Lama Temple (Yonghegong)

The Yonghe Temple, also known as the Lama Temple, is a monastery and temple of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism located in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world.

The building and artworks combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. The temple was originally built in 1694 as the residence of Prince Yong (the future Yongzheng Emperor) before he ascended the throne. After Yongzheng's death in 1735, his coffin was placed in the temple, and it was converted into a monastery.

The most famous feature is the 18-meter tall statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of white sandalwood, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The temple complex consists of five main halls arranged along a central axis, each containing magnificent Buddhist statues, murals, and religious artifacts.