Yonghe Temple

CHINA, Beijing

This is the largest fully-preserved Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing. Construction work started in 1694 during the Qing dynasty and it was originally the residence of Emperor Yongzheng (reigned 1722–1735) before he became an emperor. It was converted to a temporary palace in 1725. When Emperor Yongzheng passed away in 1735, his coffin was placed here, and the roof tiles were changed from green to yellow. In 1744 Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) converted the palace into a Tibetan temple. It was renovated in 1950, 1952, and 1979. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1961.
The Chinese-style monastery faces south and covers an area of 6.6 ha. Its layout is symmetrical and along the central axis there are the gateway, main gate, Heavenly King Hall, Yonghe Hall, Eternal Blessing Hall, Dharma Wheel Hall, Wanfu Pavilion, and the Suicheng Building. Along either side there are the bell and drum towers, east and west stele pavilions, Vajrayana Hall, lecture hall, mathematics hall, medicine hall, the east and west side halls, Precept Platform Building, Panchen Building, Prolonged Soothing Pavilion, Eternal Health Pavilion, Yamudage Building, and Illuminate Buddha Building.
The seven-bay wide Yonghe Hall is the main hall and has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. Copper statues of the Three Buddhas are enshrined within. In front of the hall there is a stele pavilion and a delicately engraved copper incense burner.
The seven-bay wide Dharma Wheel Hall is a recitation and ceremonial hall. It has porticos located at the front and back, giving the building multiple corners. On the roof there are five gilded pagodas in Tibetan Buddhist style. A bronze statue of Tsongkhapa is enshrined within the hall. Behind the statue there is the Mountain of the Five Hundred Arhats carved from a single piece of sandalwood. It shows scenes of valleys, conifers, pagodas, and pavilions, which are populated by Arhats, who either sit alone, in pairs, or in threes or fives. The Arhats are made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and tin.
In the Wanfu Pavilion there is a white sandalwood statue of Maitreya Buddha, of which 8 m is below ground and 18 m is above. The east side hall houses a 2.3 m high, dry lacquer statue of Yamantaka made during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The lecture hall contains a 1 m high copper alloy Green Tara cast during the time of Emperor Qianlong.