How to Visit Lama Temple

Plan your Beijing Tour? If you are interested in Chinese Lamaism or Chinese Buddhism, Beijing Lama Temple is not to be missed. Beijing Lamasery Temple is called "Yonghegong" (雍和宫) in Chinese which literally mesans" Harmony and Peace". "Yonghegong" is a romanization form (pinyin) of Chinese charactors – 雍和宫 (Lama Temple). Pinyin is quite useful in China, especially on people's names, shop fronts, street names and place names etc. When Chinese people write their own names in Englsih, they use Pinyin. All the bus stops and subway stops for Lama Temple are named "Yonghegong" in English instead of Lama Temple.

For many foreign travelers coming to Beijing, Yonghegong (Lama Temple) is a very important attraction just after Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven in the city center. Yonghegong Lama Temple was originally built as the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was still a prince. After he came to the throne (Emperor Yongzheng), he changed his old residence into a temporary palace called "Yonghegong" in 1725. In 1744, his successor, Emperor Qianlong turned the palace into a lama temple. This Tietan Buddhist Lama Temple is still popularly called Yonghegong.

Built along a central axis from north to south, the Lama Temple's compound is mainly comprised of six major halls, which make seven courtyards. The six halls include Yonghe Gate Hall, Yonghegong Hall, Yongyou Hall, Falun Hall, Wanfuge Pavilion and Suicheng Hall. There are also many side buildings built on the both sides of the central axis. Before you visit the six halls and seven courtyards, you will first see the Memorial archway.

How to get there?

Well, taking the subway is highly recommended. You either take subway line 2 or Line 5 and get off at the stop of "Yonghegong", exit from the Exit C. Turn left and walk along the sideway for about 450meters. then you will get to the entrane to Lama Temple.

Entrance Fee: CNY25 per person

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 16:30 ( April – October)

09:00 – 16:00 (November – March)

Follow me into Lama Temple （Yonghegong).

Take subway line 2 and get off at the stop of Yonghegong (雍和宫) ann remember to exit from Exit C leading to Yonghegong St. Out and turn left walking alongside the red wall of Yonghegong for about 400 meters, you will reach the entrance gate to Yonghegong.

Exit from Exit C leading to Yonghegong St

From the EXIT C of Yonghegong Subway Station, you turn left and walk along the red wall, inside which Lama Temple is located. The 400 meters sideway is teemed with front stores selling incense, fortune-tellers and so on.

The 400 meters sideway is teemed with front stores selling incense, fortune-tellers

On your left side, you will see the entrance to the compound of Lama Temple.

the entrance to the compound of Lama Temple

In the middle of the compound is the archway leading to the six halls and seven courtyards to the north of the archway.

In the middle of the compound are the three conneced Memorial archways

On the right side of the archway is the ticket office.

On the right side of the archways is the ticket office.

Have your ticket collcted at the side gate of the archway, you walk north along the imperial carriage pathway where in Qing Dynasty the straight path was used for the carriages of the emperors and their empresses during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911).

You walk north along the imperial way

At the northen end of the imperial carriage pathway is the Zhaotai Gate only used for emperors.

Entering Zhaotai Gate, you will be in the second courtyard which has a Drum Tower on the right side and Bell Tower on the right side and more side buidlings in the courtyard.

To the north of the courtyard is Yonghe Gate. Built in 1694, originally the main gate to the Lama Temple. Now Yonghe Gate is enshrined with the four heavenly kings and the statue of the big belly Meitraya Buddha.

Now Yonghe Gate is enshrined with the four heavenly kings and the statue of the big belly Meitraya Buddha

North of the Yonghe Gate is Yonghe Hall. Yonghe Hall ( Hall of Harmony and Peace ) is the main palace in the temple. Inside the hall, there are three bronze Buddhas – Sakyamuni (Present Buddha) in the middle, The Past Buddha on the right and Maitreya ( Future Buddha ) on the left. 18 Arhats are placed on both sides of the Hall.

Yonghe Hall ( Hall of Harmony and Peace ) is the main palace in the temple

North of Yonghe Palace is Yongyou Hall. The Yongyou Hall was originally the living place of Emperor Yongzheng before he was throned. When he died, his coffin was placed here in the hall. Now inside the hall, a statue of Amitayus (Longevity Buddha), with Bhaisajyaguru ( Medicine Buddha) to the right and Simhanada (Meaning Wisdom) to the left.

North of Yonghe Palace is Yongyou Hall.

North of Yongyou Hall is Falun Hall. The hall was named Falun Hall in 1744 when Yonghegong was transformed into a lamasery. The Hall was originally the living place for the Emperor's wives. Its architecture features both Chinese and Tibetans styles. A large statue of Tsong Kha-pa, the founder of Lamaism is positioned on the altar of the Hall with sacrificial offerings. Behind this statue is an Arhat Hill which has 500 Arhats. Falun Hall is the places lamas chant, read scriptures and hold Buddhist ceremonies.

North of Falun Hall is Wanfu Pavilion (The Pavilion of Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses). Wanfu Pavilion is the highest building in the temple. It was built built between 1748 and 1750. Now it enshrines the Meitreya Buddha. The statue is 18 meters above ground and 8 meters under ground and carved from a single trunk of white sandal wood. In August 1999, it was in Guinness book of records.

The last hall is called Sui Cheng Building. Originally built in 1744, the hall now enshrines the White Tara, the Green Tara and the founders of Gelugpa sect of lamaism in different periods,