Yonghe Lama Temple was originally built in the 33rd year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1694) during the Qing Dynasty. It was initially the residence of Prince Yong, who later became Emperor Yongzheng. In the third year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1725), it was converted into an imperial palace and renamed Yonghe Palace. As Emperor Qianlong was born here, making it the birthplace of two emperors, the temple became known as the “Blessed Land of the Dragon.” The buildings feature yellow tiles and red walls, similar to the Forbidden City. In the ninth year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1744), Yonghe Palace was converted into a Tibetan Buddhist temple.
The main architectural structure of Yonghe Lama Temple includes three exquisite archways and several halls such as the Yonghe Gate Hall, Yonghe Palace Hall, Yongyou Hall, Falun Hall, Wanfuge Hall, and Suicheng Hall. There are also two exhibition halls, Panchen Hall and Jietai Hall. Inside these halls, you can find numerous Buddha statues, Thangkas, and a large collection of precious artifacts. The three most notable wooden sculptures in the temple are the Five Hundred Arhat Hill carved from Zitan wood, the Buddha niche carved from golden Phoebe wood, and the 18-meter-tall white sandalwood Buddha statue.
Travel Information about Yonghe Lama Temple
Tickets and Opening Hours
- Tickets: 25 RMB
- Opening Hours:
- Winter (November to March): 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Summer (April to October): 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Transportation to the Scenic Area
- Location: Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District
- Subway: Take Subway Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong Station, then walk to the temple.
Scenic Spot Rating
- Cultural: ★★★★
- Special Features: ★★★
- Leisure: ★★★
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★
- Excitement: ★★
Highlights of Yonghe Lama Temple
Pailou and Yonghe Gate
In the southern courtyard of Yonghe Lama Temple stand three tall pailous (decorative archways), a large screen wall, and a pair of stone lions. Northward along the imperial path is the grand gate of Yonghe Lama Temple, Zhaotai Gate, with bell and drum towers on either side, connected by external corridors that lend an air of splendor rarely seen elsewhere. Continuing north, you encounter an octagonal stele pavilion, which houses an imperial stele inscribed by Emperor Qianlong. This stele narrates the historical background of the temple’s transition from an imperial palace to a Buddhist monastery, and it is inscribed in four languages: Han, Tibetan, Manchu, and Mongolian, on two steles.
Between these two stele pavilions is the Yonghe Gate, with a large plaque bearing the calligraphy of Emperor Qianlong, equivalent to the Shanmen (Mountain Gate) and Hall of Heavenly Kings in Han Chinese Buddhism. Inside the hall, a gold-lacquered, dragon-carved throne sits in the center, occupied by a smiling, bare-chested Maitreya Buddha statue. On either side of the hall stand the Four Heavenly Kings, depicted in gilded clay sculptures. The Kings, standing on subjugated demons, symbolize their duty to suppress evil and protect the world with compassion. Behind the Maitreya statue stands the Dharma Protector Weituo, who is shown stepping on clouds and wearing armor.
Yonghe Lama Temple Main Hall
Originally named the Silver Peace Hall, it was the place where Prince Yongzheng met with civil and military officials. After its reconstruction, it serves as the main hall of the temple, equivalent to the Great Hall of a typical Buddhist monastery.
Inside the hall, there are three bronze statues of the Buddhas of the Three Ages, each standing 2 meters tall. One set features Shakyamuni Buddha in the center, with the Medicine Buddha on the left and Amitabha Buddha on the right. In the northeast corner stands a bronze statue of Guanyin, while the northwest corner holds a bronze statue of Maitreya. Additionally, the thrones in front of the side walls are occupied by the Eighteen Arhats.
In the courtyard in front of the main hall, there is an oval-shaped white marble base that supports a stone pool. Within this pool stands a bronze model of Mount Sumeru, 1.5 meters tall. Encircling Mount Sumeru is Gandhara Mountain, surrounded by the salt sea enclosed by Iron Mountains. Around the salt sea are the four continents: Eastern Purvavideha, Southern Jambudvipa, Western Aparagodaniya, and Northern Uttarakuru.
Falun Hall and Wanfuge Pavilion
Falun Hall has a cross-shaped floor plan, with five hidden windows and five gilded bronze pagodas on the roof, characteristic of traditional Tibetan architecture. Inside, a massive 6.1-meter-high bronze statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, sits on a grand lotus pedestal, with a serene smile on his face.
Exiting Falun Hall, visitors encounter the 25-meter-tall Wanfuge Pavilion, which boasts three tiers of flying eaves. The two buildings are connected by a flying corridor, giving the appearance of a heavenly palace and reflecting the architectural styles of the Liao and Jin dynasties. Inside Wanfuge stands a majestic 18-meter-high statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Maidala Buddha). The statue, which extends another 8 meters underground, is 8 meters wide and carved from a single piece of precious white sandalwood, presented as a tribute by the Sixth Dalai Lama. This grand Buddha is one of the three celebrated wooden carvings of Yonghe Lama Temple. Additionally, another of the three wooden masterpieces is located in the eastern annex of Wanfuge Pavilion, known as the Jinfeng Nanmu Shrine, featuring 99 exquisitely carved cloud dragons.
Related Details:
- Behind the statue of Tsongkhapa in Falun Hall is one of the three renowned wooden carvings of Yonghe Lama Temple, the Five Hundred Arhats Mountain. This intricate work is nearly 5 meters high, 3.5 meters long, and 30 centimeters thick, all carved from fine red sandalwood.
