Officially Yonghe Temple (Palace of Peace and Harmony), the Lama Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary located just north of the Forbidden City, and is one of the most important temples outside of Tibet. Of the Buddhist school of Gelug (Yellow Hat Sect), the temple is a fascinating combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan architectural styles. Built in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, it was the residence of the Yongzheng Emperor when he was a prince. After he ascended to the throne in 1722, half of the building became a lamasery (monastery), whilst the other half remained an imperial palace. After Yongzheng died, his successor Qianglong Emperor, gave the temple imperial status and over time it began to serve as a residence for Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet. It is also the national centre of administrating Lamas.
Within the temple you’ll find a feast for the eyes, with frescoes, tapestries, decorative arches, prayer wheels and statues to admire. An active place of worship, the temple has a wonderfully vibrancy with pilgrims from far and wide prostrating themselves in its five halls. There are some particular art works to look out for – the 18 metre white sandalwood statue of the Maitreya Buddha and a bronze work of the Buddhas of the Three Ages.
