The Yonghe Gong is actually a (Tibetan Lama Temple) that is located in northern Beijing. The Temple is a location of exquisite 17th century architecture. Once a palace complex, the temple still emulates a royal aura. Today it is an active Tibetan Buddhist center and this combined with history and beauty makes it one location well worth visiting while you are in China.
The construction of Yonghe Gong began in the year 1694 and first served as the residential palace of Prince Yin Zhen. Later on when the prince moved to the Forbidden City the building was redecorated and converted to a temple. Since then it has undergone a series of ups and down but stands strong today as an intriguing and exotic place of worship. There are so many things to see in the Yonghe Gong. Its primary attractive feature is its rich architecture that is adorned by ornate carvings and monuments. The temple has the typical yellow tiled roof and throughout the structure you will find a number of beautiful incense burners. The Falun Dian; a hall in the complex has a massive 6m bronze statue and paintings of Tsongkapa; the founder of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which is the primary school of Tibetan Buddhism. There are a few thrones surrounding the statue which are actually meant for the Dalai Lamas when they come to teach. Another hall that must not be missed is the arge and grand Wangfu Ge also known as the tower of Ten Thousand Happiness. This houses a massive statue of Maitreya that actually towers up to 60 feet. This prized possession of the temple was actually a gift for Emperor Qianlong from the seventh Dalai Lama. The entire carving is made out of a single piece of white sandalwood which took 3 years to be shipped to Beijing from Tibet.
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Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.
