Lama Temple

The Lama Temple is one of the largest and most beautiful Tibetan Buddhist temples in Beijing. The atmosphere is serene, with the scent of incense lingering throughout. The architecture is magnificent, especially the towering, giant carved wooden Buddha in the main hall. Tourists and devotees come to pray for health, career success, and good fortune. It is definitely a must-visit landmark when visiting Beijing. How to Get There · 🚇 Subway: Get off at Yonghegong Lama Temple Station (Line 2 or Line 5), Exit F. · 🚌 Bus: Lines 13, 116, 117. · 🚕 Taxi/Didi: Use the name "Yonghegong" (雍和宫). Travel Tips · 🕘 Go in the morning: Fewer people mean better photos and a more peaceful vibe. · 🙏 Incense is provided inside: No need to buy extra from the outside. · 📵 No photography in certain buildings/halls: Be sure to pay attention to the signs. · 🧣 Dress modestly: Keep in mind that it is a sacred place. · 💰 Carry some cash: Handy for the entrance fee and souvenirs. · 🌿 Winters are freezing: Make sure to bundle up and prepare warm clothes. · 🧭 Allow 1–2 hours for your visit: This gives you plenty of time so you won't feel rushed.

Traveling in Beijing? After visiting the Lama Temple, come here for a bite🥢. It's said that both out-of-towners and international friends come here for late-night snacks. Northeast-style malatang—one bite and you're instantly transported back to the Northeast. The broth is rich, savory, and spicy🌶️, thick, satisfying, and goes perfectly with rice. The BBQ platter has such a huge variety, with fresh meat sliced to order. The meat is tender and juicy🍏, so if you're with a group, just order a platter🍽️ and you won't have to worry about what to pick. The grilled flatbread is baked fresh. It's still fragrant when it arrives at the table🍓, and using it to sandwich the BBQ meat🥩 is just addictive.      #BeijingTravelMustEatBBQ #BeijingBBQ #GuijieLateNightFood #SummerBeijingTravel #NortheastStyleMalatang

If you only have one day in Beijing beyond the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, make time for Yonghe Temple. Originally built as a royal residence during the Qing Dynasty, it later became the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. Today, it remains one of the most visited spiritual sites in China. The moment I stepped through the red gates, Beijing felt different. The busy streets disappeared behind me. Incense drifted through the air, ancient prayer halls glowed beneath golden rooftops, and people quietly carried their hopes from one courtyard to another. Some prayed for health. Some prayed for family. Some prayed for a fresh start. And for a moment, everyone moved at the same pace. Slowly. Peacefully. ✨ What impressed me most was the contrast. Outside: one of the busiest cities in the world. Inside: complete calm. The highlight of the visit is the Wanfu Pavilion, home to an incredible 18-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha carved from a single sandalwood tree. Seeing it in person is far more impressive than any photo. 📍 Yonghe Temple Travel Tips ✔️ Best visiting time: Arrive before 9 AM to avoid crowds and enjoy the most peaceful atmosphere. ✔️ Entrance fee: 25 RMB ✔️ Entrance: Enter from the South Gate (main entrance). The North Gate is exit only. ✔️ Free incense: No need to buy incense outside. The temple provides it for free. ✔️ Souvenir bracelets: The most popular Dharma items can be found at the circulation centers inside the temple. Blessing ceremonies are free. ✔️ Dress respectfully: Avoid overly revealing clothing. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. 📸 Best Photo Spots · The main ceremonial courtyard with golden roofs · The symmetrical red corridors between halls · The prayer wheels and incense area · The temple gates early in the morning before crowds arrive 💡 Suggested Route Yonghe Temple → Guozijian Street → Nanluoguxiang Hutongs → Prince Gong's Mansion This is one of the most beautiful cultural walks in Beijing and can easily fill an entire day. Beijing is famous for its imperial palaces. But Yonghe Temple is where I felt the soul of the city. 🏮 Save this for your Beijing itinerary. #Beijing #YongheTemple #LamaTemple #ChinaTravel #BeijingGuide #TravelChina #BeijingHiddenGem #TempleVisit #ChineseCulture #BeijingItinerary #AsiaTravel

