Beijing Yonghe Temple | The premier temple of the Qing Dynasty court, from which two emperors emerged.

After a hiatus of seven years, I find myself back in the imperial city of Beijing, where the rain continues to fall as it always has. The northern rain, which I last experienced at the Forbidden City seven years ago, now pours down on the Yonghe Temple. From the royal residence of Emperor Yongzheng to the highest-ranking Buddhist temple in the late Qing Dynasty, the Yonghe Temple, which shares the same grandeur as the Forbidden City, has now become a popular attraction on social media. 【History】 In the 33rd year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1694), he built a mansion here and bestowed it upon his fourth son, Yin Zhen, which later became the residence of Prince Yong. In the ninth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1744), the Yonghe Temple was converted into a Lama Temple, becoming the center of the Qing government's control over Tibetan Buddhism nationwide. Because it was the birthplace of Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong, it is known as the "Dragon's Hidden Land of Blessing." 【Layout】 The Yonghe Temple mainly consists of three exquisite archways and five grand halls. It covers an area of 66,400 square meters, with over a thousand halls and rooms. The front part includes seven buildings: Zhaotai Gate, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Yonghe Gate, Yonghe Palace, Scripture Hall, and Tantric Hall. The halls in the back rise in succession, symbolizing the solemn auspiciousness of the Buddha's world. 【Highlights】 ⭐Yonghe Palace: The palace has a yellow glazed tile roof with a hip and gable top. Inside, there are three bronze gilded Buddha statues and eighteen Arhat statues covered in gold leaf. ⭐Falun Hall: The "one large, four small" five Tibetan-style skylights on the roof of the hall symbolize Mount Sumeru surrounded by the four continents. ⭐Wanfu Pavilion: Standing 25 meters tall, it is the tallest building in the Yonghe Temple complex. Inside, there is a 26-meter-tall wooden statue of Maitreya Buddha, carved from a single piece of sandalwood. ⭐Three Woodcarving Wonders: The Five Hundred Arhats Mountain, the Sandalwood Buddha (Maitreya Buddha in the Wanfu Pavilion), and the Nanmu Buddha Shrine. PS: The popular "Yonghe Temple Incense Ash Glazed Bead Bracelet" (around 380 yuan) can be purchased at the "Second Dharma Logistics Outlet". After purchase, you can have it blessed in the consecration room. 🚘Address: No. 12 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 💵Ticket: 20 yuan 📣Nearby: The Imperial College, Confucius Temple, Bailin Temple, etc.