
39.913654, 116.398201
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Forbidden City

Beijing, China

miles away

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Beijing, China

miles away

The Fox Tower at Dongbianmen

Beijing, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beijing

Beijing

China

Places 24
Stories 3

Nearby Places

The Forbidden City

Beijing, China

miles away

Chairman Mao Memorial Hall

Beijing, China

miles away

The Fox Tower at Dongbianmen

Beijing, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beijing

Beijing

China

Places 24
Stories 3

Related Places

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha Mandir.

    Bartlett, Illinois

    BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha Mandir Chicago

    This elaborate Hindu temple is located in a Chicago suburb, but looks like it was transported directly from India.

  • Xiannongtan

    Beijing, China

    Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum / Xiannongtan (Temple of Agriculture)

    An ancient Chinese temple where even the emperor dressed like a farmer in the name of the harvest.

  • Hanging Temple

    Datong, China

    Hanging Temple of Hengshan

    A fifth-century temple improbably built into the side of a cliff.

  • Gheti, India

    Shatrunjaya Hill

    A mecca for India's Jains.

  • A fisherman rejoices with his catch. (mattemondo/Flickr)

    Koro, Mali

    Antogo Fishing Frenzy

    Annual rush for a sacred desert lake's fish stock.

  • A house in the Tongo Hills. (Creative Commons)

    Bolgatanga, Ghana

    Tengzug Shrine

    Topless shrine of northern Ghana.

  • St Paul’s Catacombs

    Rabat, Malta

    Maltese Catacomb Complexes

    Burial grounds for more than 1,000 bodies deep under the modern town of Rabat.

  • Moundsville, West Virginia

    New Vrindaban Palace of Gold

    Despite its lavish ornamentation, and wholesome lifestyle of its devotees, this mountain commune has faced its share of issues.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.