Beijing isn’t just about ticking famous landmarks off a list. The city’s finest moments occur when you slow down, wander through historic neighborhoods, and let the day unfold naturally. Save this relaxed one-day itinerary for your next journey. 🏯 8:30 AM — Yonghe Temple Begin your morning at the Lama Temple, one of Beijing’s most atmospheric historic sites. Walk beneath the canopy of ancient trees, admire the kaleidoscope of colorful roofs, and take a quiet moment away from the city bustle. Remember to dress respectfully and keep your voice low within the temple grounds. 📚 10:30 AM — Guozijian Street Continue to this nearby historic lane, where traditional gates, crimson walls, and storied courtyard buildings create one of Beijing’s most photogenic walks. Take your time here—the beauty is in the details. ☕ 12:00 PM — Wudaoying Hutong Stop for lunch or a coffee in this relaxed hutong neighborhood. Behind the traditional gray-brick walls, you’ll discover charming cafés, creative boutiques, and peaceful courtyards. Try a bowl of Beijing-style noodles or dumplings before exploring the winding side alleys. 🥁 2:30 PM — Drum and Bell Towers Walk toward the northern end of Beijing’s historic Central Axis. These towers once served as the city’s timekeepers. Climb to the top for a unique perspective of the surrounding hutong rooftops, then explore the neighborhood below. 🌅 5:00 PM — Shichahai Finish the afternoon beside the scenic lakes of Shichahai. Follow the waterfront, cross the iconic Yinding Bridge, and explore Yandai Xiejie as the evening lights begin to appear. Sunset and the 'blue hour' are particularly beautiful here. 🥢 7:00 PM — Hutong Dinner End your day with a comforting local meal. Try zhajiangmian, Beijing-style dumplings, a warming lamb hot pot, or traditional pastries paired with Chinese tea. QUICK TIPS · Wear comfortable shoes—the entire route is best explored on foot. · Carry the passport or ID used for ticket reservations. · Check current opening hours before visiting the towers or temples. · Avoid rushing through the hutongs; the small side streets are often the most memorable. · Autumn is especially beautiful when Beijing’s ginkgo trees turn a brilliant gold. This is the Beijing I love most: temple bells in the morning, bicycles gliding through quiet lanes, and old rooftops glowing after sunset. Would you choose a busy sightseeing day or this slower side of Beijing?

Sharing the best souvenirs to bring back from a trip to Beijing! From traditional Beijing snacks to creative cultural products, this list has it all! Save it now! Beijing's cultural creations include the Phoenix Crown fridge magnets from the National Museum, the 'You Feng Lai Yi' and other items from the Forbidden City, prayer bead bracelets from Yonghe Temple, treasures from Panjiayuan Market, Daoxiangcun pastries, Universal Studios' latest Minions merchandise, Qingzhi Beijing city-themed gift boxes, and Chinese aesthetic products from Guanxia. They're all absolute favorites! Sharing the best souvenirs to bring back from a trip to Beijing! From traditional Beijing snacks to creative cultural products, this list has it all! Save it now! Beijing's cultural creations include the Phoenix Crown fridge magnets from the National Museum, the 'You Feng Lai Yi' and other items from the Forbidden City, prayer bead bracelets from Yonghe Temple, treasures from Panjiayuan Market, Daoxiangcun pastries, Universal Studios' latest Minions merchandise, Qingzhi Beijing city-themed gift boxes, and Chinese aesthetic products from Guanxia. They're all absolute favorites!

🇨🇳 One of the most impressive surprises of my trip to Beijing! Visiting Yonghe Temple, also known as the Lama Temple, was an experience I won't easily forget. But nothing prepared me for what I would find inside the Hall of the Infinite Happiness. There, hidden inside the temple, stands an enormous 26-metre-high Maitreya Buddha, carved from a single piece of white sandalwood! 🤯 Standing beneath it and looking up really makes you appreciate the incredible craftsmanship. It's one of those places where photos and videos simply cannot do justice to what you see in person. ✨ A few interesting details: · The statue was commissioned during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. · It was carved from a single tree trunk brought from Tibet. · Around 8 metres of the statue extend below the floor! · It holds a Guinness World Record for its size as a Buddha carved from a single piece of wood. 📍 My tips for visiting: · Visit early in the morning to enjoy a quieter atmosphere. · Allow around 1.5–2 hours to explore the entire temple. · Don't rush through the halls: some of the most beautiful details are in the decorations and Buddhist sculptures. · Be respectful and check the photography rules inside the halls, as photography is restricted in some areas. ❤️ My personal recommendation: Don't treat Yonghe Temple as just another stop on your Beijing sightseeing list. Take your time, explore its courtyards and enjoy the atmosphere. The giant Buddha alone makes this visit worthwhile! Have you ever seen a Buddha statue this impressive? Would you include Yonghe Temple in your Beijing itinerary? #yonghetemple #beijing #visitchina #travel #hiddengems #china #travellikealocal

