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Lama Temple
| Admission Fee: | CNY 25; Free for children no taller than 1.2 meters (3.9 feet). |
| Opening Hours: | Apr. – Oct.: 9:00 to 17:00 Nov. – Mar.: 9:00 to 16:30 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit: | 1 hour |
The Lama temple is the biggest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing, it is also a popular worship place for locals. The Lama Temple was built in 1694 by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing as a residence for his son Prince Yin Zhen. When his son succeeded to the throne in 1723 and moved to the Forbidden City, Yinzhen renamed his old residence the Palace of Harmony. In 1735, Emperor Yongzheng passed away, his coffin was placed in the temple. Emperor Qianlong ordered to change the turquoise tiles of the main halls into yellow tiles. This has greatly enhanced its status because yellow is the color exclusive to emperors at that time. In 1744, Yonghe Temple was transformed into a formal Tibetan Buddhist temple and became the center of lama administration of the Qing government. The temple open to the public in 1981.
Why is the Lama Temple Important?
- Three treasures in the temple: the largest sandalwood Buddha in the world, the bronze Buddhas of past, present, and future, and the 500-Arhat-Hill
- Two emperors were born here. Yongzheng Emperor and the Qianlong Emperor, and it is the only Tibetan Buddhism temple with yellow glazed roof
- As a high-status place for religious activities, the Lama Temple spread Tibetan Buddhist culture.
