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Yonghegong
Lama Temple
 The
Yonghegong Lama Temple is located at the
northeast corner of Beijing City. It was
originally used as official residence for
court eunuchs of the Ming dynasty and was
converted to the royal court of Prince Yongzheng
during the 33rd year (1693) of Kangxi's
reign of the Qing dynasty. In the 3rd year
of Yongzheng's rein (1725), it was elevated
to imperial palace for short stays away
from the capital with the name changed to
Yonghe Palace of Peace and Harmony. During
the 9th year of Emperor Qian Long's reign
(1477), it was change into Lama Temple.
The dimensions of the temple
are magnificent, which have five courtyards
in a row. The front structural layout in
the temple is bright and spacious dotted
with screen walls with carved murals, lifeless
things and decorated archways. The interior
pavement leading to the main halls and the
evergreen pine and cypress appear to be
rather peaceful and secluded in the environment.
The back structural layout is composed of
a cluster of building, halls and pavilions
intermingled with each other, and upturned
eaves and ridges beautifully interwoven
presenting a picturesque sight.
 Palace
of the Heavenly King, Yonghe Palace, Eternal
Blessing Hall, the Hall of the Wheel of
the Law and Hall of boundless Happiness
are the main structures. Amongst which the
Hall of the Wheel of the Law is extremely
imposing; the overall arrangement of its
plane diagram forms a cross sign and there
are five petty garrets on the ceiling decorated
with small lama pagodas, which are characterized
by the style of lamaism. The Hall of Boundless
Happiness is the biggest building in the
Lama Temple of Peace and Harmony flanked
by the Hall of Everlasting Health and the
Hall of Peace. They are connected by a corridor
of the Suspension Hall, which form a cluster
of majestic dignified buildings. In the
Hall of the Boundless Happiness, stands
a famous huge statue of Buddha, 26 meters
high carved out of a whole piece of sandalwood;
it is the biggest wood-carving Buddha in
the world.
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