Beijing's autumn is truly the gold standard 😭 The next two months are the long-awaited autumn in Beiping 🍂 Here are 3 top-tier autumn foliage routes to take you through the "Autumn of Beiping" described by Lao She 👇 · 🍁 [Early to Mid-October] Autumn foliage route Lao She Memorial Hall > Wusi Avenue > Peking University Red Building > Changchun Hall > Nanluoguxiang > Beiluoguxiang > Drum Tower > Shichahai This route is the ultimate "Beiping city walk" as described by Lao She! In early autumn, the ash trees start to turn yellow, sunlight filters through the leaves, and the entire street is bathed in a golden glow ✨ 🍂 [Late October to Early November] Autumn foliage route ▪️ Route 1: Dongsi 13th Alley > Dongsi 12th Alley > Xiguan Hutong > Bing Xin Memorial Hall > Dongbuyaqiao Hutong > Beiluoguxiang > Drum Tower > Shichahai This route weaves through streets and alleys, perfectly capturing the local charm of old Beijing hutongs and the autumn colors! ▪️ Route 2: Ditan Park (🕐 6:00 AM–8:30 PM) > Qinglong Hutong > Lama Temple (🕐 9:00 AM–4:30 PM) > Wudaoying Hutong > Jianchang Hutong > Guozijian Street > Beiluoguxiang > Gulou East Street A classic yet niche route where the pairing of ginkgo trees and red walls is perfection—the autumn vibes are unmatched! · 📷 Top autumn photo spots in the hutongs ① Wusi Avenue The first street in Beijing to welcome autumn colors! Around October 10 each year, the ash trees lining the road quietly turn golden, making every shot look like a cinematic masterpiece 🎬 ② Beiluoguxiang The entire hutong is lined with ash trees. In late October, the leaves start to turn yellow, and when the sunlight filters through, it's absolutely stunning! It's quiet and less crowded, perfect for a slow, leisurely city walk~ · 💡 Tips: 1️⃣ We recommend wearing yellow or red tones to complement the golden ginkgo trees for the perfect photo aesthetic 2️⃣ Bring a transparent umbrella 🌂, fill it with fallen leaves, and capture the perfect autumn shot in an instant!!

Lama Temple / Yonghe Temple (Yonghe Temple) The temple consists of various halls, such as: · Yonghemen Hall (雍和门大殿, Yōnghémén Dàdiàn) · Yongyou Hall (永佑殿, Yōngyòu Diàn) · Falun Hall (法轮殿, Fălún Diàn) · The innermost hall, Wanfuge (万福阁, Wànfú Gé), which houses a 26-meter-tall standing statue of Maitreya Buddha. Entrance fee: 25 CNY

Let’s dive into today’s dose of ancient vibes! If you’re obsessed with Chinese history (or just love some jaw-dropping architecture), you’re gonna freak over the Xixia Mausoleum and those epic temple finds in Gansu. 🤩 Last year, the Xixia Mausoleum got a World Heritage crown – and it’s totally deserved! It’s located in Yinchuan, Ningxia (address: Helan Mountains, Yinchuan City, Ningxia, China; opening hours: 8:00 AM–7:00 PM). Archaeologists unearthed a wild chiwen (a legendary beast often chilling on rooftops for good fortune) right from this site. You can spot this cool relic in the Ancient China exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing (address: 16 East Chang’an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing; opening hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed on Mondays). Pop over to Zhangye City, Gansu Province, and the Great Buddha Temple will absolutely blow your mind. Built during the Yongan era (1098) by the Xixia dynasty, this temple is famous for its iconic Great Buddha Hall. This spot is a pure time capsule, showing off classic Western Xia temple vibes. The Great Buddha Hall is home to Asia’s largest indoor reclining Buddha sculpture—35 meters of mud-sculpted chill! (Address: No. 179, Minzhu West Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu; opening hours: 7:30 AM–6:30 PM). Fun fact: the standing Buddha statues at Yonghe Temple in Beijing (16 meters) and Dule Temple in Tianjin (18 meters) are super tall, but Zhangye’s reclining Buddha holds the ultimate flex for size! 📏 Plus, if you’re into , you’ll love how Shanxi’s got the glazed ceramic game on lock. The Jin and Yuan dynasty main halls there are perfect for your history-meets-design cravings. Seriously, each of these temples could get its own feature page—there’s that much to obsess over. Need travel inspo? Scope out tickets and hotel deals on trip.com and make your inner ancient-history fangirl (or boy) happy. Your next adventure is just a click away!

