Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, formerly the residence of Emperor Yongzheng, renowned for its thriving incense and proximity to the Imperial Academy and Confucius Temple.
Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple) is located on Yonghe Temple Street in Dongcheng District, Beijing, covering an area of approximately 66,000 square meters. It is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan Buddhist Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) royal temple in Beijing. Originally built in 1694 as the residence of Prince Yong (later Emperor Yongzheng), it was upgraded to a princely mansion. After Yongzheng ascended the throne, half was converted to an imperial palace and half given to lamas as a monastery. In 1744, Emperor Qianlong officially converted the entire complex into a Tibetan Buddhist temple, making it the center for managing Tibetan Buddhist affairs under the Qing government.
The entire complex faces south, with seven courtyards arranged along the central axis — the Memorial Archway Courtyard, Zhaotai Gate, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Main Hall (Yonghe Palace), Hall of the Wheel of Law, and the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses — forming a grand and majestic complex. The temple houses a vast collection of Buddhist artifacts and artworks, among which the Maitreya Buddha (sandalwood statue), the golden nanmu Buddhist shrine, and the rosewood-carved Five Hundred Arhat Mountain are collectively known as the "Three Woodcarving Wonders" and serve as the temple's treasures.
As a National Key Temple and nationally protected cultural heritage site, Yonghe Temple enjoys thriving incense year-round, especially on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month and during Buddhist festivals. The annual Laba Porridge ceremony and the "Ghost-Beating" Dharma Assembly attract large crowds of visitors and devotees. Together with the adjacent Imperial Academy and Confucius Temple, Yonghe Temple forms one of Beijing's most culturally rich areas — a must-visit destination for prayer and experiencing Buddhist culture.
The Maitreya Buddha enshrined in the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses is the most awe-inspiring treasure of Yonghe Temple. Carved from a single piece of white sandalwood, the statue stands 18 meters above ground and extends 8 meters underground, totaling 26 meters in height with a diameter of approximately 8 meters and weighing about 100 tons. Records show that this sandalwood log was presented as tribute by the 7th Dalai Lama in 1750, taking three years to transport from Tibet to Beijing. The Buddha's face is serene and dignified — standing at its feet and gazing upward inspires a profound sense of reverence. This statue holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest woodcarving Buddha in the world.
The Hall of the Wheel of Law is one of the core halls of Yonghe Temple. Its roof features five skylight-style towers in the center, creating a unique blend of Tibetan and Han architectural styles. At the center of the hall sits a gilded bronze statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa school. Behind it stands the Five Hundred Arhat Mountain carved from rosewood — five hundred arhats cast in gold, silver, bronze, iron, and tin, each with a unique expression, representing the finest of Qing court artistry. The hall also preserves an imperial couplet by Emperor Qianlong and precious thangka scroll paintings.
The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses is the tallest building in Yonghe Temple, with three floors housing the Maitreya Buddha. All three levels feature corridors, and visitors can climb to the second and third floors via staircases to view the Maitreya Buddha from different angles. The pavilion is connected to the Yongkang Pavilion and Yansui Pavilion on either side by flying galleries, forming a magnificent architectural group. It also enshrines a thousand-handed, thousand-eyed Avalokitesvara statue with exquisite carvings. The name "Ten Thousand Happinesses" refers to the blessings that the Maitreya (Future Buddha) will bestow upon all.
The Zhaotai Gate is the first gate leading into the main building complex, with upturned eaves and a brilliant golden facade. Beyond it lies the Hall of Heavenly Kings, where a statue of Maitreya Buddha (the Laughing Buddha) sits at the center, greeting visitors with a beaming smile. On either side stand the Four Heavenly Kings, each holding ceremonial weapons in imposing poses. Behind the Maitreya stands the Skanda statue, facing the Main Hall as guardian of the Dharma. The Four Heavenly Kings in this hall stand about 4 meters tall with vivid colors, representing the finest Qing dynasty painted sculpture.
The bronze Mount Meru before the Hall of the Wheel of Law is a treasured artifact donated by the chief eunuch Feng Bao during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty. Standing approximately 2.5 meters tall, it is cast in bronze atop a white marble Sumeru pedestal. The sculpture depicts Mount Meru, the Four Great Continents, the sun, moon, and stars according to Buddhist cosmology, with exquisite craftsmanship that presents the Buddhist view of the universe as a three-dimensional sculpture. It is an extremely precious Buddhist artwork and astronomical relic — the only one of its kind in China, truly a national treasure.
Archway Courtyard → Imperial Path → Zhaotai Gate → Hall of Heavenly Kings (Maitreya Buddha, Four Heavenly Kings) → Main Hall (main temple, Three Buddhas) → Yongyou Hall (Medicine Buddha) → Hall of the Wheel of Law (Tsongkhapa statue, Five Hundred Arhat Mountain) → Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses (gaze up at the Maitreya Buddha) → Suicheng Hall (last hall) → Return via the west corridor. This route follows the central axis in traditional Buddhist pilgrimage order.
