Yonghe Lama Temple

Introduction to Yonghe Lama Temple （雍和宫）

The Yonghe Temple is a temple and lamasery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern part of Beijing, China. It is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. The building and the artworks of the temple is a mixture of Han Chinese and Tibetan styles.

The main buildings of Yonghe Temple is the Hall of Heavenly Kings which is the main entrance to the temple, the Hall of Harmony and Peace which is the main building of Yonghe Temple and the Hall of Everlasting Protection where Emperor Yongzheng’s coffin was placed after his death in 1735. 

For reading scriptures and religious ceremonies, the Hall of the Wheel of Law is the place to visit. Within the hall is a Five Hundred Arhat Hill carving made of sandalwood and 5 different types of metal. Another highlight of Yonghe Monastery is the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happiness that contains a statue of Maitreya Buddha which was a gift to Emperor Qianlong from the Seventh Dalai Lama 

Building work on the Yonghe Temple began in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. It was originally used as an official residence for the court eunuchs but was then converted into the court of the Prince Yong (Yin Zhen), a son of the Kangxi Emperor who became the future Yongzheng Emperor. After Yongzheng's ascension to the throne in 1722, half of the building was converted into a lamasery, a monastery for monks of Tibetan Buddhism. The other half remained an imperial palace.

Qianlong Emperor, Yongzheng's successor, gave the Yonghe Temple imperial status signified by having its turquoise tiles replaced with yellow tiles which were reserved for the emperors. Afterwards, Yonghe Temple became a residence for large numbers of Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet, and so the Yonghe Temple became the national centre of Lama Administration.

Yonghe Temple is said to have survived the Cultural Revolution due to the intervention of Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. It was reopened to the public in 1981.

Location

No.12 Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Main Sights

Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of Harmony and Peace, Hall of Everlasting Protection, Hall of the Wheel of Law and Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happiness

Travel Information

Admission Fee: 25 Yuan  
Opening Hours: 9:00AM - 4:30PM (1st Apr – 31st Oct), 9:00AM to 4:00PM (1st Nov – 31st Mar)
Best Time to Visit: The Yonghe Lama Temple is suitable to visit in all seasons.

Transportation 

1. Subway Line 2: Take line 2 and get off at Yonghegong Station, leave the station from Exit C. 
2. Subway Line 5: Take line 5 and get off at Yonghegong Station, and leave the station from Exit C. No.919 from Deshengmen 

Travel Tips 

1. Try to avoid the peak season like China’s public holidays when the Yonghe Lama Temple is flocked with tourists.