Located on Guozijian Street in Dongcheng District, right next to Wudaoying Hutong, this is a niche route for viewing ginkgo trees in the old city. The street retains its Ming and Qing dynasty charm, with gray-walled courtyard houses paired with ancient ginkgo trees lining the road. The leaves turn fully yellow from late October to early November each year. Sunlight filters through the branches onto the blue-brick road, creating an incredibly atmospheric vibe. The entire area is free to enter. You can also visit the Temple of Confucius and the Imperial Academy Museum along the way. The red walls and glazed archways paired with golden ginkgo leaves make for great photos. It is perfect for a leisurely city walk to experience the authentic, everyday charm of autumn in old Beijing. 🚌 Nearby subway and bus routes For the subway, take Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong Lama Temple Station, Exit B. It is an 8–10 minute walk from the exit to the east entrance of Guozijian Street. For buses, you can take routes 116, 117, 13, or 84 and get off at Yonghegong Station. After exploring Guozijian, it is a 5-minute walk directly to Wudaoying Hutong. The route is straightforward with no detours, allowing you to visit both hutongs entirely on foot without needing to transfer repeatedly. 💰 Budget-friendly travel tips The entire hutong area is free to explore—no money needed. Remember to book your tickets for the Temple of Confucius and the Imperial Academy Museum online in advance. Students and seniors can enjoy discounted or free admission with valid ID. Avoid spending money at trendy cafes in the hutongs; bring your own water bottle. For meals, skip the overpriced trendy shops in the hutongs and head to local, long-standing restaurants nearby on Andingmen or Yonghegong Street. Try to visit on a weekday when it is less crowded, so you will not have to wait in line for photos or pay for a prime spot. 🍜 Food recommendations Try authentic old Beijing zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), lvdagun (glutinous rice rolls), and wandouhuang (pea flour cake). The cheese from Sanyuan Meiyuan is a local favorite. For a full meal, try the dalian huoshao (pan-fried dumplings) and chaogan (stewed liver) near Andingmen. They offer great value, and you can get full for about 20–30 yuan per person. 💡 Tips: It is cool in the mornings and evenings during autumn, so bring an extra jacket. Ginkgo leaves are fragile, so please do not shake the trees or break branches when taking photos. Enjoy the autumn responsibly.

Lama Temple absolutely deserves its spot on Trip.Best’s Top 50 Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Beijing! I gave it a solid 5 out of 5 for both must-visit sightseeing and special fall scenery categories. From convenient public transportation to an authentic, beautifully maintained environment, it checks all the boxes for an unforgettable travel experience. Despite the midday crowds during my visit in August, everything about the temple left a lasting impression—the majestic buildings, vibrant colors, enticing incense aromas, and the tranquil atmosphere all worked together to create a truly immersive experience. The Buddha statue was simply breathtaking; it’s a moment that made me want to return and explore even more! 🛕✨ Practical tips for visitors: I highly recommend arriving in the morning, especially during peak times, to enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere and to avoid large crowds. If you’re a photography lover, don’t miss the corner near the 3rd building—it’s one of the best spots for snapping life’s memorable moments! The site’s information, location, and opening times are all accurate and straightforward to follow, giving you peace of mind as you plan your visit. Whether you’re seeking a deep dive into culture, seasonally stunning views, or simply a comfortable place to reflect, Lama Temple will not disappoint. It’s definitely a site I’d recommend to friends—and one I hope to see again! #tripbest #tripbest _reviewer