Yonghegong Lama Temple

At the northeast corner of Beijing City the traveler will find an elegant and ancient temple known as the Yonghe Lamasery, or Yonghegong Lama Temple, which is the largest and most perfectly preserved lamasery in present day China.

Built initially in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, this building was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince. However, in 1744 the Qing Dynasty formally changed the status of the dwelling to that of a lamasery, and so Yonghe Lamasery became the national center of Lama administration.

The following details describe the main buildings inside the Lamasery.

On arrival at the south end of Yonghe Lamasery, the visitor will enter a yard which contains a screen wall and three paifang (gateways), and will observe the red walls and stone lions, symbols which show that this Lamasery was originally the dwelling of an imperial family member. Entering north from the gateways, the visitor will be confronted by a wide straight road which was used for the carriages of the emperors and their wives during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). At the northern end of this road is Zhaotai Gate (Gate of Peace Declaration), which comprises three large archways, the central one of which was for the exclusive use of the emperors.