Yonghe Temple Temple

Address: No. 12 Yonghegong Street (Yonghe Temple / Lama Temple), Dongcheng, Beijing, China

Website: http://www.yonghegong.cn/

Admission: ~25 CNY (adult)

Yonghe Temple (Yonghe Gong or the Lama Temple) is a large Tibetan Buddhist temple and monastery in northeastern central Beijing, originally built in the Qing dynasty period. It is one of the best-preserved and most important lamaseries in the city.

The complex runs on a central north-south axis of gates, courtyards and successive ceremonial halls with richly painted pillars, carved beams and Tibetan-style statuary. The compound attracts worshippers and tourists for its scale, decorative woodwork and the principal Buddha images in the main halls.

Built in the late 17th century as an imperial residence, the complex was converted into a lamasery in the mid-18th century and expanded under the Qing court. It has served both religious and ceremonial functions since that conversion and retains many original Qing-era structures.

The temple sits in Beijing’s Dongcheng district, a short walk from the Lama Temple subway station and close to the northeast edge of the city’s central districts. The site is urban and easily reached by public transport.

• Historical role: Served as an imperial residence before being converted into a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the 18th century and remains one of Beijing’s best-preserved lamaseries.
• Access: Closest metro access is Yonghegong-Lama Temple station, served by Lines 2 and 5 which open directly near the temple entrance.

What to See#

• Gate and courtyards: The frontal gateway and a sequence of courtyards form a formal north-south axis leading deeper into the complex and screening the main halls.
• Hall of Harmony and Peace: A large ceremonial hall that serves as the complex’s main shrine and houses principal statues and imperial altars used in state ceremonies after conversion to a lamasery.
• Main Buddha Hall: A richly decorated hall used for worship and display of important Buddha images and Tibetan-style murals; it is the focal point for many visitors.

Yonghe Temple (the Lama Temple) in Beijing is served directly by the subway: take Beijing Subway Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple station and use the appropriate exit - the temple entrance is about a 1-2 minute walk from the station. By road the temple is in the northeastern part of central Beijing; Beijing Capital Airport is roughly 30 km away by road (travel time depends on traffic and route via the Airport Express/City roads).

• Arrive at opening (early morning) to see active worship and to avoid the largest tour‑group waves that build later in the day.
• Buy tickets at the temple entrance and head straight to the Main Hall-the huge Buddha/Maitreya statue and the richly painted halls are the main highlights that many visitors only glimpse briefly.
• Walk the peripheral halls and courtyards after the main hall visit; smaller chapels and exhibition rooms show Tibetan‑Buddhist art and ritual objects that are often missed by those who only tour the central nave.