- In front of the Five Hundred Arhats Mountain is a wooden basin carved from golden nanmu wood. It is said that Emperor Qianlong was bathed in this basin three days after his birth, giving it the common name “Three-Day Bath Basin.”
Buddhist Activities at Yonghe Lama Temple
- Morning Chanting: Every day, the monks at Yonghe Lama Temple rise early for their morning chanting session, which takes place from 5:30 to 7:00 AM. The chanting is conducted in the Hall of the Wheel of the Law (Falun Hall).
- Monthly Dharma Assemblies: On the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, routine Dharma assemblies are held at the temple.
- Buddhist Festivals: Yonghe Lama Temple hosts several major Buddhist festivals throughout the year, including:
- Great Vow Prayer Assembly: Held from the 23rd day of the first lunar month to the 1st day of the second lunar month.
- Bathing the Buddha Festival: Celebrated from the 13th to the 15th day of the fourth lunar month.
- Great Vajradhara Mandala Assembly: Conducted from September 24th to September 30th.
- Guru Offering Assembly for Tsongkhapa: Held on the 25th day of the tenth lunar month.
- Porridge Offering: On the 8th day of the twelfth lunar month, an event to commemorate the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum
The Confucius Temple and the Imperial College Museum comprise the ancient structures of the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College. The ticket office is located beside the main gate of the Confucius Temple. After purchasing a ticket, visitors enter the Confucius Temple and then proceed through the “Chijing Gate” near the Stele Pavilion to tour the Imperial College.
The Confucius Temple, built during the Yuan Dynasty, was a place of worship for Confucius during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple complex is large and features rare Yuan Dynasty architectural styles. The courtyard houses numerous steles, including inscriptions by famous figures, name plaques listing over 50,000 successful candidates from the Yuan to the late Qing Dynasty, and a stele forest engraved with the texts of the Thirteen Confucian Classics, all of which are rich in content and highly valuable.
The Imperial College, the highest educational institution during the Ming and Qing dynasties, was where the emperor personally lectured. The architecture here exudes an antique charm, with distinctive structures such as the Jixian Gate, Taixue Gate, and the Glazed Archway, the latter being particularly colorful and a hallmark of the Imperial College. The courtyard is adorned with towering ancient trees, enhancing its quaint beauty. The Biyong Hall is the main building of the Imperial College, notable for its unique design. Nearby, the Yilun Hall, where ancient emperors gave lectures, is also worth a detailed visit.
Related Details:
- In the Confucius Temple, the Chongshengci Courtyard hosts several traditional performances of the ceremonial dance “Dacheng Ritual Music” each day. These performances showcase ancient cultural arts and are quite impressive. Additionally, the courtyard retains an antique charm with many towering ancient trees and features plaques and exhibitions related to the worship of Confucius.
- Inside the Imperial College, there are permanent exhibitions such as the “Ancient Chinese Imperial Examination Exhibition” and the “Original Display of the Imperial College.” Those interested in the imperial examination system can visit these exhibits.
Visitor Services at Yonghe Lama Temple
- Visitor Service Center: Located on the east side of the Tianwang Hall courtyard, the Visitor Service Center provides amenities such as water dispensers, touch-screen bilingual information machines, first aid kits, wheelchairs, stretchers, and umbrellas for visitor convenience.
- Guided Tours: The Visitor Service Center offers professional tour guides fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese. Additionally, audio guides are available in Chinese, English, German, French, and Japanese.
- Religious Activity Registration: Situated on the west side of the Yongyou Hall, this office assists devotees with registering for religious activities. Nearby, there is an Enlightenment Room where items can be consecrated.
- Dharma Supplies: There are five Dharma supply locations within Yonghe Lama Temple. One is outside the ticket inspection area on the west side, and the other four are spread throughout the temple grounds. These shops offer various Buddhist supplies, specially made incense, and tourist souvenirs.
- Donation Center: Located on the east side of the temple, this center distributes Buddhist literature to devotees for free. Visitors can also donate Buddhist books and other related items here.
- Ancient Trees: In the third courtyard of Yonghe Gate, visitors can marvel at over ten ancient Chinese scholar trees, which are considered a remarkable sight in Beijing.
Visitor Guide for Yonghe Lama Temple
Accommodation: To the south of Yonghe Lama Temple, you can find the Siheyuan Binguan (No. 46, San Tiao, Beixin Bridge, Dongcheng District), a traditional Beijing-style courtyard hotel that offers an authentic local experience. Nearby, the Beijing Urban Star Express Hotel (No. 216, Dongzhimen Inner Street, Dongcheng District) is conveniently located close to Guijie Street, Yonghe Lama Temple, and Ditan Park, making it very accessible.
Dining: The Luohan vegetarian dish at Yonghe Lama Temple is quite famous. It features a mix of yellow flower, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, gluten, magnolia slices, water chestnuts, tofu, cabbage, and carrots, all stewed together with a touch of vegetable oil. After visiting the temple, there are several vegetarian restaurants where you can sample this dish.
Additionally, to the west of Yonghe Lama Temple is the well-known Wudaoying Hutong, which is home to many charming and unique restaurants, cafes, and shops. Many of these establishments are run by foreigners and returnees, with some owners being directors and artistic professionals. The Saffron Spanish Restaurant is a popular spot, where you can enjoy Spanish cuisine and, during late summer, dine in the courtyard with a refreshing breeze and a glass of fruit wine for a delightful experience.