Archway Courtyard (admire archway carvings) → Zhaotai Gate → Hall of Heavenly Kings → Main Hall (carefully study thangkas and Buddha statues) → Tantric Hall (learn about Tibetan Buddhist tantric culture) → Sutra Hall (occasionally observe monks chanting) → Yongyou Hall → Hall of the Wheel of Law (focus on Five Hundred Arhat Mountain and Mount Meru) → Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses (view Maitreya Buddha floor by floor) → Ordination Platform Tower (learn about Buddhist precepts) → Panchen Tower → Zhaofu Tower. This route emphasizes cultural interpretation, ideal for visitors interested in Buddhist culture.
Arrive at Yonghe Temple at 9:00 AM → Tour Yonghe Temple (~1.5 hours) → Exit and cross the street to the Chengxian Street Archway opposite → Enter Guozijian Street → Visit Confucius Temple first (~45 minutes) → Then visit the Imperial Academy (~45 minutes) → Stroll and take photos along Guozijian Street → Lunch at nearby restaurants on Guozijian Street. The three sites are adjacent, just a 3-minute walk apart — combo tickets offer better value.
Incense Offering: Yonghe Temple is one of the most popular temples for incense offering in Beijing, and devotees believe that wishes made here are especially efficacious. Admission includes complimentary incense (one bundle per person) — simply follow the temple's guidance and offer incense before each hall. Prayers for career success and academic achievement are especially popular among young people — during exam season, large numbers of students and professionals come specifically to pray here.
Laba Porridge Ceremony: Every year on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month (usually January in the Gregorian calendar), Yonghe Temple holds a grand Laba porridge ceremony. Monks prepare the porridge in large bronze cauldrons and distribute it free to devotees and visitors. Thousands line up before dawn — a truly spectacular sight. This is a rare opportunity to experience traditional Chinese festival culture and Buddhist charitable spirit.
"Ghost-Beating" Dharma Assembly (Vajra Dance): From the 29th of the 1st lunar month to the 2nd of the 2nd month each year, Yonghe Temple holds the traditional "Ghost-Beating" ceremony (also known as "Cham Dance"), where monks wear colorful masks and perform the Vajra exorcism dance to dispel evil and pray for blessings. This is a unique Tibetan Buddhist religious ceremony, mysterious and spectacular, attracting large crowds of visitors.
Dharma Gift Shop: Yonghe Temple has a dharma gift shop (souvenir shop) where you can purchase consecrated amulets, Buddhist prayer bead bracelets, Buddha figurines, and other religious items. Consecrated safety and academic amulets are the most popular, ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan. Items obtained within the temple are believed to carry greater spiritual power, making them treasured possessions for devotees.
Prayer Wheels: Prayer wheels are located throughout the temple. According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, turning a prayer wheel clockwise is equivalent to reciting the sutras once. Visitors can turn the prayer wheels during their tour to experience this unique aspect of Tibetan Buddhist culture. Remember to turn them clockwise with a sincere heart.
Imperial Academy (3-minute walk, ¥25): Across from Yonghe Temple lies the Imperial Academy — ancient China's highest institution of learning and education administration. Founded in the Yuan dynasty, the current buildings reflect the Ming-Qing layout. The Biyong Great Hall, where Emperor Qianlong lectured, features a circular double-eaved roof surrounded by water, symbolizing "heaven is round, earth is square." The Scholar Stele Forest in the courtyard bears the names of over 50,000 jinshi scholars from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties — precious historical material for studying China's imperial examination system. Walking among the ancient scholar trees, you can almost hear the chants of ancient students.
Confucius Temple (combo ticket with Imperial Academy, ¥25): The Beijing Confucius Temple served as the venue for worshipping Confucius during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, second only to the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong in scale. The Dacheng Hall enshrines a statue of Confucius, and the stele pavilions before it preserve imperial inscriptions from successive emperors. Most striking are the 198 jinshi scholar steles from three dynasties, recording the names, origins, and rankings of 51,624 jinshi scholars — essentially ancient China's "college entrance exam honor roll." Every year before the national exam, large numbers of students and parents come to pray here, creating a rather amusing scene.
Guozijian Street (Chengxian Street): This ancient street connecting the Confucius Temple and the Imperial Academy is itself one of Beijing's most beautiful streets. Ancient scholar trees line both sides, with red walls and gray tiles preserving the complete Qing dynasty streetscape. The street features several artsy cafes, bookstores, and specialty shops — a perfect place to stroll and relax after visiting Yonghe Temple. In autumn when the ginkgo trees turn golden, this street becomes one of Beijing's most beautiful ginkgo avenues.
Dining Recommendations: The Yonghe Temple area offers rich dining options — Jingzhaoyin (Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant, exquisitely elegant), "Can Restaurant" on Guozijian Street and several cafes, Guijie (Ghost Street, one Subway stop away, famous for spicy crayfish and grilled fish). For authentic Peking Duck, head to Siji Minfu Roast Duck Restaurant (Forbidden City branch, ~15 minutes by car).
Nanluoguxiang (one Subway stop away): Take Subway Line 5 south one stop from Yonghe Temple to Zhangzizhonglu Station, then walk to Nanluoguxiang. We recommend visiting Yonghe Temple and the Imperial Academy in the morning, then heading to Nanluoguxiang after lunch to explore the hutongs and enjoy street food, making for a fulfilling full-day itinerary.
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