Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong) (雍和宫)

The Yonghe Gong is located in the north-east corner of the North Second Ring Road, where the Kangxi Emperor built a residence in 1694 and gave it to his fourth son, Prince Yong. In the third year of the Yongzheng reign (1725), the royal residence was transformed into a palace called Yonghe Palace. In the thirteenth year of the Yongzheng reign (1735) when he passed away, Yongzheng's coffin was parked there, so the main hall of the temple was changed from green glazed tiles to yellow glazed tiles. Because the temple witnesses the birth of two emperors, it is constructed with yellow tile and red walls, the same specifications as the Forbidden City Palace. In the ninth year of the Qianlong period (1744), Yonghe Palace was converted into a formal Tibetan Buddhist temple and became the center of Tibetan Buddhist affairs for the Qing government. It is fair to say that the Yonghe Lama Temple was one of the highest-specification Buddhist monasteries in the country in the mid to late Qing dynasty.

The temple consists mainly of three exquisite Paifang and five magnificent halls. From the east and west Paifang with flying eaves and arches to the ancient east and west shunshan buildings, the total area is about 66,400 square meters and there are more than a thousand halls, which also house countless treasures, making it a temple of art.

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Yonghe Hall: As the heart of the temple, this hall houses the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. Upon entering, you're enveloped in a serene and sacred atmosphere. Take a moment to offer a sincere prayer and immerse yourself in the profound tranquility of Buddhist teachings.

Yongyou Hall: This hall is dedicated to the memorial tablets of past royal family members, making it a place of significant political and historical importance within Yonghe Temple. Inside the solemn and ancient hall, you can silently feel the weight and depth of history.

Hall of Dharma Wheel and Five Hundred Arhats: Five Hundred Arhats inside the Hall of Dharma Wheel is carved entirely from zitan wood and is considered one of the three great woodcarving masterpieces. Each arhat has a unique and lifelike expression, as if they are narrating the legendary stories of Buddhism.

Sandalwood Buddha and Wanfu Pavilion: Inside the Wanfu Pavilion stands a towering 26-meter white sandalwood Buddha, the largest single-wood statue in China. Standing before this majestic statue, you can feel its solemnity and sanctity, evoking a deep sense of reverence.

In addition to admiring these exquisite artworks, you can experience the fusion of Manchu, Han, Tibetan, and Mongolian cultures at Yonghe Temple. It combines royal grandeur with the serene solemnity of a temple.