Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple)
雍和宫
Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, converted from the former residence of the Yongzheng Emperor. The 18-meter sandalwood Buddha in the Wanfu Pavilion holds a Guinness World Record.
Yonghe Temple was originally the residence of Prince Yongzheng before he took the throne. It was converted into a lamasery during the Qianlong era and is one of the most popular temples in Beijing. The central axis runs through Yonghe Gate, Yonghe Hall, Yongyou Hall, Falun Hall and the Wanfu Pavilion. Inside the pavilion, a Maitreya Buddha carved from a single white sandalwood trunk stands 18 meters tall, with 8 meters buried underground. Admission is RMB 25, including a bundle of incense. Book in advance through official channels with real-name registration. It gets very crowded on holidays and on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Opposite is the Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy (Guozijian), which you can visit together. Take Metro Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong station.
Opening hours
Apr–Oct 09:00–16:30; Nov–Mar 09:00–16:00
Nearby sights
- Temple of Confucius & Imperial Academy
- Temple of Earth (Ditan Park)
- Gui Street (Ghost Street)
- Nanluoguxiang Hutongs
- Drum Tower & Bell Tower
- Shichahai
- Jingshan Park
- St. Joseph's Church (Wangfujing)